Focus when opponent is serving
Receiving
Aditya Sawant Asked 9 years ago
Hi Alois and Jeff,
My question is what are the things I need to watch out for when my opponent is serving or returning so as to get ready to return? Many times my opponents serve sort of top spin side spin serves and I am not able to judge how much backspin is on the ball. And when I try to flick it, the ball either goes in the net or flies off the table.
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Aditya,
The first thing is to watch the ball very carefully when they are serving. This will give you a lot of information like the type of contact they are making on the ball and the flight of the ball.
You then need to understand the basic principles of receiving. These are detailed in our Receiving Secrets section. The first few tutorials in the section are free. Then if you think it will help, you should sign up to the Premium Membership by going to the My info link at the top right of the site.
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Recommended Video
Returning Short Topspin Serves: Two Options
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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