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Why do you need to hit the ball at the top in table tennis?

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(@chadwick)
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Joined: 7 months ago
Posts: 9
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What is the Physics behind hitting the pingpong ball at the top of its trajectory? 

 

This topic was modified 3 weeks ago by chadwick

   
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Roel Comporal
(@roel)
Member Admin
Joined: 11 months ago
Posts: 73
 

I think, from a physics perspective, you should hit the ball at its peak because that's where it moves the slowest.

When a ping pong ball follows a projectile trajectory, its vertical velocity is zero at the peak height. Although its horizontal velocity remains constant, the overall speed is slowest at the top.

Hitting the ball when it's at its slowest gives you the best opportunity for timing.

 

Here some good  reference on projectile motion.

This post was modified 3 weeks ago by Roel Comporal

   
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vanreyes
(@vanreyes)
Estimable Member
Joined: 8 months ago
Posts: 107
 

@roel  How about the spin of the ball? I also agree that the speed of the table tennis ball is slowest at the peak of the trajectory. But speed and spin are different. Is spin also the slowest at the top?


   
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Roel Comporal
(@roel)
Member Admin
Joined: 11 months ago
Posts: 73
 

vanreyes,

From observation, the spin of the ball is also lowest at the top of the trajectory. You can hit heavy underspin with a powershot provided you perfectly timed it at the top of  the ball.


   
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