Fast punch serve
Serving
Ji-Soo Woo Asked 12 years ago
Hi Alois
For the past few months I've changed my main serve from the traditional pendulum to the "punch" serve (a la Par Gerrell, and as you demonstrated in a video). I really love this serve. I found with the pendulum that, despite years of training, I somehow never got comfortable with it. Sometimes it was very spinny and effective, but often I found it really hard to impart spin. With the punch serve, I've had no problem imparting heavy spin right from the beginning. I also find it easier to do short serves with the punch serve. One problem I have, however, is that I can't do long fast punch serves. One thing about the pendulum was fast serves were at least easy to do. Any advice on how to do fast punch serves (both topspin and backspin)?
Thanks!
Ji-Soo
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi Ji-Soo,
It is great that you have found a serve that you are comfortable with. It is a good lesson for us all that everyone has differences and it is important to find the serve that suits your game.
To get the faster serve try starting with your bat more in a tomahawk serve position. Get your wrist right back on the backswing and then use your wrist to flick through. In this video of Gavin Rumgay you will see he uses his wrist a little more on the faster serves.
Gavin Rumgay vs. Ryan Jenkins (British League Table Tennis 2010)
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