Backhand drive in table tennis is getting more important in recent years because the rally is becoming speedy. Its coaching method, however, has yet to be established due to the lack of basis motion data. In order to obtain kinematic features in backhand drive for evidence-based coaching, we compared four different backhand-drive motions with an emphasis on speed or control and with top or back spins of the ball. Experiments using five experienced table-tennis players and an optical motion capture system revealed that the angular velocity of the elbow supination and extension should be increased in case of speed emphasis, and the elbow joint valgus would be necessary in case of backspin ball, demonstrating the importance of the elbow joint motion in backhand drive.
