Improving Smash Consistency in Table Tennis: The Real Fixes
Coach Tom Lodziak lists several things that can go wrong with a smash, including body position, bat starting position, bat angle, timing, swing trajectory and contact, and gives three common examples: standing too square on, holding the bat too low and opening the bat angle too far. This guide follows his page Can’t smash, won’t smash (tabletenniscoach.me.uk).
Short answer: Position yourself a little more side-on to the ball, get the bat up around shoulder height, make contact when the ball is at shoulder height (rising or falling), and angle the bat slightly toward the table while hitting through the back of the ball. That is the basic technique Tom Lodziak describes for smashing a high ball.
Table of Contents
The Core Technique for a High-Ball Smash
Tom Lodziak’s four steps for a high ball: position your body a little more side-on to the ball, get your bat up around shoulder height, make contact when the ball is at shoulder height (either rising or falling), and slightly angle your bat toward the table while hitting through the back of the ball.
Mistake 1: Squaring On Too Much
Lodziak’s warning is that if you are too square on, you are likely to flap at the ball. Turning a little more side-on is his fix.
Mistake 2: Holding the Bat Too Low
Lodziak says that if your bat is too low, you are likely to let the ball drop too much and smash it into the net. Starting with the bat up around shoulder height is part of his basic technique.
Mistake 3: An Overly Open Bat Angle
Lodziak says that if the bat angle is too open, you are likely to hit the ball off the end of the table. His basic technique angles the bat slightly toward the table.
What About Adding Topspin?
Tom Lodziak notes that some players like to spin the ball when they smash, and says he prefers to keep the technique simple. Whether to add some brushing contact is a matter of preference, and this guide does not give a tested figure for how much it helps.
📊 Note: Whichever contact you choose, a controlled swing is a general way to keep margin for error. This is general advice rather than a tested claim.
Reading Spin Before You Commit
The spin on the incoming ball can also affect a smash. As general advice, taking a moment to read whether the ball carries backspin, topspin or sidespin before you commit can help avoid smashing too early, since different spins call for different contact. This is general advice rather than a sourced finding.
⚠️ Watch out: Rushing a smash before you have judged the incoming spin can turn an easy opportunity into an error.
What the Source Says About Practice Time
Tom Lodziak writes that smashing a high ball is “one of the easier skills in table tennis” and that “In my coaching sessions, almost all players can smash consistently with just 15 minutes of focused practice using a fairly basic technique.” That is one coach’s stated experience, not a study. He also says smashing does require practice and that he does not know anyone who instinctively knew how to smash.
A Practical Training Progression
One general way to practice is to have a partner or coach feed controlled high balls and add power only once contact is consistent. Lodziak also recommends lob and smash rallies: he calls them good fun and a great physical workout, and says they let you practice smashes while your partner practices sending high balls back.
💡 Pro tip: Resist the urge to jump straight to full-power, match-speed smashing before your basic contact and placement are reliable at a controlled pace. The progression from controlled to powerful matters more than how quickly you get through it.
Placement
Placement is a general tactical choice rather than a sourced finding, but aiming at an opponent’s playing elbow or a wide corner can be harder to handle than a smash at the middle of the table.
Smashing a Rising Ball Versus a Falling One
Tom Lodziak’s technique allows contact when the ball is at shoulder height, either rising or falling. In general terms, taking the ball on the rise leaves the opponent less time to recover, while waiting for it to fall gives you a little longer to read it. Neither is universally correct.
Adjusting the Technique for a Lower Ball
Lodziak’s technique is written for high balls. For a lower ball, the contact height and bat preparation would need to drop accordingly, since forcing a high-ball swing onto a low ball can produce the net-catching miss that holding the bat too low causes. This is general reasoning rather than a sourced finding.
Why Confidence Matters Once the Technique Is Sound
Lodziak’s page opens with a scene in which tension after a high lob tightens the muscles and the smash is missed. In general terms, hesitation after a few misses can make a sound swing worse, and practicing in a low-stakes setting can help you build a record of clean contact. This is general advice rather than a sourced finding.
Footwork Sets Up Everything Else
Lodziak lists correct body position among the elements of a consistent smash. As general advice, getting into a balanced position before the swing begins matters, since swing fixes help less if you arrive late or off balance.
- ✓Turn side-on to the ball rather than facing it square-on
- ✓Raise the bat to shoulder height in preparation, matching your intended contact point
- ✓Keep the swing controlled rather than maximal
- ✓Read the incoming spin before committing to the smash
- ✕Square on to the ball, causing an unstable, flapping swing
- ✕Hold the bat too low, letting the ball drop before contact
- ✕Open the bat angle too far, sending shots off the far end of the table
- ✕Rush a smash before actually confirming what spin the incoming ball is carrying
Where This Fits Into Your Overall Game
Lodziak notes that you do not get that many high balls in a table tennis match, but when you do get the occasional one, it should be your point.
The Short Version, Restated
Tom Lodziak names squaring on too much, holding the bat too low and opening the bat angle too far as common smash errors. He also says that in his coaching sessions almost all players can smash consistently after 15 minutes of focused practice with a fairly basic technique, which is one coach’s experience rather than a guaranteed timeline.
Common Questions
Why do I keep missing my smash in table tennis?
Tom Lodziak names three common errors: squaring on too much, holding the bat too low, and opening the bat angle too far.
Should I add topspin to a smash?
Tom Lodziak notes that some players like to spin the ball when they smash but prefers to keep the technique simple. It is a matter of preference.
Why read the spin before smashing?
As general advice, a moment to judge the incoming spin can help you avoid committing too early.
How long does it take to develop a consistent smash?
Tom Lodziak says that in his coaching sessions almost all players can smash consistently with just 15 minutes of focused practice using a fairly basic technique. That is one coach’s experience, not a guaranteed timeline.
What should smash practice actually look like?
One general approach is to have a partner feed controlled high balls at a manageable pace and add power once contact is consistent. Lodziak also recommends lob and smash rallies.
The Short Version
- →Turn side-on to the ball rather than squaring on to it.
- →Raise the bat to shoulder height and strike the ball at that same height.
- →Angle the bat slightly toward the table, hitting through the back of the ball.
- →Keep the swing controlled rather than maximal.
- →As general advice, read the incoming spin before committing.
- →Train with controlled, fed high balls before adding match-speed power.
Benjamin Fink is the Lead Equipment Analyst and Senior Contributor at Ping Pong Reviewed. A competitive USATT tournament player and table tennis technician with over 12 years of testing experience, Benjamin specializes in blade carbon composite physics, rubber sponge durometer hardness testing, ITTF equipment compliance, and table tennis robotics mechanics.
