Lefty service return

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 11 years ago

Shripathi ramakrishnan

Shripathi ramakrishnan Asked 12 years ago

hi Alois and Jeff!

i just completed my final term exams and am getting down to some serious tabletennis!

i just wanted to know how to return a lefty's long serve (similar to he zhe wens) to my forehand corner or wide forehand ... the sidespin makes it difficult too get back on the table and the speed too. how do i return such a serve?

thanks!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

Hi Shripathi,

I hope the exams went well.

To return that wide swinging serve you need to get good position first.  Move across and forward.  To make the stroke you need to allow for the sidespin.  So bend your wrist back a little to do this.  Make a topspin stroke and really push into the contact to counter the sidespin on the ball.

You can either go wide back across court or play the ball down the line.  The cross court shot is probably easier.  You need to go quite wide otherwise they will be able to out position you on your backhand side on the next ball.


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Shripathi ramakrishnan

Shripathi ramakrishnan Posted 11 years ago

thank you premium members and thank you alois and jeff!


Shripathi ramakrishnan

Shripathi ramakrishnan Posted 11 years ago

and what exactly is meant by moving wide?


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

It just means that if the ball is going out wide you need to use your footwork to move into position. If you don't get into a good position you have to reach much more for the ball and it is a much harder stroke to play.


Collin Hill

Collin Hill Posted 11 years ago

I have a question, why do you always stand in your backhand corner when doing the pendlulum serve Alois? Why not the other corner? Is there a purpose for this?   Thanks


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

If you are in the forehand corner you will leave your backhand side exposed.  When standing in the backhand corner your follow through allows you to get to your ready position quickly.  My right foot (right handers left foot) is close to where it needs to be already.  Then it is just a matter of stepping my left foot across into position and I am ready for the next ball.


Collin Hill

Collin Hill Posted 11 years ago

Ok thanks Alois :)



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