by Branden Barrett

Created on: May 05, 2009

What separates the recreation players from the professionals in today's day in age? Let me tell you, it all has to do with spin. Spin makes the game of ping pong exciting, as it adds so many dimensions to the game. Whether it is using side spin to drive the opponent to the other side of the table or top spin to make your opponent reach for a high ball, learning the right spins can help to take your game to the next level. Now a lot of people tend to think that learning spin is too difficult; well they couldn't be further from the truth. It will take a little time to learn how to consistently hit a ball with spin, but not so long that it will drive away casual players. All you really need to understand is what kind of racket you are using and the type of wrist motion you must use to generate the particular type of spin you want.

The first spin that is usually brought up in discussions is the side spin. Now this is a spin that is truly one of the tougher ones to learn, but it really has to do with what type of grip you use. Players who use the penhold grip generally have an easier time learning the side spin, as it works well due to grips synchronization with the wrist. By brushing the ball to the left or right on the racket face you will implement a side spin which will push the ball in the opposite direction of the spin (left-to-right, right-to-left). This technique will force the opponent to one side, giving you the opportunity to put away a finishing blow. The spin can also be applied with the shakehand grip, but it will require a little more arm flexibility on the players part (similar to if they were hitting a tennis ball with the eastern grip).

The next spin is one that is used a tremendous amount in the professional game: the topspin. This spin is accomplished by "brushing over" the ball so that it utilizes a forward rotation. This rotation will bring the ball high in the air and suddenly downward toward the table surface. The ball is tricky to return because of the "action" on the ball after it hits the table. A mix of friction and speed forces the ball upwards towards the opponent's face, thus requiring a quick reaction return on their part. This shot can be used with either the penhold grip or shakehand grip, and can be hit from either the forehand or backhand side. The shakehand grip generally has an easier time with this shot, due to the balance the grip has between both sides. Also, if you were wondering which racket sheet to use if you want to dominantly

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