Learn the flip in table tennis: attack short balls actively, with the wrist, milestones, risks, mistakes, safety notes and FAQ.
The flip (also "flick") is an active attack on short balls played over the table. You take the ball early and shortly after the bounce with a small, fast wrist movement. The English federation coaches define it as "Attacking stroke played when returning service or when opponent has touched short" [1]. It is the answer to the short serve when you do not want to push.
The honest answer to "is the risk worth it?": the flip is a stroke with two faces. On the one hand it is central at the top: among the best men from 1970 to 2021 the number of backhand flicks increased [3], and in an analysis of serve and return the flip occurred more often in men than in women against serves in certain table zones (1, 3 and 4) [4]. On the other hand it is error-prone: in an analysis of 48 players forehand and backhand flip were the most frequently lost techniques, the men lost more actions with flips than the women, who used more defensive strokes [2]. In the Olympic women's singles finals from 2004 to 2021 the share of flip strokes fell from 7.6 to 2.1 % [5]. In short: the flip is a risk stroke, not a must.
A note on context: the flip itself is little studied in biomechanics. Leg muscle activity in the flick is lower than in the smash or the forehand top [6]; it comes more from wrist and forearm.
How long does it take? You learn the basic principle in two or three sessions. Until the flip holds under pressure, expect weeks to months (practical experience, not a study).
A ball is flippable when it comes so short that it would bounce a second time on your side if you did not play it. It is typically seen after a short serve or a short push. The federation coaches name the flip as the attack on serve or short balls [1].
Milestone: On 8 of 10 feeds you recognise before the bounce that the ball is flippable.
Step with the foot under the table, bring the shoulder over the ball and hold the racket over the table edge. That way you hit the ball early and over the table.
Milestone: You step in with the correct foot on 8 of 10 short balls.
The flip is a short, fast stroke. You hit the ball at its highest point after the bounce and brush it forward and up. Leg activity in the flick is lower than in the smash [6] – the power comes from forearm and wrist, not from a swing. Against backspin you open the racket face more; research on the forehand shows that advanced players adapt to different spins more via racket angle than via stroke path [7] (transfer from the topspin counter to the flip, no direct measurement).
Milestone: 6 of 10 flips land in the back third of the table.
Play the flip into the elbow zone or the table corner. Among men the flip occurred mainly against serves in zones 1, 3 and 4 [4]; which zones these are is defined in the full text of the study.
Milestone: 5 of 10 flips reach the table with pace, 8 of 10 land on the table.
After the flip you prepare the next stroke. A study with ten national players compared the backhand flick sequence with a subsequent backhand or forehand block: the forehand block reached higher racket speed and longer hitting phases, the backhand block ran more compactly [8].
Milestone: After the flip you return the next ball in a controlled way in 7 of 10 cases.
Choose the flip by situation: in an analysis of 48 top players men flipped more often and lost more actions doing so [2][4]. A secure push is often better than an unsure flip. In a session count how many of 20 flips score or land on the table; if the error rate is above 30 %, practise the push first (practical experience, no study).
An attacking stroke on short balls over the table, played from the wrist. The English federation coaches call it "flick" [1].
When the ball comes short and you want to risk the attack instead of pushing.
Yes. In an analysis of 48 players forehand and backhand flip were among the most frequently lost techniques [2].
Among the best men the number of backhand flicks increased [3]; in the Olympic women's finals the share of flip strokes fell from 7.6 to 2.1 % [5].
Banana Flick in Table Tennis: The Curved Backhand Attack on Short Serves