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12 topspin and loop drills

The loop is the modern attacking stroke: brushed up the back of the ball for topspin. These drills train it against backspin and topspin, and in counter-loop rallies.

Updated 21 October 2026

Intermediate

Forehand Loop vs Backspin

  • Intermediate
  • 15 min
  • Multiball / robot
  • Forehand, Loop, Placement

Develop the forehand topspin loop against a backspin ball — the primary attacking weapon in modern table tennis.

Common mistakes

  • Hitting through the ball instead of brushing — produces a flat floater.
  • Starting the swing too high rather than below the ball's level.
  • Not adjusting bat angle for different levels of backspin.

Backhand Loop vs Backspin

  • Intermediate
  • 15 min
  • Multiball / robot
  • Backhand, Loop

Build the backhand topspin loop against backspin — essential for attacking short or mid-length pushes.

Common mistakes

  • Using the elbow as the pivot point rather than forearm rotation.
  • Contacting the ball too high — take it just after the peak, not at the top.
  • Bat angle too open — ball floats long with insufficient spin.

Short Serve + Third-Ball Attack

  • Intermediate
  • 15 min
  • Partner
  • Serve, Forehand, Loop

Practice the serve-attack combination: serve short to force a push, then attack the expected return.

Common mistakes

  • Not recovering to ready position fast enough after serving.
  • Over-committing to one side when the return can go anywhere.
  • Serving too deep, making your own serve attackable by the opponent.

Diagonal Forehand Loop Rally

  • Intermediate
  • 15 min
  • Partner
  • Forehand, Loop, Consistency

Loop-to-loop forehand exchange building topspin consistency, timing, and sustainable rally mechanics.

Common mistakes

  • Contacting the ball too late after the peak — reduces control.
  • Reducing spin under pressure and reverting to a flat drive.
  • Standing too close to the table — looping requires distance from the ball.

Pivot Forehand Attack

  • Intermediate
  • 12 min
  • Partner
  • Footwork, Forehand, Loop

Step around the backhand corner to attack from the forehand — a foundational tournament tactic.

Common mistakes

  • Not fully clearing the corner — restricts the swing arc.
  • Slow recovery after the pivot — leaves wide forehand exposed.
  • Rushing the stroke before the feet are fully in position.

Rapid-Fire Forehand Multiball

  • Intermediate
  • 15 min
  • Multiball / robot
  • Forehand, Consistency, Loop

High-intensity multiball session developing forehand automaticity, speed, and stroke integrity under fatigue.

Common mistakes

  • Shortening the swing under pace pressure — reverts to a slap with no spin.
  • Drifting back from the table after 10-15 balls.
  • Gripping too tightly — prevents fast grip relaxation between shots.

In-and-Out Footwork

  • Intermediate
  • 12 min
  • Multiball / robot
  • Footwork, Flick, Loop

Train the step in to a short ball and the step back out to attack the next deep ball.

Common mistakes

  • Staying close to the table after the short ball and getting the deep ball in the body.
  • Reaching for the short ball with a straight arm instead of stepping in.
  • Standing up while stepping in, which lifts the flick over the table.

Attack the Long Serve

  • Intermediate
  • 12 min
  • Partner
  • Return of Serve, Loop

Punish the fast long serve: read the length early and open with topspin instead of pushing.

Common mistakes

  • Pushing a long serve, which gives the server an easy first attack.
  • A big backswing that makes you late against a fast ball.
  • Standing so close to the table that the long serve reaches your body.

Advanced

Open-Up vs Heavy Backspin

  • Advanced
  • 15 min
  • Multiball / robot
  • Forehand, Loop

Train the forehand loop opener against heavy backspin — technically the most demanding single shot in the game.

Common mistakes

  • Underestimating backspin and pushing the ball into the net.
  • Over-opening the bat — ball sails long with insufficient spin.
  • Insufficient upward acceleration at contact — produces a weak float.

Third- and Fifth-Ball Attack Sequence

  • Advanced
  • 20 min
  • Partner
  • Serve, Loop, Forehand, Counter

Combine serve, third-ball attack, and fifth-ball counter into a complete tactical sequence used at elite level.

Common mistakes

  • Over-committing on the third ball — leaves no energy or position for the fifth.
  • Using the same serve every sequence — opponent reads the pattern.
  • Not recovering to center between third and fifth ball shots.

Counter-Looping Rally

  • Advanced
  • 15 min
  • Partner
  • Forehand, Loop, Counter

Sustained topspin-vs-topspin rally at high speed — tests stroke mechanics and spin reading under maximum pressure.

Common mistakes

  • Flattening the stroke under time pressure — produces an attackable ball.
  • Standing too close to the table — insufficient time to swing correctly.
  • Failing to read the incoming spin — contacting the wrong part of the ball.

Half-Long Ball: Loop or Push

  • Advanced
  • 15 min
  • Partner
  • Loop, Push, Placement

Master the hardest length in the game: decide in a split second whether the ball comes off the table and loop it if it does.

Common mistakes

  • Deciding late and looping a ball that would have bounced twice — the bat hits the table.
  • Standing up and swinging forward instead of brushing up over the table edge.
  • Pushing every half-long ball back long, which hands the attack to the opponent.

More drills

Train with Trainoro

The step-by-step instructions and an animated diagram of every ball — who hits, from where, to where — are in Trainoro’s Table Drills, along with training plans and a training diary.

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