by Branden Barrett

Created on: May 03, 2009   Last Updated: May 09, 2009

A lot of people believe that defense is the key to winning matches these days in sports. While that may be true in some, it couldn't be further from the truth in reference to ping pong. Having a solid offense in table tennis will keep your opponent on his toes at all times, giving you the momentum from stroke to stroke. Now by offense, one shouldn't just swat at the ball as hard as they can, as that will no doubt result in an error; making you look like a complete fool. No, by offense, one should concentrate on a variety of attacking techniques that will give you the edge in terms of speed and position. There are quite a few offensive strokes in ping pong and they are all based around aggression and taking advantage of opportunity. The names of these strokes are: the speed drive, the loop drive, the counter drive, the flick, the smash, and the attacking drop shot. These six strokes dominate the attacking game, with each having their own back story behind them.

The first of these, the speed drive, is known as the "rallying" shot in ping pong. It is performed by keeping the racket perpendicular to the direction of the stroke, almost as if you were "pushing" the ball forward. This shot can be done from the forehand or backhand side and is generally recognized for its speed rather than spin. If one could compare the shot to a tennis alternative, it would probably be the "flat" shot. In the past, it was used as a finishing shot, but today's game requires a shot with a little more action. The speed drive in today's game is used to keep the ball in play until an opportunity arises to finish the point. A great shot that allows one to do this is the loop drive, or as some call it, the hook shot.

The loop drive is known as the "topspin" ball in ping pong, with the emphasis on net clearance and ball hop. To perform this stroke one must keep the racket parallel to the ball and brush over it. By doing this you add a forward rotation on the ball, which will force the opponent to stretch out for a difficult return shot. Though it can be used as a finishing shot, the loop drive is also known as a rallying ball as well. This is because of the effectiveness of spin in today's game in comparison to the last couple of decades. The loop drive must also be performed well, as if the ball has too much spin then it sets up an easy opportunity for the opponent. Remember that the more intense the spin, the harder it will be for the opponent to return it; this is

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