The Importance of A Loose Elbow in Table Tennis
Even though the topic title may seem a little unusual, it is still significant. Many new and developing players struggle to master strokes, and a typical issue is elbow tightening. Sometimes when playing a shot, the swing is too large or the elbow is locked, which causes the stroke to concentrate around a swing from the shoulder.
Why Is a Loose Elbow Important?
Let’s start by discussing the effects of a tight elbow. A tight elbow inhibits the ability to retain good touch by causing the tricep and forearm to become tight. Having a strong hold on the handle can also have a similar result.
Overtightening of muscles can be detrimental in a sport where touch is crucial and small adjustments can have a large impact on the ball’s impact and the outcome.
Here are some examples:
- Since the player is managing the speed of the swing with their arm, a tight arm swing without full extension restricts the speed transfer of the ball and may interfere with balance and stroke mechanics.
- When pushing long or short, a tight extended elbow hinders control and typically makes the ball bounce higher off the bat.
- For looping strokes, a stiff elbow frequently precludes a proper backswing.
- Swinging across the shoulder can frequently lead to muscle cramping, shoulder pain, and possible subsequent rotator cuff damage, among other things.
What are the Benefits of a Lose Elbow
- aids in a more natural backswing where the body turns and the bat drops gently and steadily. As a result, the swing is more natural and the player can begin below the ball each time they want to play with more topspin.
- A relaxed arm produces the most accurate and effective weight transfer because it acts as a follow-through to the true weight transfer, which comes from the legs and core muscles.
- More elbow flexibility enables better touch and control, which in turn allows for more pace and spin variation and also aids in keeping the ball close to the goal, particularly in situations involving short and long pushes.
