Gregs Table Tennis Pages

The Short Version

As Carl Danner was nice enough to point out, the short version for both topspin and backspin is as follows - "Basically, anti-spin continues the spin already on the ball, so you get (effectively) back the opposite of what you have hit -- only slightly less intense, as you noted."

The Long Version

Since I lack Carl's ability to take a complicated idea and boil it down to it's essentials, here are a few example scenarios and an explanation of what will happen in each:

(A) Your Topspin to Your Opponent's Topspin Style Stroke

 

1. You hit a heavy topspin ball. Your opponent is using a medium speed anti-spin rubber that has virtually no grip. He hits the ball with a topspin style stroke and with flat, non-brushing contact. The anti-spin will have little effect on the spin already on the ball, so most of the spin will remain, and the ball will come back to you fairly quickly and with medium backspin. It won't be a heavy backspin, since the spin has been steadily getting less due to air resistance ever since you hit the ball. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return would have no spin or a little topspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will go into the bottom of the net.
2. Same as for (1), but now your opponent brushes the ball rather than flat-hitting it. Because the topsheet has little grip, the only factor able to change the spin of the ball is the sponge giving way, allowing the rubber to wrap slightly around the ball. The thicker the sponge and the softer the topsheet, the more your spin will be reduced. Your opponent will still not be able to fully kill your spin though, so the ball should come back to you with medium to light backspin. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return would have medium to heavy topspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will bounce on your side of the table.
3. You hit a heavy topspin ball. Your opponent is using a medium speed anti-spin rubber that has a little grip. He hits the ball with a topspin style stroke and brushes the ball rather than flat hitting it. Now both the topsheet and the sponge can help to change the spin on the ball, although it is still unlikely that your opponent will be able to kill all your spin. The ball should come back to you as a light backspin to a near-float. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return would have medium to heavy topspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will bounce on your side of the table.
4. Same as for (3), but now your opponent hits the ball with a flat, non-brushing contact. Since his rubber has a little grip, this will act to kill the spin just a little, much less than if he tried to brush the ball. The sponge and topsheet will give way, but since your opponent is not brushing the ball they should have little effect on the spin. The ball should be coming back to you with a medium backspin, not as much backspin as in (1) above but with more backspin than in (2) and (3). Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return would have no spin or a little topspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will go into the net.

(B) Your Topspin to Your Opponent's Chop Style Stroke

1. You hit a heavy topspin stroke. Your opponent is using a medium speed anti-spin rubber that has virtually no grip. He hits the ball with a backspin style stroke and with flat, non-brushing contact. The anti-spin will have little effect on the spin already on the ball, so most of the spin will remain, and the ball will come back to you fairly quickly and with medium backspin. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return would have little or no backspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will go into the net.
2. Same as for (1), but now your opponent brushes the ball rather than flat-hitting it. The only factor able to change the spin of the ball will be the sponge giving way to wrap slightly around the ball. The thicker the sponge and the softer the topsheet, the more your spin will be increased. Since it is an anti-spin rubber though, it will not be a huge increase in spin, so the ball should come back to you with medium-heavy backspin. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return will have heavy backspin. Your bat angle will be slightly incorrect, and the ball will 'pop up' higher than expected from your bat.
3. You hit a heavy topspin ball. Your opponent is using a medium speed anti-spin rubber that has a little grip. He hits the ball with a backspin style stroke and brushes the ball rather than flat hitting it. Now both the topsheet and the sponge can help to increase the spin on the ball, so the ball should come back with a medium-heavy backspin, with a little more spin than in (2) above. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return will have heavy backspin. Your bat angle will be slightly incorrect, and the ball will 'pop up' higher than expected from your bat.
4. Same as for (3), but now your opponent hits the ball with a flat, non-brushing contact. Since his rubber has a little grip, this will act to kill the spin just a little. The sponge and topsheet will give way, but since your opponent is not brushing the ball they should have little effect on the spin. The ball should be coming back to you with a medium-light backspin. Why you will hit a bad stroke next - with a conventional rubber his return will have little or no backspin. Your bat angle will be incorrect, and the ball will go into the net.

Ok, so much for returns from your topspin strokes. But what happens when you backspin the ball to your opponent? For all the information that matters, go to What Happens when You Backspin?

Next: What Happens When You Backspin the Ball?