Topspin, without a doubt, is the most important stroke in modern table tennis. It allows you to attack almost any ball propelled at you by your opponent, regardless of its trajectory and rotation. This includes balls hit below the level of the net. Using topspins instead of flat attacking strokes increases stability. By executing the topspin stroke, you can give the ball a lot of speed without being afraid of making a mistake.

There are two main types of topspin strokes and many variations of each. The two types are backhand and forehand topspins. Everything mentioned in this article is equally valid for both forehand and backhand topspins.

When performing topspin, the racket brushes the ball, the rubber biting into the ball and spinning it. Unlike a drive or a flat attacking stroke, you angle the racket and make a motion so that the rubber acts more on the ball than the blade does. Due to the Magnus effect, the trajectory is more curved depending on the strength of the topspin and the strength of the rotation. Topspin balls have a fast and relatively low rebound on the opponent’s half of the table.

Topspin is considered a difficult technical element in table tennis. It is not that difficult to create, but it is difficult to learn how to perform it effectively and consistently. The secret to a powerful topspin stroke is in involving all parts of the body. All segments, starting from the feet, legs, torso, upper shoulder, and all parts of the arm – shoulder, forearm, wrist, and hand – have to work together in concert.

Below are some recommendations for how to learn good topspin technique:

– Start learning only after you can perform counter drives many times in a row, steady and with confidence.

– While learning, don’t forget about your footwork. Quality topspin can only be made from an ideal position.

– Try to find guidelines for each segment of the stroke. Find a consistent point for each phase of the stroke – the beginning and the end of the backswing and the hitting point. Try to perform each stroke the same way, without changes.

– Listen to how the racket sounds when it hits a ball. If the impact of the ball on the racket is loud, it means that you did not succeed. And if you hear only a faint sound, then you have played correctly.

– The hand with the racket should continue to move after hitting the ball. A sudden stop of the hand after hitting the ball reduces the accuracy of the stroke. Always follow through.

– To perform topspin correctly, you need a fairly high-speed swing, but don’t try to play very hard right away. At the initial stage, it is very important to feel the movement and learn how to steadily execute it.

– To successfully use the topspin stroke at a high level, you need a low stance because this maximizes the use of your legs, giving the ball more speed and rotation. At the beginning, you will probably find it too difficult to get into a very low stance. However, make sure your legs are at least slightly bent at the knees at all times.

– After completing the stroke, try to get back to your starting position as quickly as possible and prepare for the next topspin.

There is no ultimate version of the topspin for all situations. Different variations of topspin are performed depending on the situation and strategy. There is slow topspin, counter topspin, side spin topspin, power topspin, a so-called small topspin performed by short pips, and even a fake topspin (with almost no spin). All of these variations require different technique and should be learned separately first and only then used in combination with other strokes.