Definition: A fourth ball attack is the term used to describe the situation where the receiver hits a powerful attack on his first stroke after returning serve – the fourth stroke of the rally.
Different players will have different types of fourth ball attacks – some players will prefer to use a fast, flat attack with little spin. Others will use very spinny attacks (topspin) with only medium speed. The most common version of the fourth ball attack in modern table tennis is a fast attack with enough topspin to land the ball deep on the receiver’s side of the table. The trajectory of the ball is flat and low, with a dip at the end towards the table. This type of stroke is often called a power loop, rip, or loop kill.
See also: third ball attack, fifth ball attack, sixth ball attack
