Forehand/Backhand Flick

Basic Principles

• Watching the contact of the bat with the ball is the best way to observe what spin is on the ball. The angle of the bat indicates if the serve is backspin, no spin or topspin.
• The direction of the bat movement at contact indicates whether the serve has left or right sidespin.
• Top players also watch the label of the ball - if the label can be seen, the serve has no or minimal spin. If the label is not seen, it is usually heavy spin.
• Combinations of heavy spin and no spin are the most common variations of the same serve.
• Both the direction of the bat and the angle of the bat indicate the spin.
• Short serves can be returned using flick, long push or short push. All three should be done with a similar initial movement and only at the last moment change the stroke to flick, long push or short push with variation of the placement. In this way, like the serve, the opponent will only have the minimum amount of time to react to the return.
• Long serves should always be returned with topspin for attacking players.

The development of the game over many years has been connected to the improvement of the return of service. Good players have the following strong characteristics in this part of their game:

• They adopt a starting position with the bat higher than normal.
• They have a starting position and footwork that allows good forward movement and recovery.
• They always attack the serve if there is a possibility to do so. Topspin is the most used weapon.
• They attack all half long or long services

The Flick Return
The wrist used in this is a stroke to produce a short topspin or no spin shot over the table.
Variations to this are to use an open bat starting position and then on contact the bat is in the neutral position. Another variation is using the ‘feint flick’ in which the upper body moves in one direction and the wrist sends the ball in the opposite direction at the last moment.

In and Out Footwork
In all of the above returns, good footwork is vital and the head should be as close to the contact point as possible (i.e. do not stretch). To enable the player to achieve this, ‘In and Out’ footwork needs to be practiced as this is necessary for returning a short service or a short return:

Forehand Flick

The flick is an attacking stroke against a short ball, using mostly the wrist and forearm. The starting position is the same as for the short push, so that the player can alter the direction, speed and spin, as well as to flick or push the ball short or long, with a quick change of the wrist. The flick will use more of an upward, brushing action against backspin, while the stroke is more horizontal against no spin, sidespin or topspin. A strong contact will also minimise the effect of the opponent’s spin. Quick recovery is essential as the follow through over the table leaves the player in a vulnerable position.

Preparation

• The right leg moves under the table for right-handers with the body angled forward and the arm slightly bent.

Back swing

• The bat moves forward horizontally with the bat neutral or slightly closed depending on the spin. With the elbow as the pivot point, the stroke is performed with the forearm and wrist.

Forward movement

• Contact is made at the top of the bounce in front of the body.

Follow through

• The bat continues to move forward and upward.
• The player then recovers by moving the right leg back

Backhand Flick

The flick is an attacking stroke against a short ball, using mostly the wrist and forearm. The starting position is the same as for the short push, so that the player can alter the direction, speed and spin as well as to flick or push the ball short or long, with a quick change of the wrist. The flick will use more of an upward, brushing action against backspin, while the stroke is more horizontal against no spin, sidespin or topspin. A strong contact will also minimise the effect of the opponent’s spin. For a ball wide on the backhand it is preferable to step forward with the left foot, which also has the player in a good position for a follow up forehand. In the middle to backhand area, the right foot will move under the table. Quick recovery is essential as the follow through over the table leaves the player in a vulnerable position.

• The right leg moves under the table for right-handers with the body angled forward and the arm slightly bent. The bat continues to move forward and upward.
• The player then recovers by moving the right leg back.

• The wrist is drawn back, the bat is neutral below the ball for backspin and more open, and behind the ball for no spin, sidespin and topspin.

• The ball is contacted at the top of the bounce.

• The bat continues to move forward and upward, finishing with the arm fully extended and the bat in a closed position.