Balls in the Middle
Jennifer Mast
4/12/2006

A lot of people have problems when balls come to the middle or more to the backhand side of the table. For me, part of the problem is because of the indecision of whether to do a backhand or a forehand. This hesitation causes me to get the ball late when I step around. I try to decide before the match, or during practice, whether I’m going to get most of those balls with my forehand or my backhand.

The other part of the problem is that I just don’t move over fast enough. The most important thing for me to remember is my feet.

My feet are the first things that move. I have to move over far enough and then get underneath the ball, making sure that I shift my feet up and forward (against underspin). If I sometimes still am late on the ball, I try to take a smaller swing and twist my waist more.

[Playing Tips.]