Return of serve on Tomahawk sidespin
Receiving
Simon Lewis Asked 13 years ago
Hi Pingskills,
I am looking for some advice who has a strong serve and 3rd ball routine...
The serve is a left handed sidespin tomahawk serve from the backhand side. Using the bat angle, I can comfortably touch the ball back towards him, however this sets him up for a backhand opener.. which puts him on the front foot. I have tried flicking the ball across table to his forehand... but the ball is tough to flick as there is no topspin on the ball...
Could you give me any suggestions?
Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago
Hi Simon,
I would think about pushing this back short. Come down on the ball with very little forward momentum with a really soft hand. You could also try flicking the return with a more open bat angle. It is difficult to get a lot of backspin with the tomahawk so flicking should be possible if that is a good tactical option.
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Recommended Video
Returning Short Topspin Serves: Two Options
Returning a short topspin serve can be tricky because the spin wants to lift the ball up. In this video, we look at two effective options: developing an attacking flick and learning how to push the ball safely.
For the flick, the key is to be positive. Take a few risks, hit through the ball a little harder, and aim for a fast, flat contact. In practice, don’t worry too much about making mistakes as this is how you learn to control the shot under pressure.
The second option is the push. You can push a short topspin serve, but you need to adjust your contact. Instead of getting under the ball, come down the back of it more, almost feeling like your bat is moving slightly backwards. This helps counter the topspin and keeps the return lower and more controlled.
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