Backhand Flick Help

Thanks to this forum I am now a bit of a pro TT junkie. One thing I'm noticing LOTS of is: the trend of the backhand flick to return serve.

Now I'll back up a bit - I've been playing some "juniors" aka kids with coaches lately and when I give them a short serve that inst way into their forehand side - they instantly flick it back. They do not have a very good loop on either wing yet, but they have a very solid forehand counter, backhand counter and backhand flick - as well as a short and long serve. The backhand flick is now a staple of the modern game! In fact all reviews of rubber should include backhand flick ability. It's probably more important than a forehand loop.

So - has the backhand flick just revolutionized returns in table tennis? I am feeling like I am entirely missing out on this skill!

Have you seen coaches teaching juniors the backhand flick as a beginner shot?

I have decided to work on flicking the crap out of everything short for the moment. Besides watching some videos - I don't know much on the technical aspect. It looks like some players really brush the side of the ball. Some players tend to lift the ball up (or both). I've been experimenting - I've been able to flick different types of spin doing the exact same motion and can even put it in both corners, but inconsistent thus far.

What are the finer points to the flick? What's the best way to train this shot?


Edited by wilkinru - 08/10/2015 at 5:07pm

Also I only use my forearm for the "up" and I use the rotation of my wrist for the "forward". This is just my technique tho, I think most other people use much more forearm

Get a good backhand loop first.  If you have one, the shot is easy (it's mostly like a backhand loop but over the table and often off the bounce).  If you don't have a backhand loop, there are many ways to go wrong, though they are not all bad shots (some of the ways to go wrong are actually pretty good).

Edited by NextLevel - 08/11/2015 at 8:58am

Thanks for the advice, I tried the side of the ball today, seems pretty effective.

In some ways it is easier to do than a backhand loop because the ball is going so slowly.

I need to work on fully committing my feet to the shot.

I was going to write the same thing.  Hit towards the side of the ball.

Ringer84,

Just do it. Or else, you will lack the instincts even when you develop the stroke. I should be in MD in September (may do HCTT) so we can meet up.

NL

I did do that NL - thanks!

I also begged Brett to make a tutorial...he said he would.

Also found an older pingskills video about it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5OtcmQE0aQ

Lastly, I totally disagree with the idea that a 'club level' flick cannot be useful and effective.

That sort of thinking is like - why bother with a flat serve at all. Everyone can attack it! Variation in your game is always good to have.

At worst case, it blows away the lower level players and allows you to save energy for the other players in your round robin. At best case it can mess up the plan of the other player and apply pressure on both sides of the ball - and a good push some of the time can also really make things difficult.

Another benefit: doubles. I hit a couple of clean winners in doubles today with the flick. Was it real good? No, but it was good enough to really confuse my opponent. The next serve went into the net too :)


Edited by wilkinru - 08/13/2015 at 2:10pm

Link to post i made about this-

I watch fan zhendong youtube gameplay videos, and slow down the video in the speed settings. (.5 instead of 1.0)

I would like to add that The footwork is a must. If youre a righty, right foot in front of the left. The rest comes naturally to me. I also realized that my 2 year old sigma 2 pro flicked 10x better than my ovp on bh. Maybe its just me.

All the comments here are very very detailed and i also watched the posted videos back when I was learning the technique.

Also I have realized the weakness of the bh flick while learning the technique. it will also demand better serves. All in all, it is making tt a much more competitive game. Learning never ends. Good luck.