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neurologyYou need to know

• In the handshake grip the bat is held like a handshake; for a backhand push the bat is held across the body with the blade angled slightly up.
• For the backhand push, the body is front on to the table with the shoulders parallel to the table edge.
• For the backhand push, stand at least one bat length from the back of the table; standing further away gives more time to react.
• On a backhand push, step towards the ball with a firm wrist, push the back of the hand towards the ball and guide it over the net.
• Backspin on a backhand push is created by brushing the bat down the back and bottom of the ball while the body moves from high to low.
• After playing a backhand push, stepping in to contact the ball and then stepping back creates space for the next shot.
• In rallies, a player must let the ball bounce once on their side before returning it; volleying the ball (hitting it before it bounces) is not allowed.
• A legal return in open play must cross the net and land on the opponent's side of the table.
• A forehand topspin is an attacking stroke used to rush the opponent and force them back from the table; it is not a smash.
• The appropriate wing is determined primarily by ball placement, body position, and available footwork, while distance from the table influences the type of stroke used.
• Topspin, backspin and sidespin are produced by brushing across the ball on contact in different directions.
• For a spin serve, the ball starts on the open palm, is tossed to around face height, and is struck as it drops to chest height.
• For a spin serve, the body is side on to the table with the shoulders at 90 degrees and the body weight leaning towards the table.
• For a spin serve, the bat is in a handshake grip away from the body with the blade angled slightly towards the table, and there is no wrist flick on contact.
• On a legal serve, the ball must bounce on the server's side and then on the receiver's side of the table.
• In doubles, each team serves two points before service rotates, regardless of who wins the points, except at 10–10 when service changes after every point.
• In doubles, every serve travels diagonally from the server's right half-court to the receiver's right half-court; after two points, the previous receiver serves to the previous server's partner; partners must play alternate shots; volleys are not allowed; games are played to 11 points and must be won by two clear points at 10–10.
• To outwit an opponent, players should use spin, place shots into space and towards weaker strokes (often the backhand), and force the opponent away from the table.

• Demonstrate the handshake grip with the blade angled correctly for a backhand push, holding the bat across the body.
• Adopt the backhand push ready position: stand front on with shoulders parallel to the table, at least one bat length away, adjusting distance to manage reaction time.
• Play a controlled backhand push: step towards the ball, contact in front with a firm wrist, brush down the back and bottom of the ball to apply backspin, and guide it low over the net.
• Recover after the backhand push by stepping back to create space and resetting the ready position.
• Apply forehand topspin close to the table with control: time the swing when there is time, brush upwards across the back of the ball to create topspin, and direct the ball deep to rush the opponent.
• Select the appropriate wing under pressure based primarily on ball placement, body position, and available footwork, and select the type of stroke based on distance from the table.
• Serve legally with spin: present the ball on an open palm, toss to face height, strike as it drops to chest height without flicking the wrist, ensure it bounces on both sides, and vary spin (top, back, side) by brushing across the ball.
• Execute doubles service and rotation correctly: serve from the server's right half-court to the receiver's right half-court, change service after two points so that the previous receiver serves to the previous server's partner, change service after every point at 10–10, and play alternate shots with your partner.
• Construct points to outwit an opponent by targeting weaker strokes (especially backhand), hitting into open space rather than the centre line, and forcing the opponent away from the table.
• Read and adjust to spin on incoming shots by observing flight and bounce and changing bat angle to control the return.