How many serves do you need
Serving
STAN HARDING Asked 13 years ago
How many types of serve do you consider useful for an average club player? 5,6 ? What would be your suggestion?
I am coaching 8-15 year olds with varied skills.
Thanks
Stan
Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago
Hi Stan,
I think that 2 or 3 serves is plenty. Some top players only use 2.
However with those few serves you can have a lot of variations of spin and placement. Each of these spin changes and placement changes makes it difficult for the receiver.
The big advantage of having just a few serves is that you get used to the reply that comes.
Players like Samsonov use basically one serve only.
I hope you are enjoying the coaching.
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The Kicker Serve
The kicker serve is one of our "must learn" serves. It's fast, fun, and has lots of topspin. It can be dangerous because if it's not fast enough and if you don't surprise your opponent then they may be able to attack it forcefully putting you on the defensive straight away. Used well though, and sparingly, it can be a great weapon. It can win you a point outright and it will stop your opponent from standing over the table waiting for your short serves since they need to be ready for anything.
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yasir huthaifa Posted 2013-08-10 08:57:17
did timo Boll served any long serve in his life ?
He does serve a few that are just long and the opponent can attack but he is usually ready for this.
yasir huthaifa Posted 2013-08-10 08:57:17
Why dose he want the opponent to attack first. The deffending is not his strong side like joo see huyk .he has to attack first or he looses the point and for me when I should serve long fast serve ? When I see my opponent is standing where?
Hi Yasir,
HE is serving just long off the end of the table so they can't attack strongly. They lift the ball. It also doesn't give them many alternatives because they can't push the ball. He is then ready for the slower topspin and he can counter attack it and gain the ascendency.
For the long fast serve you should serve it when you see your opponent standing too close to the table or making their first movement in towards the table automatically.