How to Use Sidespin in Table Tennis

Sidespin is a powerful tool for your table tennis game. Sidespin allows you to control the lateral direction of the ball, which makes your opponent play defensively. Here are some tips to help you utilize sidespin in your table tennis game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Use sidespin primarily during your serve. While sidespin can be useful during a point, it is more powerful during the serve as it forces your opponent to go on the defense and it gives you control over ball placement.

    • 2

      Move the paddle horizontally either toward or away from your body while you strike the ball to apply sidespin. You achieve sidespin by spinning the ball parallel to the table. This causes the ball to careen to the opposite direction when it makes contact with the opponent's paddle.

    • 3

      Decide if you want the spin to benefit your forehand or backhand. Sidespin will either cause your opponent to return the ball to your forehand or your backhand, so decide which way you prefer to hit the ball or which side you are more comfortable on before you serve.

    • 4

      Apply spin toward your body to have your opponent return to your backhand. This is pull sidespin, as you have to pull the racket toward your body. If you have a strong backhand, this will allow you to take control of the point early. Be careful because you can impart too much speed to the ball with pull sidespin which can mean you miss your opponent's side of the table altogether.

    • 5

      Put spin on by moving the paddle away from your body to have your opponent return to your forehand. This is push sidespin. You do not have to put as much spin when pushing as you do when applying pull sidespin. Be careful not to hit the ball with the edge of the paddle when you apply the spin.