The forehand block against a loop or drive is a stroke used by beginners and advanced players alike to control a powerful attack made by the opponent.
The idea behind this stroke is to use a minimal backswing and follow through, and rely on the correct bat angle to control the opponent’s topspin and speed. This will cause the ball to be rebounded from the bat in a low forward trajectory, with little or no topspin. Once the basic block is mastered, the amount of backswing and follow through can be increased to make the block closer to a forehand counterhit.
Ready Position
© Greg Letts
Points to look for:
- The feet are placed with the right foot slightly further back than the left foot, to make it easier to put weight on the right leg during the stroke.
- Most of the weight is on the balls of the feet to allow quicker movement. Too much weight on the heels will slow down movement, and too much weight on the toes will affect balance.
- The weight is evenly distributed between the left and right legs.
- The knees are bent and the feet are around one and a half times shoulder width apart. The torso is also leaning slightly forward. This gives a lower center of gravity for better balance, and allows for easy movement in all directions.
- Shoulders are in line with the legs, with the right shoulder slightly behind the left.
- The arms are held roughly shoulder width apart, with around a 90 degree angle at the elbow.
Middle Of Backswing
© Greg Letts
The ball is coming to the forehand side and the decision has been made to play a forehand block. The backswing begins the stroke.
Points to look for:
- The right foot and leg have turned to the right, in preparation for having more bodyweight placed upon them.
- The hips, waist and shoulders have also turned to the right, although the head is still facing forward watching the ball.
- The bat has moved backwards and downwards at this point.
- Note how the free arm has turned in synch with the playing arm, which helps maintain balance.
End Of Backswing
© Greg Letts
The backswing has finished, and the ball has reached the player.
Points to look for:
- Some of the bodyweight has been transferred onto the right leg. The player has turned his hips, waist and shoulders to the right, but not as far as for the counterhit or loop strokes.
- The free arm has continued to move in synch with the playing arm, to help maintain balance.
- The left and right arms are at around 45 degrees to the end of the table. Notice that the shoulders have turned more than the hips and waist, so that the shoulders are roughly in line with the hips and waist.
- The right shoulder has dipped slightly more than the left shoulder, so that the left hand is higher than the right hand. The right hand is around net height and in front of the right knee.
- The head has turned to allow the player to keep watching the ball comfortably and closely.
- Both knees have bent a little to help maintain balance.
- Although it cannot be seen from this photo sequence, the player has paused his bat at the end of the backswing for a fraction of second before swinging forward.
Contact With The Ball
© Greg Letts
The player has made contact with the ball.
Points to look for:
- The player has watched the point of contact with the ball closely.
- The angle of the bat is at a roughly 65 degree angle, with the tip of the bat pointing towards the camera and slightly upwards. Other players would block the ball with the tip of the bat pointing at the camera. The player has used this angle since the ball came a little closer to his body than he was expecting, so his stroke is slightly more cramped than usual.
- The hips, waist and shoulders have stayed in the same place since ending the backswing.
- The knees and torso have also stayed in relatively the same position.
- The forearm is moving forward very slowly, and the bat a little faster, as shown by the lesser amount of blurring than usual.
- If the ball was compared to a clockface, the bat has made contact at a point roughly around the number 10, while the bat was moving a little forwards and upwards. Note that the angle of the bat remains at around 65 degrees.
- The ball is hit with mainly solid contact, with just a little movement forwards and upwards. This movement will make the ball go mainly forwards and a little upwards, with a little topspin.
- The free arm has not needed to move.
Middle Of Follow Through
© Greg Letts
The ball has been struck, and the player is in the middle of his follow through.
Points to look for:
- The knees and torso have straightened a little.
- The playing arm is returning to the ready position shown in Step 1.
- The hips, waist and shoulders have started to turn back towards the left.
- The free arm has continued to stay in synch with the playing arm.
- The ball has already reached its maximum height, and is falling as it goes over the net, clearing the net by a few inches.
End Of Follow Through
© Greg Letts
The forward swing has come to an end, and the ball is on its way.
Points to look for:
- The player is now watching his opponent at the other end of the court, rather than the flight of the ball.
- The hips, waist and shoulders have almost completed turning back to the left.
- The hips, waist and shoulders are a little higher than the original ready position.
- The racket has moved a little more forward due to the turning of the shoulders.
- The free arm and playing arm are almost in the ready position already.
Return To Ready Position
© Greg Letts
The player has almost returned to the ready position.
Points to look for:
- The arms are now in their ready position. The bat is in a neutral position, from which it is equally easy to play a forehand or backhand stroke.
- The player is now watching the ball coming towards him.
- The player has bent his knees a little, to allow easy movement in all directions.
- His bodyweight is again evenly distributed between both legs, and he is on the balls of his feet.
- His right foot only needs to turn a little towards the front to put the player back in his basic ready position for the next stroke.
