If you have ever hit what looked like an easy ball straight into the net, or watched it fly off the end of the table, spin was probably the culprit. Spin is the reason ping pong is so much more than just hitting a ball back and forth. The good news is that the basics are simple once someone explains them. Here is what you need to know.
Why spin matters so much in ping pong
A ping pong ball is very light, just 2.7 grams, and the rubber on a bat is designed to grip it. That combination means even a gentle brushing contact can make the ball rotate quickly. Spin changes three things: how the ball travels through the air, how it bounces off the table and, most importantly for beginners, how it comes off your bat when you hit it back. Understanding that last point is the key to handling spin.
Topspin: the ball rolls forward
With topspin, the top of the ball rotates forward, in the direction it is travelling, like a wheel rolling along the ground. Players create it by brushing up and forward on the back of the ball.
Topspin makes the ball dip downward in the air, which is why strong players can hit hard and still land the ball on the table. After it bounces, a topspin ball tends to kick forward and stay low. When it hits your bat, it tends to jump upward and long, so if you block it with an open, flat bat it will often fly off the end.
How to handle it: close the bat angle a little (tilt the top edge forward) and aim slightly lower. Against heavy topspin, a short, firm block with a closed bat is often all you need.
Backspin: the ball rolls backward
Backspin, sometimes called underspin or chop, is the opposite. The bottom of the ball rotates forward, so the ball spins backward relative to its direction of travel. Players create it by slicing down and under the ball, as in a push or a chop.
Backspin makes the ball float a little in the air and slow down after it bounces. On your bat, it tends to drop downward, which is why beginners so often hit backspin balls into the net.
How to handle it: open the bat angle (tilt the face back toward the ceiling) and either push it back with a gentle forward-and-under motion, or lift it with an upward brushing stroke. The heavier the backspin, the more you need to open the bat or lift.
Sidespin: the ball curves sideways
Sidespin rotates the ball around a vertical axis, like a spinning top. It is created by brushing across the side of the ball, and it is most common on serves.
In the air, sidespin makes the ball curve to one side. When it hits your bat, it kicks sideways, so if you return it with a straight bat it will often go off the side of the table. To counter it, angle your bat slightly to aim against the direction it will kick. In practice, most sidespin is mixed with some topspin or backspin, so you will be dealing with a combination.
No-spin: the sneaky one
A ball with very little spin is surprisingly effective, because it looks like it should have spin. Players often disguise a “float” serve to look like backspin. If you open your bat expecting backspin, a no-spin ball will pop up high. Watching the opponent’s bat closely is the best defence.
How to read spin
The biggest clue is how your opponent’s bat moves at contact:
- Bat moving upward and forward: topspin.
- Bat moving downward and underneath: backspin.
- Bat moving sideways across the ball: sidespin.
- Bat moving straight through with little brushing: little or no spin.
Other clues include how the ball flies (a dipping arc suggests topspin, a floating flat path suggests backspin) and how it bounces. Many players also watch the logo on the ball as it spins, though this is hard at speed. Reading spin takes time, so don’t be discouraged if you misjudge it at first. Everyone does.
A note on the rules
Generating spin is completely legal during a rally, and spin is a central part of the modern game. There are a few rules that touch on it, though. When serving, the ball must rest on your open, flat palm and be tossed up almost vertically, without spin being imparted, and rise at least 16 centimetres before you strike it. Your spin comes from the bat, not from your hand. The two sides of a bat must also be different colours, one black and the other a bright colour such as red, blue, green or pink, so your opponent can see which rubber you are using. That rule exists partly because different rubbers produce very different amounts of spin.
Simple drills to get comfortable with spin
- Have a partner serve plain backspin to you again and again while you practise pushing it back with an open bat.
- Practise brushing topspin from a ball your partner feeds slowly, focusing on an upward brushing contact rather than hitting hard.
- Take turns serving sidespin and returning it, noticing which way it kicks off your bat.
- Try serving the same motion with and without spin, and see if your partner can tell the difference.
Keep experimenting
Spin can feel mysterious at first, but it follows simple physics. Brush up for topspin, under for backspin, across for sidespin, and adjust your bat angle to whatever is coming at you. With a little practice, you will start using spin to your advantage instead of being baffled by it.
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