Faking a shot

I've read about faking cross-court serves and making them go fast, down the line, to the opponent's wide FH. Without faking, the bat direction is changed just before contact, but the author says it's possible to keep the bat facing the opponent's BH corner all the time, even at contact. I can't picture how to do this. The author says to use a "slapping sidespin (the bat going from right to left at contact)". A video would help here. Sounds like a good serve, especially as my practice partner can predicts my fast serves.

Hi Andrew,

I think they are just talking about contacting the ball with sidespin.  So then the ball would tend to go more down the line.

I agree with Alois, I , probably too oftenly, try that but miss the shot. I would be better off at my level putting a high percentage shot in play and force the mistake from the other side of the net.

Hi Alois,

Once more a good video clippings on 'Fake' shot. And you are quite right that one has to master the basic shots and hopefully then he / she can modify / improvise on that after a regular practice.

Hi Alois

          Can you please explain this faking a shot technique in more detail (You could put a video about this technique in the main videos webpage)

Hi Yap,

Take a look above at the video we have.

Douglas had a good idea if he means what I think he means.
Douglas,did you mean a video about how to recognise what shot will opponent use and where will he send it?
Such a video would be very important,at least for me,but I am surely not alone :)

I hope PingSkills Team will one day make one :))
pleeasee

Hi D K. Not sure I remember what I meant 3 years ago. I think my coach had shown me some options for responding to a short serve to my forehand. I could step in and cock my arm back to make a flip crosscourt or to the opponents middle, but from that same position I could leave my arm and wrist cocked and sweep my elbow to the left, letting the ball drop softly to my opponent's wide backhand. I did not have to commit to one stroke or the other as I approached the ball.

My opponent might have been able to influence my choice by a little movement toward the center or backhand.

However, now I appreciate more what Alois said about getting the basic shots down well first. The trouble is that winning a point with a fake shot is so satisfying!

OK
I usually deal with these balls by either trying to play as short and low as possible or with a deep push.
I only flick short topspin serves which I rarely encounter.

Haha,I like when I win a point when my opponent misreads my spin and tries to lift the ball with all he has and it still goes to the net <3
I love huge backspins.

Good one....But as you said, one must master the basic strikes first.

Thanks.