Receiving fast serves on FH side with LP

Match Strategy

Ji-Soo Woo
Ji-Soo Woo Asked 10 years ago

Hi Alois

I have recently been working a lot on twiddling and returning serves on my FH side with LP - utilising a side swipe motion.

My observation is that this works really well for short serves.  I am able to generally keep the returns low and deep, and sometimes fast.  This causes problems to most opponents, and even the top players at my club have trouble doing much with the third ball.

My problem is when they get wise to my tactic and mix in some fast long serves to my FH when they see me twiddling.  I find with the LP I tend to pop up my returns.  Is there a good way to return fast serves to the FH with LP that makes the third ball as uncomfortable as possible for the server?

Thanks

Ji-Soo


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

This can be a really awkward ball.  I think the main thing is to not push the ball back because it then opens up the rally for the server.

Even rolling the ball or playing an attacking shot would be better.  It is not an easy shot to play but you don’t have to play it often.

Do you keep your racket under the table when returning?  This will help with the disguise.


Thoughts on this question


Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 10 years ago

Thanks Alois

I like the idea of rolling the ball back or attacking with LP against the long fast serves to my FH.  I will give that a go!  As my twiddling improves, I hope to be able to do more reactive opportunistic twiddling and less pre-emptive twiddling!  Yes, I do generally twiddle under the table but can get a bit predictable.  BTW I'm now playing in div 1, so thanks for all your advice over the years!  My son is now almost 3 years old so I look forward to getting you to coach him!

 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Well done on playing Div 1.  That has been a lot of hard work on your behalf.  Bring on the lessons with your son… Long pimples do you think?


Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 10 years ago

Definitely!  He will be the next evolution of the LP player, twiddling madly and equally comfortable playing inverted loops off both wings or LP off both wings!  That's my plan anyway! 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Nice plan...


D K

D K Posted 9 years ago

That seems to be next Matsushita :D
He twiddled a lot and also was independent on the state of his bat.

I am also working on it.

I sometimes fool my opponents by showing him twiddled bat.

They often use a long fast serve right to my forehand,but the twiddled bat to longpips on forehand is only a trick.
I am fully prepared to twiddle back and attack.

But often I am not unable to twiddle fast even when prepared and planning it.
What is the best technique of twiddling?


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