OOAK Table Tennis Forum

You might find this funny, but during our Philly technical debates, this was what Matt S argued when comparing flaring loops to Chinese loops. The flaring wrist would hurt reset and consistency of contact. And I agree that on many backhands in matches, William doesn't flare the wrist.

I have struggled to consistently time this stroke vs topspin balls with the backswing to the chest though. But I find it generally more effective for fast countering and can often loop the ball with an effect similar to punching it. People tend to ooh and ah when I do it (it's basically an extension of what we worked on when you came to Philly) so I think I will carry it all the way and make it my dominant backhand stroke.

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

This is the stroke I pretty much want to use and teach on all 5th ball and as your basic backhand topspin close to the table.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksI6i84WlPo

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

That was first thought when watching LTT78.

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Technique is overrated

WOW. I figured it out before the video. My backhand vs topspin had been a disaster, mostly too thin ending up in the net. I blamed my equipment and tried some harder sponges but it did not make a difference - I still had inconsistencies exactly like Ben's. I shortened it like the video and have made it a very quick little whip motion. I think LTT78 is excellent instruction.

You know I felt bad doing this new technique for the last few weeks. It felt like it was a little against what I've been taught here. I had decided that it wasn't worth losing so many points over because my stroke was too big - may as well settle. My backhand loop vs backspin is crazy heavy these days. No one is blocking it anymore(at least under 2000). It just gets blocked sky high and I catch it behind the table. I mention this because I felt like I could do the same with the top spin ball but it just wasn't happening.

I've set up my all too expensive robot to feed me: backspin, dead and then a good fast top spin. It's pretty nightmarish to do all 3 in a row well. The biggest problem is the top spin one. It's practically a 3rd shot in my brain. The shorter technique works but I have to remind myself to do it and re-learn a little.

One thing I noticed last weekend was that heavy sidespin serves (you know, penholders fav) can also EASILY be returned by the same stroke. It's shockingly easy. Before I would always go long(or off the edge of the blade) with the big boy stroke.

That's a big-time backhand grip with his thumb up on the rubber.

I pretty much play with a backhand grip but of you don't, cock your wrist backwards and that addresses 95% of the problems.

And thumb on rubber is not a backhand grip. Thumb face flat on rubber face is a backhand grip.

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

The grip Harimoto has at 2:04 looks like a massive bh grip to me. I was curious if you meant you would use and teach that swing, or if the grip was included.

Will get better footage tonight but basically something like this but with a better backswing:

https://youtu.be/7o3xKKr0HaI?list=PL1xH ... qEs&t=1296

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

William's wrist almost always snaps through. LTT78 is about a better backswing and stopping the forearm to increase speed with a snapping wrist. It's in no way telling you to hold the wrist back. A flaring wrist wasn't inhibiting Ben's recover - it was his forearm continuing forever and then starting the backswing from the very end.

William definitely doesn't need to change his backhand, but many club players do.

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ttEDGE.com Professional online coaching
YouTube table tennis videos by Brett Clarke

I see what you mean now. Your concern is more with the degree to which the forearm is turned over and the elbow jumps up. Can't believe that given the degree to which this is more common with people who get to flare their backhand that there is no link whatsoever.

Does William backswing to his chest as well?

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Cobra Kai TT Exponent (Mercy effs up your Game)
One-Loop Man: One Loop... Again????
Lumberjack TT Exponent

I'm watching "TE31 MB - BH topspin" Under "The Edge" section right now.

Later in the video William does some top spin balls. One thing that is obvious is that his wrist is amazingly fluid and relaxed looking. He might even be going a little too far but the back swing whip is amazing and I feel like his elbow doesn't do the odd twist at the end.

Ugh watching William hitting these backhands messes with my brain after watching LTT78. I'm pretty sure I don't know what I'm talking about now.

It's within his range meaning it depends on how much power he is going for.

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ttEDGE.com Professional online coaching
YouTube table tennis videos by Brett Clarke

I just watched TE31 and it's a reminder of just how good that backhand was. If I was going down to the hall tonight, that's the type of backhand I'd like to be hitting. Not many world class players felt comfortable playing to William's backhand. He was actually down the hall on Saturday playing with a 1500 level player and I saw some pretty big backhands.

I'm going to make a video on some of the hidden things going on with William's backhand and other great backhands. I think it's a good time.

I'm also going to make my favorite ever forehand topspin video. My current favorite is LTT62, but the next one will take over, for me anyway.

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ttEDGE.com Professional online coaching
YouTube table tennis videos by Brett Clarke

Finally we're going to go over Kreanga's backhand. I've watched so many videos of it and I'm still shocked how amazing it was.



It is your best video. Going to top it? Now I'm very curious.

Ben's forehand in LTT62 is the perfect forehand and the video will always stand alone. There is nothing you can do to swing better and I'm completely certain that I'll never improve on it.

The problem is players still play bad forehands and the video has been around for a while. The explanation I give is correct, but it's not direct and targeted enough. It's not optimal if people can watch it and still have a bad shot.

Now I'm going to explain, via video, how everyone can easily use the logic on their forehand stroke so they can whip every shot. Same with the Backhand topspin. Yep, I'm also going to make LTT62 for the backhand topspin. I'll show you what you can't see because it's way too subtle. I'm going to attempt to show you where William's backhand power is coming from and how you can slowly learn to replicate it.

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ttEDGE.com Professional online coaching
YouTube table tennis videos by Brett Clarke