How to Put Away High Balls in Table Tennis | 3 Tips from Seth Pech

A high ball looks like an easy winner. Then you swing, catch it wrong, and watch it sail off the end of the table.

In this quick PechPong tip, Seth Pech breaks down three simple adjustments that can make attacking high balls much more reliable.

1. Contact the Ball to the Side of Your Body

One common mistake is getting directly behind the ball and making the stroke too linear.

Instead, Seth recommends positioning yourself so you can contact the ball to the side of your body. This gives you room to make a natural forward swing and control the ball with your racket angle.

The key point: you don't need to swing sharply downward to make the ball go down.

Use a closed racket angle and drive forward through the ball. The racket angle helps control the trajectory and bring the ball onto the table.

2. Get Your Racket Up Early

As soon as you recognize that the ball is going high, get your racket up.

Seth describes it as taking an "elevator ride" straight up.

Starting with the racket high makes it much easier to get over the ball and create the proper contact. If your racket starts too low, you'll have to lift it into position while the ball is already dropping, making the shot much harder to time.

See the high ball. Get the racket up. Then attack.

3. Contact Around Head Height

Seth's final tip is about timing.

Try to contact the ball around head height.

You have two choices:

• Take the ball as it rises to head height.

• Move your feet, give yourself space, and let the ball fall back to head height.

This is where footwork becomes especially important. Instead of reaching for a ball that's too high or letting it drop too low, move into a position where you can attack from a comfortable contact point.

Three Simple Cues to Remember

When the next high ball comes your way, think:

Side of the body. Racket up. Head height.

Those three adjustments can turn an awkward high-ball smash into a much more controlled attacking shot.

Watch Seth Demonstrate It

Watch the PechPong Short and pay particular attention to Seth's racket preparation and contact point. The technique is simple, but getting into the right position early makes all the difference.

Seth's Equipment:
Tibhar Hybrid K3 Rubber, Max Sponge

Seth uses Tibhar Hybrid K3 on both sides of his racket. Its tacky topsheet and hard, dynamic sponge are designed for the modern offensive game, including topspin, counterlooping and controlled attacking play.

Courtesy of Seth Pech / PechPong