Shots & strokes
Topspin
Forward rotation imparted to the ball by brushing up the back at contact — makes the ball dip and accelerate after the bounce.
Topspin is forward rotation. Generated by brushing up the back of the ball at contact, topspin makes the ball dip in the air (so it crosses the net at a higher margin while still landing in) and kick forward off the bounce.
Spin-friendly paddle surfaces (post-2024 carbon-fiber faces) have dramatically increased how much topspin a recreational player can generate. Many tournaments now have explicit spin-rating limits in their tech specs.
Related terms
Slice
Backwards rotation imparted to the ball by brushing under it — makes the ball float and stay low after the bounce.
Roll volley
A volley with topspin brushed over the ball — used to dip the ball at an opponent's feet from the kitchen line.
Carbon fiber
The dominant face material for modern paddles. Stiff, light, and grippy enough to generate significant spin.