How to Block in Table Tennis: A No-Nonsense Guide

Last Updated on April 25, 2024 by Alex Horscroft

What Is a Block?

The block is your ideal defensive shot for tackling balls that are too fast to attack. It has a short stroke length, is easy to perform, and every player uses it irrespective of their style of play.

Even professionals use it, so if you think you can get away with not knowing the block you are sadly mistaken my friend!

Why Should I Learn the Block?

The modern table tennis game is dominated by the offensive style which has reduced the average time we have to react to incoming shots. This means we are frequently facing balls that are too quick to play effective counter-attacks against.

So what is the solution? Play a defensive shot, which is quick to perform and has a high degree of success.

The block is the quickest shot to perform.
The block is the easiest shot to execute against fast balls.

Use Your Opponent’s Pace Against Them

While blocks are a great way for attackers to regain their composure and prepare themselves to start attacking again, blocks are also a great way to put pressure back on your opponent.

This is because you are redirecting these fast balls right back at your opponent. And because you contact the ball early for the block, rather than at the top of the bounce, your opponents don’t have a lot of time to react.

Then when you add placement into the equation, you really give your opponent a tough time. A well-placed block against a strong loop or smash, for instance, is easily sufficient to win the point.

When Should I Play a Block?

Should

You can use blocks against any ball with sufficient pace. However, they work best against fast balls with topspin.

You should use blocks in situations where you don’t have enough time to execute a counter-attack. This discourages you from forcing offensive shots of your own which have a low likelihood of going in, thus keeping the rally alive.

Blocks are also highly useful against slow spinny loop openers against backspin. These balls are tricky to attack. And unless you have great footwork and a quality counter-loop a block is probably the best shot to play a return.

Shouldn’t

Unless you use a blocking style you are probably more effective using offensive strokes. Most players are these days. Therefore avoid overusing blocks in topspin rallies. It’s easy to become comfortable and complacent, but once your block has fulfilled its purpose ideally you should get back to attacking.

Don’t block far away from the table. Blocks are pretty ineffective from this distance. You should either loop or lob depending on the height of the ball and your positioning.

How to Perform a Block

Step 1: Stance & Build up

• Stand close to the table. Within an arm’s reach
• Position your feet around shoulder width apart. This gives you a solid base.
• Your feet should be in line with one another. Assuming you’re performing a backhand bloc. For forehand have your non-dominant foot slightly behind.
• Distribute your weight mainly to the balls of your feet. This helps you react quicker
• Bend your knees. The helps with balance and control
• Lean forward. Improves balance and power.
• Bend your elbow and have it in front of you. This is the correct position for the backhand. For forehand, it should still be bent but to the side of your body.

Step 2: Striking the Ball

• Move your paddle forward to meet the ball. Focus on good clean contact.
• Adjust your racket angle. To account for the level of topspin
• Contact the ball shortly after the bounce. This gives your opponent less time to react

Step 3: Finish and Recovery

• Follow through with your stroke. Around half of the stroke’s length is the follow through
• Return to the ready position. To prepare you for the next ball.

Top Tip to Becoming a Blocking Expert

My top tip to becoming a blocking expert is to become familiar with heavy topspin. While it doesn’t take too long to start returning smashes and the like through regular play, blocking heavy spin is something that takes far longer to learn.

I can’t count how many players I have played against who fall victim to my heavy topspin loops. It’s one of my greatest strengths, and a particularly weak area for most players. The thing is, these players are usually able to make contact with the ball, but my topspin kicks it right off of the end of the table.

And even having missed several of my loops in quick succession, these players still can’t close their racket angle enough to get the ball back in. It’s almost like your muscle memory forces you to repeat your normal blocking action, even though you’re aware the ball won’t go in. It’s really frustrating, and I know what it feels like! I too had to overcome this!

Drill Blocks Against Heavy Topspin Loops

Given heavy topspin loops are a common problem area, my recommendation is for you to become familiar with heavy topspin. The easiest way to do this is to find a playing partner who loops against backspin.

Have them perform a chop serve against you, and push the ball long. Ask them to open up from backspin with a slow spinny loop opener. This makes it easier for you to return as the loop is not fast. Therefore you can focus on adjusting your racket angle to account for the topspin.

You really need to close that sucker more than you expect. And remember, this ball is loaded with topspin, it shoots forward even though it’s not particularly fast. This means you largely need to just get behind the ball and don’t have to apply much force of your own.

To begin with, most of your blocks will drift long, but through repetition, you’ll start getting the ball in and this new kind of block will enter your muscle memory. And in time, it will become mostly second nature.

Recommended Videos to Help You Learn

I’m a big fan of Ping Skills’ videos and this one on how to perform the forehand block is a perfect introduction for beginners. Alois is very clear with his explanations, and he even uses slow-mo to help show the shot in action. For a 5 minute video, you simply can’t get any better.

Another video I recommend watching is this one by Yangyang TT. She explains how to return slow spinny loop openers (my top tip from above).

She visually shows the key mistakes that players make which I really like. She also references blocking the ball deep to make it harder for your opponent to kill the ball on the follow-up. This is a great tip. However, she doesn’t mention about taking the ball early, so remember to do this.

Common mistakes

1. Poking at the ball. The block is a stroke that you play close to the body. You should avoid extending your arm too far away from you. It will result in a loss of control and it will take longer for you to reset after each stroke.
2. Forgetting about your racket angle. Many players are overly focused on hitting the ball and forget to account for spin. This process is just as important as your return will either pop the ball up high for a smash or it will miss the table altogether.
3. Not moving your body. While the block is one of the easiest shots to get away with by moving just your arm and not your body, it’s not a good habit to get into. If the stroke coming your way isn’t blisteringly fast and you have enough time to move your feet you should.
4. Hitting the ball too late. Unlike most other strokes, you don’t hit the block at the top of the bounce. You instead take the ball early.
5. Bending your wrist too much. For the block, you should mostly keep your wrist straight. This makes the shot easier to play and gives you one less element to think about.

Next Lesson

I expect you’re probably already in the process of learning the forehand drive and backhand drive, so my recommendation is to take it a step further and learn the forehand smash.