Keeping serves short with backspin?
Serving
Nick Ungson Asked 14 years ago
I've been trying to get more training time focusing on my serves (Variety, placement). I've been doing well with long topspin/sidespin serves, but I'm having a VERY difficult time with short, underspin serves. I can get pretty short serves, but they end up being no-spin or very slight underspin.
I'm not counting any serve that bounces in the middle 3rd of the opponent's side as passable. How do I impart enough force to put good underspin on a serve while still keeping it short on their side?
Thanks!
Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago
Hi Nick,
The key is to be able to brush the ball fast while making the contact really fine. The flatter the contact the further the ball will go. The thinner the contact the shorter it will go.
So then you need to find the balance to get the ball to spin a lot and get it short by getting good fast brushing on the ball.
Also focus on getting the ball to bounce close to you on your side of the table. This will assist getting the bounce on the other side of the net to be close to the net.
Recommended Video
5 Essential Serve Strategies in Table Tennis
Serving in table tennis is about much more than just getting the ball into play; it's about setting the pace, controlling the game, and exploiting your opponent's weaknesses from the very first touch. In This Video, You'll Discover:
- The Danger Zone: Learn why serving to your opponent’s comfort zone is a mistake and where you should aim instead.
- Wide Serves: Understand the tactical advantage of serving wide and how it can open up the table for your next shot.
- Targeting Weaknesses: Tips on identifying and exploiting your opponent's weaker side with precision serves.
- Varying Your Serve Position: The benefits of serving from different positions and how it can confuse and unbalance your opponent.
- The Crossover Point: How to target the elusive crossover point (the transition between forehand and backhand) to force errors or weak returns.
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Nick Ungson Posted 14 years ago
Thanks, Coach!
For some reason (maybe I misread an article somewhere), I was trying to land soft backspin shots close to the my side of the net, so that it would land closer on the opponent's side... this is obviously wrong.
I've taken your advice with me to practice, and I'm getting better at keep my serves short! Thanks again