Meaning & use
topspin
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablesport
A forward spin put on a ball that makes it dip in flight and bounce higher after hitting the ground.
Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or 'an'.
Patterns
- put topspin on something
- hit with topspin
- use topspin
She hit the ball with heavy topspin, making it bounce high over her opponent's head.
The table tennis player added topspin to his shot to keep the ball low and fast.
Topspin can be difficult to return because the ball kicks forward quickly.
Common combinations
- heavy topspin
- He uses heavy topspin to push his opponent back.
- hit with topspin
- You should hit with topspin to keep the ball in play.
- put topspin on
- She put topspin on the ball to make it dip.
- topspin shot
- His topspin shot is his strongest weapon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- forward spin
- A general term; 'topspin' is the specific sports term.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: topspin or backspin? topspin or sidespin?
topspin vs backspin
Backspin makes the ball slow down and lift; topspin makes it dip and bounce higher.
topspin vs sidespin
Sidespin makes the ball curve sideways; topspin affects its forward bounce.
Practice
What does topspin do to a ball?
Choose one answer.
Topspin is forward spin that makes the ball dip in flight and bounce higher after hitting the ground. Option A describes backspin, option B describes sidespin, and option D is not a typical effect of any spin.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “topspin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.