Footwork for short serve
Receiving
lawrence harvey Asked 9 years ago
Hi Alois, I've crossed one hurdle only to find another I never thought of - I'm now able to attack the short fast backspin serve that comes Across the table to my backhand side, but I end up in no man's land because both feet are on the side of the table close to the net and I just can't get back in time to cover the far side of my table, which ultimately costs me the point anyway because better players block my backhand loop to that corner, so should I stop moving all the way around and just make a defensive play like a short push, or should I make the attack and work on my speed to return? Is there an ideal way to return this serve ? Especially when it's fast, if I don't move into position to face it then I end up stretching and popping it up.....
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Lawrence,
A few things to explore here.
First how are you moving into the table for the short ball. If you are right handed, always move in with your right leg only. Your left leg shouldn't need to move too much. Take a look at this Premium video on Position and Footwork.
Then also think about whether the attack is the best option for your game. I think the short push option is often a better option than a mid strength attack which, as you are finding, just opens the rally up for your opponent to make the first effective attack.
Think about your footwork first and if you are doing this well and still not getting the rally that you want, then think about your receiving options. Take a look at this lesson as well on Receiving Options.
Both of these videos are in the Receiving Secrets section.
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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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