How to Do a Forehand Chop in Table Tennis

This defensive stroke is named for its downward cleaving motion. Retreat a step or two and chop under the ball to give it some backspin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Athletic Gear
• Table Tennis Balls
• Table Tennis Nets
• Table Tennis Paddles
• Table Tennis Playing Tables
• Table Tennis Video

1. Anticipate your opponent's attack and retreat a step or two from the table. Plan to hit the ball when it has dropped to about thigh height.
2. Backswing away from your body, allowing your torso to pivot so that your nonpaddle shoulder is facing your opponent.
3. Hold your paddle at about head height and cock your wrist back toward your head. Keep the face of the paddle very open, facing almost fully up.
4. Pivot your body back toward its original position as your begin your swing, and drop your paddle-shoulder down in synch with the ball.
5. Swing from your elbow as the ball reaches waist height.
6. Accelerate your forearm and wrist at the last second, swinging underneath the ball at about thigh height, with a very open paddle.
7. Snap your wrist at the moment of connection with the ball, and keep the paddle face pointing almost completely upward.
8. Follow through down and forward until your arm is fully extended, holding the paddle about waist high. The ball should land short on your opponent's side of the net, with heavy backspin.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice this swing several times without the ball. When you are actually playing, you will not have time to think in terms of step-by-step.
• The follow-through is very important on this shot. Try not to hold back or stop as the paddle strikes the ball - swing right through it.