Receiving
Happy Holidays Alois & Jeff!
Watching high level doubles play, I wonder why the serve receive (right hander) stands so close to the table and even ready positions his bat on top of the table. And why isn't the server serving long and fast to jam the receiver?
Thank you!
Mike
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the wishes.
At that level if they serve long it will allow the receiver to make a strong ball even if they are standing close to the table. They only have half a table to cover at a particular angle so it is easy for them to cover. That is why in doubles at that level, it is crucial to be able to serve short well.
Question actions
Returning a short topspin serve can be tricky because the spin wants to lift the ball up. In this video, we look at two effective options: developing an attacking flick and learning how to push the ball safely.
For the flick, the key is to be positive. Take a few risks, hit through the ball a little harder, and aim for a fast, flat contact. In practice, don’t worry too much about making mistakes as this is how you learn to control the shot under pressure.
The second option is the push. You can push a short topspin serve, but you need to adjust your contact. Instead of getting under the ball, come down the back of it more, almost feeling like your bat is moving slightly backwards. This helps counter the topspin and keeps the return lower and more controlled.
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