Table Tennis Strokes Quiz

Table Tennis Strokes

• Stroke: Any shot used by a player.

Offensive Strokes

• Hit/Drive (Speed Drive): A direct hit on the ball, aiming for speed rather than spin. The racket is mostly perpendicular to the stroke. It's fast, but doesn't arc much, making it hard to return.

• Loop: A shot opposite to the chop, creating significant topspin. The racket is parallel to the stroke direction, causing the ball to arc and jump when it hits the table. Developed in the 1960s.

• Counter-hit: A counterattack, often against high loop drives. The stroke is short and close to the ball, hitting it off the bounce to return it quickly.

• Flip: An attack on a ball that hasn't bounced past the edge of the table. The backswing is minimized into a quick wrist action.

• Smash: A powerful forehand stroke used when the opponent's return is too high or close to the net, aimed at maximum speed to prevent reaction time.

• Speed Drive: A stroke prioritizing speed over spin. A common stroke for maintaining play, pressuring opponents, and creating attacking opportunities.

• Lob: A defensive stroke lifting the ball high to land with spin on the opponent's side of the table. Can have different types of spin.

Defensive Strokes

• Push (Slice): Used to keep the point alive and create offensive opportunities. The racket cuts under the ball, creating backspin for a slow, floating return, which is hard to attack.

• Chop: A defensive backspin stroke. It's a large, heavy push, taken well back from the table in the opposite manner to loop. The face points horizontally or slightly up and cuts from top to bottom. The goal is to counter the opponent's topspin.

• Forehand Chop: A defensive stroke like a chopping motion. The arm starts by hitting the ball and finishes in front, hitting with the blade from behind and under the ball for backspin.

• Backhand Chop: Opposite to the forehand chop. A shorter stroke, but relies on strong forearm and wrist action. It begins from chin-height and ends near wrist-height.

• Drop Chop: Similar to a drive, but the racket stops before impact; the ball drops.

• Block: A defensive stroke placing the racket in front of the bouncing ball. The returned ball has nearly the same energy as the incoming ball, requiring precision based on spin, speed, and location.