Ask The Experts: Rachid El Boubou
Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question:

The backhand loop. Should the stroke be forward and up (concave) Or like the forehand loop up and forward (convex)?
Also, should the blade be open or closed?

Answer: 

This Ask the Experts question was answered by Rachid El Boubou. He is a Coach at Tulsa Table Tennis Club and his response is as follows:

Richard,

Regarding your question on the backhand loop, all of the new style players are leaning towards the forward and straight and then it depends on the ball –

 If it’s underspin then you should use the concave style, but if the ball is topspin then you can hit it forward and straight with a close blade position for power.

Best of luck!

Coach Rachid El Boubou