Table tennis a popular global sport – We identify several popular shots and drills that can be practiced at home to improve game play.

1. BACKHAND TO BACKHAND
You and your partner hit back and forth to each
other’s backhand. Maintain a moderate pace to keep
the rally going. This is the same idea as the forehand
to forehand drill.
BACKHAND TO FOREHAND (Counter Drive)
You hit backhand shots while your partner hits
forehand shots only. This exercise is good for
developing the correct positioning of both your
body and racket angles.
The following drills assume that players are right-handed.
Left-handed players should imagine the diagram as its mirrored image.
FOREHAND TO FOREHAND
You and your partner hit back and forth to each
other’s forehand. This exercise is typically used for
warming up, but it is crucial for beginners to practice
it on a regular basis as it helps develop basic counter
forehand shot and muscle memory.
THE FALKENBERG DRILL
Builds technique, speed and accuracy. Your partner
hits two balls to your backhand corner; you return
first with a backhand and the second with a forehand.
Your partner hits a third ball to your forehand corner;
you skip over (no cross-over) and return.
FOREHAND TO BACKHAND (Spin and Block)
Both players begin with a push stroke, then you hit a
forehand spin shot while your partner responds with a
backhand block. Focus on technique and not on power
so you can keep the rally going as long as possible.
THE 1-2-3-2-1 DRILL
Builds ability to hit forehand on any ball. Partner
places the first ball on your backhand corner, the
second in the middle, the third on your forehand
corner and the fourth in the middle.
SHOTS
B
F
F
B
B
B
F
F
FB/F
B M F
BLOCK
Block is a defensive
technique that can
be used as a quick
reaction to an
opponent’s spin hit
or attack. A Block
allows players to
keep the ball in
play while carefully
choosing ball
placement.
DRIVE
Drive is used
during warmup.
It is an attacking
stroke played
with a small
amount of topspin.
Played against
long or medium
length topspin,
it floats balls or
can be used as a
counter drive.
LOOP
Use a medium
stroke, hit the
ball at the top of
the bounce, apply
topspin and aim
for the sideline or
the baseline.
PUSH
Push is used to
generate underspin
and control the length
and placement when
returning an under-
spin ball. It is mostly a
defensive shot, but it
can be used to throw
the opponent off-
balance and set up
an attack.
SMASH
Use a large
backswing and
rapid acceleration
to make the shot
unreturnable. To
make your smash
even stronger,
apply sidespin.
LOB
A lob is a last-ditch
effort when you’ve
been driven far back
from the table. Play
high and put a lot of
topspin or side spin
on the shot to give
it an uncomfortable
bounce.
CHOP
A defensive shot
with underspin
used when you
are far back in the
court. Keep the
ball low and hope
your opponent
misreads the spin.
FISHING
A defensive shot
similar to a lob, but
lower. The idea is
to guide the ball
over gently into a
spot where your
opponent can’t put
the ball away.
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TABLE TENNIS
DRILLS & SHOTS
DRILLS
A solid warmup
routine will
help you win in table
tennis. If you’re
looking for new
practice techniques,
this information
will give you the
competitive edge
you’re looking for.