Site Products
Larry Hodges, table tennis coach

How to Flip Short, Heavy Backspin

(by Larry Hodges)

For this, I’m assuming you know how to flip, either forehand or backhand, preferably both. (If not, YouTube is your friend! Or work on it with a coach.) But many players have trouble flipping against heavy backspin, and so just push those balls back. But that makes you predictable, a serious weakness.

Instead, learn to use all three receives against a short, heavy backspin serves – push long or short, and flip. Perhaps favor one or two of these receives, and use the other one or two receives as a variation.

But how do you flip a ball that’s low and heavy with backspin? It’s all about the racket angle and contact. Most players get used to flipping against moderate backspin. Most players can’t really serve both short and very heavy, and so you get less practice against it. And when they do see it, they fall back on what they are used to – flipping moderate backspin, and since there’s more backspin then they are used to, they go into the net.

Against heavy backspin, open the racket a LOT. Once you do this, lifting it is easy. Just brush under and behind the back of the ball with a topspin stroke, and lift the ball over the net. With practice, you’ll find something amazing – it’s often easier to flip against heavy backspin then against a no-spin ball. Why? Because you can easily convert all that incoming backspin into outgoing topspin. The trick is really just reading the spin and opening the racket more than you are used to.

Work with a coach or practice partner on this – have them serve low, short, heavy backspin over and over as you work on flipping it. Ideally, have a box of balls so you can do this over and over without playing out the point. Once you get used to doing it, you’ll never have trouble flipping against heavy backspin again.

Latest News

Playing Kids

July 8, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Let’s face it; they’re probably faster than you. They might have a coach working with… Read More

#2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down The Line

July 7, 2025
[[Feature] [Special Feature] American Stars! Jha’s Strengths #2 A Skill That Is Likely To Score – Backhand Down… Read More

United States Smash: Tight Scores and a Big Upset in Early Action

July 7, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Action is underway in the main round of the United States Smash, the… Read More

MLTT Featured Team: Bay Area Blasters

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Bay Area Blasters plan to blast through the upcoming Major League Table… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) Established in 2002, Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association (CUSTTA) is Alberta’s largest Table Tennis… Read More

Butterfly Players Shine at the 2025 US National Table Tennis Championships

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The 2025 U.S. National Table Tennis Championships is one of the premiere annual… Read More

US Nationals Recap

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The US National Table Tennis Championships is in the books.  One of America’s premiere events… Read More

United States Smash: Qualifiers are Finished and the Main Draw Begins Today

July 6, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) Americans made waves in the qualifying rounds of the United States Smash, the… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.