Effective return of wide fast serves
Receiving
Ashoke Ashoke Asked 3 weeks ago
I find it difficult to return serves which are aimed at my wide sides. The serves are generally fast and low with lot of spin. The backhand wide side serves pose more problem. May I request you to offer solution on this aspect. Reference coaching videos may also please be mentioned.
Alois Rosario Answered 3 hours ago
Hi Ashoke,
Take a look at the tutorial we have on Returning wide angled serves.
The key to handling wide, fast, low, and spinny serves especially to the backhand is a mix of positioning, anticipation, and small technical adjustments.
- Positioning:
- Stand slightly off-center toward your backhand if you expect wide serves there.
- Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, ready to pivot.
- Short, controlled stroke:
- Use a compact push or flick rather than a full swing.
- Focus on brushing the ball to handle spin; avoid trying to smash it immediately.
I hope this helps you.
Recommended Video
How to Return Spin Serves in Table Tennis (and Stop Misreading Them!)
Struggling to return spin serves? You're not alone! In this video, we break down how to read spin, adjust your bat angle, and return serves effectively—so you stop giving away easy points.
What You'll Learn:
🔹 Skill Breakdown: How to identify different types of spin and adjust your return technique.
🔹 Common Mistakes: The biggest errors players make when returning spin serves—and how to fix them fast!
🔹 Viewer Q&A: Answering your top questions about handling tricky spin serves.
🔹 Train Smarter: Drills to help you practice and improve your serve returns.
Mastering serve returns is one of the fastest ways to level up your table tennis game. Try these tips and let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest spin serve you face?
Watch NowNo comments yet!
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.