June 28, 2010
Basics with Werner Schlager
Courtesy of Butterfly-World
Basics with Werner Schlager
Starting with the backhand from the forehand side with a forehand topspin following a backhand flip.
The single World Champion of 2003, Werner Schlager, show us what is important in modern table tennis: you must be flexible to return the ball wherever it bounces and attack aggressively despite an unfavourable starting position. The number 16 of the world ranking list moves with the backhand to the forehand side to play a backhand flip. The Austrian is despite his unfavourable position of his feet still able to play the following return of the opponent, which is placed in the middle of the forehand, with a forehand topspin by speedily turning round. That is not written down in books and nothing for beginners. That is highest table tennis art. Werner must have anticipated the service of the opponent in such a way that he thought of the backhand flip as the best solution. By doing that he leaves himself open for two weak points: he could be caught out on the wide backhand or at the turning point. He still takes the risk. He receives the ball in the middle of the forehand and manages because of his athleticism and flexibility to play a powerful topspin in this tricky situation and solve the problem. Precisely that is the art: to react unexpectedly with a lot of pressure in a difficult situation.
Picture 1
Picture 1: Werner is standing in the basic position on the backhand side, slightly open, with parallel legs, the bat in the neutral position in front of his body and is expecting the service.
Picture 2
Picture 2: He has noticed the placement of the serve – the ball can’t yet be seen on the picture- then he pushes off with his left leg and takes the right leg forward in the direction of the forehand side.
Picture 3
Picture 3: He places his right foot down over the heel. The ball is placed short in the middle of the forehand.
Picture 4
Picture 4: He rolls the foot from the heel to the front and takes the bodyweight with the front of the foot. Simultaneously he bends the right knee a lot. So he can move the body over the right leg to play a backhand flip from the forehand side.
Picture 5
Picture 5: The whole dynamic and aggressiveness of this flip is underlined by the nearly outstretched playing arm and the jump with both legs at the end of the stroke.
Picture 6
Picture 6: Werner is in an extreme position at the table, which means far in the forehand side. The bodyweight is now on the right leg.
Picture 7
Picture 7: He pushes off with the right leg to get back to the table.
Picture 8
Picture 8: He straightens up and starts a parallel jump.
Picture 9
Picture 9: The jump is nearly finished but the right leg is in front. That could indicate that Werner wants to play one more backhand.
Picture 10
Picture 10: But the ball is placed to Werner’s forehand and he plays a forehand topspin from this inconvenient position. Speedily he shifts his bodyweight to the left leg so that he can take the right leg backwards.
Picture 11
Picture 11: Despite the poor position to the ball and time pressure Werner succeeds in playing a powerful forehand topspin with optimal stroke movement.
Picture 12
Picture 12: At the end of the stroke Werner has caught the bodyweight and the strong forward impulse on the front left leg. The back right leg stabilizes the balance.
Picture 13
Picture 13: Werner moves back into the playing position which is slightly backwards because of the stroke.
Basics with Werner Schlager
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