The backhand drive is also one of the vitals of table tennis sport. So, you must learn the role of a backhand drive in table tennis. This article will cover the nitty-gritty about this important topic that most beginners in table tennis should learn.
It’s basically an attacking shot, just like a forehand drive but with a slightly simpler execution. Players no longer require rotating the body, unlike in forehand drive. So that makes it more adaptable for some table tennis players.
This article will explain the basic idea of a backhand drive. In addition, you will be given exact directions that will help you master this very keystroke.
Tips For Better Backhand Drive In Table Tennis
Content Summery
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We have recently reviewed the best side tapes for table tennis paddles and also the best table tennis rubber sheets. But before you start using specialized equipment, you need to sharpen your skills. So, here are the steps to improve your backhand drive.[/su_note]
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Basic Sketch Of A Backhand Drive
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A backhand drive stands as one of the basic four strokes most beginners learn in table tennis. Players use this as an attacking stroke to overpower the opponent. Also, a backhand drive can have a slight amount of topspin when imparting the paddle.
There are some conditions that players must understand when playing a solid backhand drive. The probability of generating a backhand drive is minimum when the incoming ball sits too low. Also, avoid playing this stroke when you see a backspin on the ball.
As the name suggests, players have to use the backhand to play this attacking stroke. So, a perfect backhand drive requires some elements to be fulfilled so you can have ideal execution. So, execution matters more than anything in backhand drive. But yes, you can definitely use some top-graded table tennis training sets to improve your execution.
And now, let’s get to the measures that will enhance your understanding of this vital stroke.[/su_note]
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Step 1: The Stance
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An appropriate body stance is very crucial when it comes to generating a perfect backhand drive. You must position yourself near the line of the play. It’s like placing the body confronting the playline. So, maintain a slight distance from the table.
Place your feet apart from each other at a length of slightly more than your shoulders. That will help you gain better body weight distribution. It would help if you did not go too deep into the table, and the same goes for distancing yourself behind. Both your feet must point towards the opponent. That strengthens the body positioning that players hold.
The players must ensure that their arms are right in front of their bodies, just as in forehand drive. Now follow this body stance with your knees bent, making a ready position to face the incoming ball.
Lastly, the body’s weight must be equally distributed to both your feet, unlike forehand drive. Now you are in an excellent position to strike a perfect backhand drive in table tennis. If you are looking for it for your toddler, you can definitely boost the performance while buying one of the pro-recommended table tennis paddles for kids this year.[/su_note]
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Step 2: The Backswing
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Players don’t require a total rotation of the body while generating a backswing in a backhand drive. So, most players will like that a backhand drive is more straightforward to develop than a forehand drive.
Therefore, most players are quickly going to position themselves for a backhand drive here. Firstly, make sure to keep the paddle’s angle closed when getting ready to play a backhand drive.
Make sure that your paddle is placed somewhere in front of your body. The length can be equivalent just below your chest. Now ensure that you position the backside of your paddle. So, the rubber sheet must direct in the direction of your opponent or where you are going to strike.
And then, players must keep their wrists straight rather than bent. That’s a perfect position to strike with potential as the backhand drive is all about aggression. You can surely get more out of your backswing while using beginner-friendly table tennis balls now.[/su_note]
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Step 3: Time To Hit
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Here comes the moment to strike as you are already in the position to hit a backhand drive. Now players must demonstrate the bounce of the ball. They must examine how the ball approaches and bounces. So, players are to strike at the peak bounce of the incoming ball.
Now your arm moves forward perpendicular to your body’s standing. Be sure to accelerate the paddle after hitting the ball in the forward direction.
It would help if you did not open the angle of the paddle throughout the time of strike because that can mess the direction or potential setup for this aggressive stroke. Also, your arm must move slightly up as you make to generate the topspin on the ball. Besides, you can use some professional-grade table tennis paddle sets to generate even better spin.
Players should navigate and add strength to the ball through smart wrist work. Therefore, add power to your backhand drives using your wrist, and the same works for guiding the shot in a specified direction.[/su_note]
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Step 4: The Follow-Through
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A complete follow-through is always quick, and players don’t have much decisive time. So, they must practice the way of an authentic backhand drive follow-through. Make sure to point the paddle in the direction where you struck.
The paddle must go forward and slightly up along with your arm naturally. Also, you may want to avoid swinging the paddle too much. That mostly wastes time when making you have to get back to the position quickly. You can have one of these budget-friendly table tennis robots on your side to practice a better follow-through.[/su_note]
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Errors To Avoid When Playing Backhand Drive
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Do not mistake opening the paddle angle in any part of the execution. The paddle’s angle must remain close throughout the process of backhand drive in table tennis. That mostly happens when players try to move their shoulders with the paddle.
Players most not try to reach for the ball when generating backhand drive. That can ruin the body stance and can naturally disturb the stroke itself. So try to stay in position, wait for the ball to bounce, and then strike at its peak.
The wrong follow-through of the paddle is crucial. Many newcomers try to move their paddles in a different direction after connecting with the ball. You are supposed to keep the same direction even after you have struck a backhand drive.
You must use most parts of your body, which makes your backhand drive effective and powerful. Keep all these parts moving to make your backhand even more powerful.
Most players may just limit the shot strength to the wrists and avoid the shoulder and arm strength. So, have an affordable table tennis top on your side and start practicing to rectify your mistakes.[/su_note]
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FAQs Regarding Better Backhand Drive
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Q. When would you use a backhand drive in table tennis?
A backhand drive is best played for attacking purposes in the table tennis game. It is a versatile stroke that is played with a slight topspin along with power. Make sure you find the right incoming ball to go for a backhand drive.
Q. What type of spin does the backhand drive produce?
We usually see a topspin associated with a backhand drive. Players lift their arms to a slight extent making the ball go a little above for topspin.
Q. What is the difference between backhand to forehand in table tennis?
Players use the front side of the hands when generating a forehand drive. On the other hand, a backhand drive demands players to play with the backside of their hands. Besides, a total body rotation is not present in a backhand drive, unlike in the forehand. These differences make forehand and backhand different strokes from one and another.
Q. Why is the backhand drive important in table tennis?
Usually, coaches teach backhand drive as the second shot. With this shot, you can control rallies, counterattack your opponent, and even go on the offensive. Forehand drives may be more complicated than backhand drives.[/su_note]
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Final Verdict
So here was our detailed analysis about the execution of a backhand drive. This stroke is highly important to learn and understand for all table tennis players. It is one of the standard table tennis strokes that all beginners ought to learn and practice.
These steps and all-important details describe the best possibility of playing this aggressive shot. Besides, there are common errors that we have highlighted in the later part to help players become aware of the things that can go wrong.[/su_note]