Backhand topspin attack - Amateur vs Pro technique in slow motion

In this video I compare the backhand topspin technique of an amateur player (myself) with the backhand topspin technique of a professional player (England No.1 Liam Pitchford).
Liam's backhand topspin attack is one of the best in the world. It is very fast, with lots of spin and his placement is exceptional. How is he able to play such an amazing backhand topspin attack?
To help us work it out, I use some side-by-side slow motion analysis. I identify I few things Liam does, which enables him to play with a lot more speed and spin than me.
At the end of the video Liam attempts to return my long sidespin serve. At the amateur level, I have a lot of success with this. But will my serve challenge Liam? Watch to find out!
In the video Liam is using the following equipment:
Blade: Victas Liam Pitchford blade: bribartt.co.uk...
Rubbers: Victas V15 Extra: bribartt.co.uk...
You might also be interested in Liam’s Masterclass coaching series he recorded with Table Tennis Daily Academy: tabletennisdai...
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[@brunoamsantana]

the best tutorial about BH on KZbin. Congrats!

[@davidg8888]

I love these slo-mo comparisons. This is especially interesting as I've recently been trying to develop that wrist action - with some success but still along way off Liam's of course. The similarity to his banana flick is striking and that's another shot I'd love to perfect. The little heel raise transferring weight as he strikes is something I need to add, as I'm sure I'm more flat-footed. Also notable is the breathing out as he strikes the ball.

[@adidasadriano]

Also Liam's elbow only moves before but not during ball contact in comparison to Tom's backhand. That's interesting

[@amitjain11000]

Great observation

[@ratthachat]

Golden teaching video!! ❤. Please make a video like this perhaps on serve ❤

[@TomLodziak]

Thank you for your support!

[@KyMAHOBOyCBET]

My backhand was not good in the last two weeks, I’m sure this video will help me to improve it! Thanks Tom

[@guetali]

i have the strange impression if we try to imitate Liam awesome backhand topspin it will bring us to a lot of problem before contolling it ... :) amazing video thanks !

[@simongb7897]

Incredible the whip, it's kind of like Liam is throwing the bat like a frisbee, his hand goes back 180 degrees.

[@myself6745]

Yess yessssssssssss That's the thing I noticed with most backhand topspin except ma long ( he punches with a wrist rotation) Disc golfing what I imagined tho

[@karl1469]

Watch as Liam hits the ball with the tip of his TT bat 02:12-02:30; unlike Tom who uses the center of the TT bat 01:55-02:12. Given a mentionable wrist rotation movement, this optimizes the speed that can be transferred to the ball.

[@davidg8888]

Good spot, though if I wanted to try to emulate it, it'd take a bit more accuracy to use only the top end of the bat like that. Good point though.

[@Akifrend]

Thanks, this Amateur vs Pro series is amazing !!!

[@serebrovmm]

Also elbow movement/shoulder rotation. Tom's movement is linear, while Liam's elbow starts moving forward while his wrist is still moving backwards, creating a tension that is later released in that awesome whippy swing.

[@andreismirnov8018]

Hello, Tom. Great video! Two more observations. Liliam plays the stroke with the top edge of the paddle, while you hit with the paddle's center. Also, his elbow is protruded much more forward which makes a room for a hand swing which acts as a whip.

[@WeeklyFreshTableTennis]

This is an outstanding video and explanation. Tom! you have nailed it! Big Thx.

[@fredriksigeman]

Haha! Love the bleeps at the end. Great video.

[@sharpvidtube]

The speed Liam generates is frightening. The consistency too. Not sure my wrist bends that much😂

[@lupo3694]

ikr, his backhand is like on cannon

[@sdazxcf]

Liam's back hand is so OP even Fan Zhen Dong chose not to go for his back hand during would cup

[@wonderwang1585]

thanks fo much, Tom. Your analysis is to the point and very helpful to me.

[@tamasbrenyo1348]

Great video again! Very good analysis and presentation of pro technique. Sorry he could kill most of your serves you had barely any time to react wow :) isn't this is one of the reasons why pros tend to serve short as at this level almost all long serves can be attacked?

[@costaches]

perfect analysis!!!!! Thanks a lot!!

[@markcorson3815]

Well done very good analysis. Yr best video ever!

[@rogerhance5883]

Good video Tom. I really like th slow motion side on clips.

[@John-kl9pb]

worth watching every second

[@backspacer92]

This series is great. Hope there is more coming. Did you do this for top spins against backspin too?

[@ttrocks5985]

Very helpful video. Still working on making all the moving parts (as it were) automatic. Practice, practice, practice! :) It's coming along, though.

[@nairn20]

Thanks again Tom - and Liam 😮

[@phildurre9492]

cool video! keep up the great work

[@tomislavkatic4701]

This backhand is crazy!!

[@mohdjunaid1064]

Nice Tom 👌✌️

[@shifangli1009]

great ttutorial!

[@zizo015]

Good analysis

[@kaleyikan]

I would be nothing without you thx a lot

[@MMCkingdom]

Outstanding information 😊

[@Bob.Raf.]

Great video as usual

[@foccalabindella2]

keep these slow motion packed videos coming cause they are super helpufl, oh and keep the cussing too ! 🤣🤣🤣

[@plcdatvl]

thank you for your great video!!

[@Joygulplay]

Liam is my favourite player. 😁

[@bobsyouruncle5534]

Liam the Machine

[@zdromir6030]

Thank you :)

[@rcarioca]

Very good video explanation

[@eloimumford5247]

@4.30 the real explanation is about lowering the center of gravity (not to argue you about wording) ah ah ...Liam is catapulting the ball , wonderful technique.

[@myself6745]

Another thing just realized When I do multiballs I noticed that The shots I hit at the tip of the racket tends to be alot faster than at the center

[@chasefire-o1n]

his grip and wrist is way more loose than yours, thats why he can bend his wrist and can produce so much spin and power. You can see at also at his swing after the contact, which ist not as clean as fore example Patrick Franziska. Nevertheless his Backhand is great. On the downside its not so easy to control and to be conistenst for amateurs and its hard to be so loose the hole time. Our Ex-2.Bundesliga player is also using this tecnique, but only if the ball is a a little bit higher than usual and then BOOM.

[@birko4507]

Hey Tom im an Intermediate player and i was wondering if you had any bat that you could recommend me because im searching for a better one but it shouldnt be too expensive! Thanks in advance if you answer!

[@TomLodziak]

Take a look at this article on my website, which includes bat recommendations for intermediate players: www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/best-table-tennis-bats-for-intermediate-players/

[@ירוןגולן-ב8צ]

Liam is little jumping all through his play?

[@nursyambuddy8023]

Mantap 👍

[@blueheart9873]

My backhand got worse with the JOOLA Dynaryz. The top surface is too hard and it's difficult to apply spin without speed

[@TomLodziak]

Which Dynaryz rubber are you using? I use Dynaryz AGR on my BH and it works very nicely for close to the table blocks, drives and topspins.

[@blueheart9873]

@@TomLodziak I already use the softest of three in purple (CMD)

[@TomLodziak]

@@blueheart9873 I find CMD a little slow. Have you tried ACC? You may find this one a little more dynamic and easier to spin the ball.

[@yunghanhuang8188]

that's fast

[@myself6745]

Liams arm looks like a whip

[@explainable1374]

I was kinda wondering, which of you is taller

[@csc1671]

😂great, thanks!

[@stefanreuter9626]

😂😂😂 I'm so curious, what you say, when the peep sound appears 😂😂😂

[@TomLodziak]

A few 'F' words!

[@kdgr]

🏓👍

[@Philoreason]

Cross court fast long serves are asking to be punished... I only do it once at most in any set, and only do it if the opponent is standing too much to the side of the table.

[@etaisteigman9631]

You should mention his breathing.

[@BenjiBear]

Super slow sponge table tennis

[@rsim03]

no 1 bh topspin from china....😂

[@uutuubiahv]

you are such an amateur and are trying to teach others to make little money))

[@woejinslow]

Thats why he has guest pros, hes the host, you silly goose!