Receiving fast sidespin serve on backhand

Sumit Saxena Asked 8 years ago

Hello Jeff/Alois

I am an intermediate player with a very good forehand which includes powerful and spinny topspins. My backhand is not that good. I can block well push well but topspins from my backhand are weak. A player in my office understands this and he almost always use fast service on my backhand, mostly sidespin sometimes topspin sidespin. Serve is so fast that I am unable to position so quickly. I cannot push or chop fast topspin serve. Only option is to topspin, or is there any other option? I almost always lose with him due to this reason. Now many players have started doing this. How to overcome this problem? Please help

Thanks

Sumit Saxena

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Sumit,

The ultimate answer is to improve your backhand topspin. This will fix all your issues with this situation.

However, in the short term, you can try to move back and chop it back if you are in a match where you need to win the match. The other short term option is to move a little to your backhand side and try to cover it with your forehand. This may force your opponent to serve wide to your forehand instead.

← Choking under Pressure Topspin against pips →

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Jean Balthazar Posted 8 years ago

Hello there,

If these serves are so fast, simply blocking them would be the most economical, and therefore quickest, stroke to implement. It's not the best option, but it's the shortest stroke. If you're able to send back the ball long, low and into the body of your opponent, he can have trouble doing a good third ball attack.

Also, watch how other opponents deal with this guy's long serve to the backhand (I guess you're not the only one he does it to). That might give you ideas.

Hope this helps!