Forehand topspin

Table tennis / Popular

Brush up the back of the ball for heavy forehand topspin.

What coaches agree on

  • Make contact with a brushing, grazing touch on the back or top of the ball — that's what creates the topspin, not a flat hit through it.
  • Generate power in a kinetic chain: rotate your legs and hips first, and let that rotation drive your arm through the ball.
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  • Contact the ball out in front of your body while it's still rising off the bounce, at or just before the top of the bounce.

Common mistakes

  • Relying mainly on the arm and hand to power the stroke rather than the legs, hips and core, which costs power and consistency.