- Year 11
Topspin attack
I can apply topspin to attack.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Move: hitting up the back of the ball, from low to high, applies topspin.
- Think: hitting the ball with topspin to the back corner of the table makes it harder for your opponent to return it.
- Feel: practicing hitting topspin with accuracy builds confidence and resilience.
- Connect: showing kindness when feeding allows others to feel confident at trying new skills.
Keywords
Topspin - a spin where the ball rotates forward, causing it to dip and bounce higher
Forehand - a stroke where you hit the ball with the front side of your racket, using your dominant hand
Backhand - a stroke where you hit the ball with the back side of your racket, using your non-dominant hand
Common misconception
Pupils think they should hit the ball with a flat racket face to generate topspin.
To create topspin, you need to angle the racket slightly downward and brush up the back of the ball.
To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Topspin attack, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 physical education lesson on: Topspin attack, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom.
Explore more key stage 4 physical education lessons from the Net and wall games: teaching others tactics and strategies in table tennis unit, dive into the full secondary physical education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
table tennis tables with nets (1 between 2), 1 bat each, 1 ball between 2 and 8 cones per table.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - physical activity
Supervision
Adult supervision required
