Over The Table Loop For Left Handed Penholders

If you watch modern table tennis on the pro level, you'll see just how much the over the table loop on service return has taken over the game.

(over the table loop done to perfection)

And if you ask my training partners, I love this shot. However, being left handed I think there's a different dynamic in performing this shot as compared to the some of the top pros we think of when one mentions this shot. Namely Fan Zhendong or Zhang Jike. They're both right handed and largely practice this shot vs other right handers.

I first noticed how easy this shot was for me in doubles yet difficult in singles. The reason for this as I thought about it became pretty clear. In doubles, the serve is going right to where you want it. In singles, you have to be prepared for a serve anywhere on the table.

Here's something to consider....

When facing someone opposite handed from yourself, assuming that player serves from their back corner as most players do, if you want to backhand over the table loop that ball, it will most likely be curving away from you assuming they are performing the most common serve in the world, some variation of the pendulum serve. So what's that mean. Take a look at the gif above. FZD has this serve curving into him which I believe makes this shot easier. The serve is largely coming directly to his body. Also note on this pendulum serve, FZD's return continues the spin. If the sever here were to play a down the line serve, FZD can easily reach it with his forehand and if it's long, look out because here comes a powerful loop. 

Now lets compare with how this works for a lefty.

(gamble backhand over the table loop)

Here Xu Xin gambles and it pays off vs Ma Long. But lets look at what happened. First off Xu Xin likes to receive and play his forehand most of the time. That's why he's standing to far so the right. He has a further way to go to get this ball that's curving away from him. This is why it looks awkward in this case for even one of the best players in the world. Additionally, this ball is now spinning into his rubber when he strokes it. Not continuing the spin like FZD did above. What's that mean? That means the ball is probably going to bite or sink into his rubber a little more than what FZD did above. So it will be more reactive. XX will have to be careful of this. 

Could Xu Xin play more in the middle before the serve making this movement less awkward for him? Sure. But then he concedes serves down the line to his backhand which Ma Long would take any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

So what's my final thoughts on this topic coming from a left penholder's prospective? If you want to attack short serves, develop a really good forehand flip. Here then you can continue to stand where Xu Xin does at the start of this serve ready to play either a forehand loop if it's off the table, a forehand push or flip if it's short, Or a standard backhand that will come right at you if the serve is down the line.

(proper forehand flip)