The banana flick, also called the chiquita, is an aggressive backhand receiving stroke in which the player reaches over the table and brushes the ball with a curling motion, imparting sidespin and topspin to attack even short, low serves. Before it became widespread in the 2010s, receivers typically pushed short serves back passively, letting the server dictate the point.
Despite the small ball and short table, elite smashes are extremely fast. Because the table is only 2.74m long, the ball crosses to the opponent in a fraction of a second, giving players roughly a quarter of a second to react. Recorded exhibition smashes have exceeded 100 km/h, with some unofficial measurements higher, though the practical challenge is spin, not just speed.
Pick two names from this sport’s all-time list. The larger number in each shared stat is highlighted.
| Stat | Ma Long | Jan-Ove Waldner |
|---|
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The banana flick, also called the chiquita, is an aggressive backhand receiving stroke in which the player reaches over the table and brushes the ball with a curling motion, imparting sidespin and topspin to attack even short, low serves. Before it became widespread in the 2010s, receivers typically pushed short serves back passively, letting the server dictate the point.
Despite the small ball and short table, elite smashes are extremely fast. Because the table is only 2.74m long, the ball crosses to the opponent in a fraction of a second, giving players roughly a quarter of a second to react. Recorded exhibition smashes have exceeded 100 km/h, with some unofficial measurements higher, though the practical challenge is spin, not just speed.
Ma Long of China is the consensus greatest of all time. He is the only man to complete a double career Grand Slam, winning each of the World Championship, World Cup and Olympic singles titles at least twice, and his six Olympic gold medals make him the most decorated Olympic table tennis player. Beyond the trophies, his complete two-wing technique, footwork and longevity across multiple equipment eras set him apart.
The objective is to win points by making a legal return that the opponent cannot return legally in turn. A point is played out on a table divided by a low net; the ball must bounce once on the server's side, clear the net, and bounce on the receiver's side, after which each player must strike it so it lands on the opponent's half.
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