Expect one, adjust to the other

Gary McAdams Asked 8 years ago

Do players at the top level expect a short serve and then adjust when the serve goes long, or vise-versa? They always seem to be able to receive short serves off the bounce.

I've found that the only way I'm able to receive a short serve off the bounce is if I'm looking for the serve to be short. If I don't do this, I'm unable to get to the ball until the top of the bounce, making it much harder to control a short receive. But this makes it hard to adjust to a long fast serve.

Additionally, most players at my level don't serve short, so I really won't have a lot of use for the skill of receiving short serve off the bounce until a few more level increases. How to approach this?

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Gary,

I think the key is not expecting but watching that will give you the best chance to cover any serve that comes.

Try to focus carefully on the ball when it is in the servers hand. From there you will get the best information as to whether they are going to serve short or long or anything in between.

Also make sure you practice your footwork for these movements. The faster you can move to the different positions the quicker you will get to the bounce of the short ball or to the long serve as well.

← Tips on keeping score while playing No spin loop and avoiding stepping back →

Recommended Video

How to Return the Pendulum and Reverse Pendulum Serves

The pendulum and reverse pendulum serves are two of the most commonly used and deceptive serves in table tennis. In this video, we’ll break down the key differences between these serves and discuss strategies for returning them effectively. You’ll learn the basic principles of serve return, including how to read spin, adjust your positioning, and respond confidently to different variations of these tricky serves. Whether you're facing these serves in a match or looking to improve your overall return game, this video will help you take your skills to the next level. Watch now and master the art of returning pendulum and reverse pendulum serves!

Watch Now

Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago

I think in general it's better to prepare for a longer serve and then go forward if the serve is short, because the quality of your shot will generally be better when you execute it going forwards. If you're glued to the table, the serve goes long and you execute your return shot going backards, that usually results in a poor quality shot.