Fan Zhendong Teaches the Essentials of Basic Technique
Looking closely at Fan Zhendong’s style, just as Butterfly’s official site defines it: “the origin is the summit,” “the strongest basic style.” Today, let us learn Fan Zhendong’s basic style.
Fan Zhendong says he valued fundamental practice from a young age — multi-ball practice on both wings not only formed muscle memory but also let him feel a sense of achievement. Basic technique is very important, with a good bonus to other techniques too. Before, in the “Reaching the Summit” column, I wrote that the former national veteran also repeatedly stressed: when kids learn, do not rush to fire — first get the basic strokes right, and learn to play with the center of gravity.
Forehand Loop, Mainly Against Long Balls
Fan Zhendong mentioned several key points. First, do not swing with only the arm, but fire with leg, waist and hand in coordination. Power transfers from legs to waist to arm. At the same time, by the different incoming ball, strike by your own impression. This way, ball quality and stability both improve. Personally, I think the “own impression” he mentions refers to the memory formed through repeated training — for what incoming ball, how to loop. I mentioned before that we need to observe ourselves playing in imagination, and at the same time, in imagination, correct our strokes. Fan Zhendong continues: for a long ball, one key of looping is that the contact point should be in front of the body. This way, you keep the distance between ball and bat, and the striking line varies richly. The opponent cannot easily anticipate.
Forehand Loop Against Underspin
Fan Zhendong said to remember the feel of hitting it back. The striking track is like drawing an arc yourself. Make yourself remember the arc and feel of a successful strike. For looping underspin, the center of gravity should drop lower than for a normal long ball. Though the swing looks low-to-high, in power, besides low-to-high, also note firing back-to-front at the same time. Note, before the swing, keep the arm relaxed. Only then can you accelerate the swing at the instant of striking.
Backhand Loop, Mainly Against Long Balls
The backhand drive-loop is basically completed in front of the body, with a smaller stroke than the forehand. Keep the center of gravity slightly high; the stroke fires top-to-bottom. This is Fan Zhendong’s signature backhand drive. Note, fully relax the shoulder and elbow. This makes striking more stable. Against a long ball, lift the center of gravity, the waist position, a bit higher. This gives the feel of a top-to-bottom swing, with stronger oppression.
Backhand Loop Against Underspin
Fan Zhendong said a reasonable swing depends on the opponent’s incoming ball. If the incoming ball is fast (say a sudden long chop), the spin is generally not too strong — you can release faster. If the incoming ball is slower, the underspin is likely heavier; then delay the striking timing a bit. Drop the center of gravity a bit, brush the ball well, and create the arc. Throughout, transfer leg and waist power to the arm. Strike with the body for higher stability.
Besides these points, worth noting is Fan Zhendong’s left hand. Throughout the right hand’s striking, his left hand keeps extending forward. This makes it easier to keep the body balanced, and his visual measurement of the ball is more precise. In today’s second item, let us revisit what the national veteran told us before: when holding the bat in your right hand, how to use the left hand. At the article’s end, let me stress again the importance of solid fundamentals. For us amateurs, starting over is very hard now. Many bad habits in us can hardly be fixed one by one. These are the roots constraining our ceiling. But regardless, start from practicing. In everyday play, most of us still do not emphasize practice — this makes improvement hard.