The Chop
By: Dan Seemiller, U.S. Certified National Coach
(excerpt from Winning Table Tennis)
Jan. 7, 2004

The chop is a defensive stroke, used by players who would rather frustrate or wear down their opponents than overpower them. Through chopping, a defensive player can impart varying degrees of underspin to different places on the table. The chop differs from the push in that, first, you make contact on the descent instead of the ascent of the ball and, second, you use a much fuller motion and many major muscle groups.

Forehand Chop:

For the forehand, start away from the table, in a crouched stance with the right leg trailing the left. With the racket blade open and the bat arm bent and held about head high, cut down toward the ball, striking beneath the ball and following through by extending the arm fully downward and somewhat forward.

Backhand Chop:

When chopping from the backhand side, while in a crouched stance with the left leg trailing the right, cut down and beneath the ball and follow through fully by extending your arm downward. At impact, break your wrist for additional spin.

For both types of chop, vary the spin for diversity by varying the amount of wrist employed.