TEACHING THE FOREHAND LOOP
The loop is a shot with excessive topspin. The
spin is produced by grazing the ball in an upward
direction. A good loop is difficult for a beginner to
return without going off the end or at least
popping up. It is easier to loop against backspin than
against topspin. It is primarily a set-up shot,
but it can also be used as a putaway shot. It is best
done on the forehand side, but many players have
developed good backhand loops as well. The description
below is for the forehand loop against backspin;
in the notes afterward the differences for looping
against topspin are noted. (Description is for a
right-hander, although sequence is of
left-hander.)
Backswing
With your right foot slightly back, bend your
knees, rotate your hips, waist and shoulders backward,
and bring your racket and arm down and back by
dropping your right shoulder. Straighten your arm
so elbow is nearly straight, with your wrist
cocked down slightly.
Forward Swing
Start the forward swing by pushing off your back
leg and rotating your hips and waist forward.
Rotate your shoulders, pulling with your left.
Contact
Just before contact, snap your forearm and wrist
into the ball smoothly but vigorously. (Beginners
shouldn’t use wrist at first.) Contact the ball as it drops
for maximum spin and control, at the top of the bounce for
faster, more aggressive loops. Contact is made in
front and to the right of your body, immediately after
the shoulder and hip rotation. Contact is a lifting,
grazing motion against the back of the ball.
Follow-Through
Arm should continue up and forward, finishing
with the racket somewhere around the forehead or
higher. Transfer your weight to your left foot.
Notes
Against topspin or a ball without backspin, the
stroke is the same except you don’t lift the ball.
Backswing is more backwards, not down. Forward
swing is mostly forward, and contact is more on
top of the ball instead of the back of the ball.
Forehand Loop
Copyright Larry Hodges
Copyright
Mark Nordby, Dan Seemiller, John Oros
Copyright USA Table Tennis
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