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Backhand flick

Table tennis / Popular

Attack short balls over the table with a backhand flick.

What coaches agree on

  • Brush the ball with a thin, grazing contact rather than hitting through it — that grip on the ball is what lifts it over the net, especially against backspin.
  • Read the spin on the incoming ball and change your racket angle to match it: open the face more against backspin, keep it flatter and more closed against topspin, sidespin, or no-spin.
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  • Make contact with the ball near the top of its bounce rather than while it is still rising, for better accuracy and control.

Common mistakes

  • Gripping the racket and tensing the arm early, then holding that tension through the whole swing, instead of staying relaxed and snapping tight only at the moment of contact — this drains the power out of the stroke.
  • Approaching the short ball with small, hesitant steps, or just walking up to it, instead of committing to a full driving step in — this leaves you out of position and unable to generate power.
  • Meeting the ball flush from the front or back instead of catching its side, which is a common way the flick ends up in the net, particularly against backspin.
Table Tennis Backhand Flick
Beginner

Table Tennis Backhand Flick

Coach's take: As clean a foundational breakdown of the flick as you'll find — spin reading, footwork, contact, all covered properly.

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