Editing Table tennis (section)

=== Offensive strokes ===

==== Hit ====
Also known as speed drive, a direct hit on the ball propelling it forward back to the opponent. This stroke differs from speed drives in other racket sports like tennis because the racket is primarily ''[[perpendicular]]'' to the direction of the stroke and most of the energy applied to the ball results in ''speed'' rather than ''spin'', creating a shot that does not arc much, but is fast enough that it can be difficult to return. A speed drive is used mostly for keeping the ball in play, applying pressure on the opponent, and potentially opening up an opportunity for a more powerful attack.

==== Loop ====
Perfected during the 1960s,<ref name=H2/><ref name="Hudetz">{{cite web|url=http://blog.tabletennis11.com/how-topspin-revolutionized-table-tennis|title=A History Lesson: How Topspin Revolutionized Table Tennis|last=Hudetz|first=Radivoj|date=17 October 2017|work=Tabletennis11|access-date=2 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306044632/http://blog.tabletennis11.com/how-topspin-revolutionized-table-tennis|archive-date=6 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> the loop is essentially the reverse of the chop. The racket is ''[[Parallel (geometry)|parallel]]'' to the direction of the stroke ("closed") and the racket thus ''grazes'' the ball, resulting in a large amount of topspin. A good loop drive will arc quite a bit, and once striking the opponent's side of the table will jump forward, much like a kick serve in tennis. Most professional players nowadays, such as [[Ding Ning]], [[Timo Boll]] and [[Zhang Jike]], primarily use loop for offense.

==== Counter-hit ====
The counter-hit is usually a counterattack against drives, normally high loop drives. The racket is held closed and near to the ball, which is hit with a short movement "off the bounce" (immediately after hitting the table) so that the ball travels faster to the other side. [[Kenta Matsudaira]] is known for primarily using counter-hit for offense.

==== Flip ====
When a player tries to attack a ball that has not bounced beyond the edge of the table, the player does not have the room to wind up in a ''backswing''. The ball ''may still be attacked'', however, and the resulting shot is called a flip because the backswing is compressed into a quick wrist action. A flip is not a single stroke and can resemble either a loop drive or a loop in its characteristics. What identifies the stroke is that the backswing is compressed into a short wrist flick.

==== Smash ====
A player will typically execute a smash when the opponent has returned a ball that bounces too high or too close to the net. It is nearly always done with a forehand stroke. ''Smashing'' uses rapid acceleration to impart as much speed on the ball as possible so that the opponent cannot react in time. The racket is generally perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. Because the speed is the main aim of this shot, the spin on the ball is often minimal, although it can be applied as well. An offensive table tennis player will think of a rally as a build-up to a winning smash. Smash is used more often with penhold grip.