Banana flick and strawberry flick

Setup

1. Pairs on a table: a server with a box of balls and a receiver.
2. The server uses legal short serves (open palm, toss of at least 16 cm, ball always in view) to the receiver's backhand and middle.
3. Clear the balls from around the receiver's feet after each set; they will be stepping in under the table.

How it runs

1. Set 1: short backspin and no-spin serves; the receiver plays only banana flicks, crosscourt then down the line.
2. Set 2: short sidespin serves; the receiver plays strawberry flicks, again to both corners.
3. Set 3: the server mixes the serves; the receiver chooses the flick, or pushes when the serve is too low to attack.
4. Ten serves a set, then swap. Finish with points where the server must win from the fourth ball.

Coaching points

• Step in with the right foot (for a right-hander) under the table so the ball is played in front of the body, not reached for.
• Banana: elbow up and forward, wrist cocked back; the bat starts low behind the ball, wraps round its left side and finishes forward and up.
• Strawberry: turn the wrist the other way so the bat brushes the right side of the ball; it comes out flatter, with less topspin and the sidespin reversed.
• Take the ball at the top of its bounce or just before; late contact drags it into the net.
• Recover out of the table straight after the flick: a good return will come back quickly.

Common mistakes

• Moving the arm from the shoulder instead of using the forearm and wrist.
• Leaving the front foot outside the table, so the ball is played at full stretch.
• Flicking every serve, including heavy backspin that sits too low to attack.
• Staying over the table after the flick.