How to Hit a Ping Pong Ball

Ping pong, sometimes referred to as table tennis, is a fun, fast paced sport played by many for recreational and social interactions. Some play the sport for the health benefits, including improved hand-eye coordination, improved muscle reflexes and improved mental alertness. To be competitive at the social or recreational level, all that is necessary is a table, a few rackets, balls and knowing how to hit a few basic strokes.

Instructions

1

Prepare to hit a backhand push stroke by standing close to the table, square to where the ball is coming from. Move your hitting arm horizontally from the elbow with a short compact stroke using more of the forearm when hitting the shot. Point your free arm towards the ball for balance. Hit the ball at the top of the bounce. The racket should contact the lower, underneath side at the back of the ball. This will put a slight backspin on the ball.

2

Stand close to the table with a sideways stance, left foot ahead of the right foot, in preparation to hit a forehand drive. Use a medium swing as your hitting arm moves forward and in an upwards direction. The ball should be hit when it is at the top of the bounce and the racket face should be slightly closed. This is when the hitting surface is angled downwards, allowing you to put topspin on the ball. As you execute the swing, shift your weight from the right to left foot and open your shoulders so that your chest is facing the net at the end of the stroke.

3

Hit a backhand drive by standing close to the table and square to the ball, in a similar fashion as when hitting a backhand push. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width apart and knees bent. This is a compact stroke, using more of your forearm when hitting this shot. Contact the ball out in front of your body, at the top of the bounce and point the racket in the direction you want the ball to go. The racket should be slightly closed at contact, allowing you to put topspin on the ball.

4

Rally for position or try and force your opponent to hit the ball in the net with a chop shot. To hit this shot, you must have a firm wrist. Contact the ball on the underneath side, hitting downwards and outwards towards your target. This puts backspin on the ball, keeping it low, forcing your opponent to hit the ball up over the net giving you an opportunity to hit a point ending shot. Experiment with the amount of spin that can be achieved by varying the amount of wrist action used.