Attacking serves

Receiving

Rahul Ramesh
Rahul Ramesh Asked 13 years ago

Hi Alois,

My friend in my club always smashes the opponent serve which has no backspin. And  the question is how to hit or smash a serve which has a minimum amount of spin..... Would be happy if you answer this question as soon as possible...... because I have a national match....... and pingskills is the one which helped me to participate in a national match.!!!!!!!


Alois Rosario
Member Badge Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Rahul,

To make a smash off a serve you need to hit the ball at the peak of the bounce.

This is something that is easy to do.  If the ball is short you need to Flick the ball.  To make a strong flick you have to get it at its highest point.  If it is long you can make a smash but this is a risky stroke unless the ball is particularly high.  You are better to make a fast topspin stroke instead.  This is a safer stroke and will be just as effective as a smash.


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Thoughts on this question


Arnab Ghosh

Arnab Ghosh Posted 12 years ago

But I think as most professional players do, one should play the first ball safe and return it as a chop as close to the net as possible, then attack if possible at the return. Its way more efficient that way.
What do you guys think of this?
Arnab.

Alois Rosario

Member Badge Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Hi Arnab,

You are right because the professionals tend to serve the ball short and often with backspin because they know that if they serve long it will be an easy attack.  That is why most of their returns are short pushes as a response.


Jeff Plumb

Member Badge Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Hi Arnab,

 

As Alois mentions, a short serve is an incredibly important tactic. However I don't think it's a good idea to serve 100% of your serves short. You should throw in the occasional long serve as a surprise tactic.  


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