How to receive a wide short no spin ball

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 6 years ago

thijs gruwez

thijs gruwez Asked 6 years ago

When a person serves variously and frequently serves wide, short so the ball leaves the table on the side (practically no spin), I find it difficult to return the ball for him to have a problem with it. I keep trying to topspin the ball but either:

1) there is not enough spin and the ball can be easily smashed or placed to my backhand side. Meanwhile I did not have the time to return to my ready position for the next ball and if the point isn’t already made, I can only try to block the smash

2) I put too much force and the ball goes too long

I still need to keep my ready position as usual when receiving the serves so by the time I react to the wide serve, the ball is already below the net and sometimes the table level.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Thijs,

I think trying to topspin this ball is the best long term solution.  You can take the ball a little later and get some good spin on the ball.  Try to get the ball wide to your opponent.  They have already given you the angle to play the ball wide.  Alternately you can play the ball in to the middle or crossover point of your opponent.  If you play down the lone it need to be accurate and right on the line otherwise they will be able to angle the ball wide to the other side.

Also experiment with the speed of the stroke you play.  Try to play some slower and then some faster with more and less spin.

If you are going to push it back focus on keeping the ball low and either close to the net or deep and fast.


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