TERMINOLOGY
Blade - The wood part of a racket.
Block - A quick, off-the-bounce shot that uses a short stroke to counteract the opponents heavy topspin.
Chop - A heavy backspin shot against topspin, usually executed away from the table and below the tabletop.
Closed - Holding the racket such that the racket's hitting surface is aimed downward.
Drive - The fundamental topspin stroke in table tennis.
Flick or Flip - A topspin shot generated over the table with much of the power generated from the forearm and the wrist.
Lob - A defensive shot used against high-speed balls, back from the table, where the ball is returned very high in the air.
Loop - A very heavy topspin shot executed from behind the table.
Open - Holding the racket such that the racket's hitting surface is aimed upward.
Paddle - Same as racket or bat.
Push - A backspin shot executed over the table.
Racket - Same as paddle or bat.
Receive - The return of a serve.
Rubber - The rubber part of a racket, consisting of the sponge and top-sheet.
Smash - A comparatively flat, high-speed shot used against high balls.
Stroke - Any shot used in the game.
Topspin stroke - A drive with more topspin (sometimes synonymous with drive).
Names of common serving motions:
Forehand Pendulum
Reverse Pendulum
Backhand
Hook (also: punch, jab, or shovel)
Tomahawk
Types of Spin:
Topspin
Backspin (also: underspin)
Sidespin
No-spin (also: dead, float, knuckle)