Receiving
Hi Coach!
How can I return a tomahawk serve? It goes to my forehand side with a lot of sidespin, so i'm not able to return it.
Thanks
James
Hi Hung,
Returning a good serve is a hard skill to master so don't get too down on yourself. Start by taking notice of where the ball is going once it hits your bat and spins away. Then next time angle your bat to counter the sidespin. If the ball has been flying off to the left then aim further to the right.
If you can arrange it, a great method of improving your return is to get someone to serve the same serve to you over and over. This allows you to work out how to return it without worrying about the server mixing it up to confuse you which they will definitely do in a match. Once you master returning a few variations of serve this way, then you can get your opponent to start mixing up the serves and testing you out.
Give this a try and let us know how you get on.
The pendulum and reverse pendulum serves are two of the most commonly used and deceptive serves in table tennis. In this video, we’ll break down the key differences between these serves and discuss strategies for returning them effectively. You’ll learn the basic principles of serve return, including how to read spin, adjust your positioning, and respond confidently to different variations of these tricky serves. Whether you're facing these serves in a match or looking to improve your overall return game, this video will help you take your skills to the next level. Watch now and master the art of returning pendulum and reverse pendulum serves!
Watch NowBecome a free member to post a comment about this question.
ganesh janakan Posted 15 years ago
In case if you are too confused as to which side to direct the return, you may direct the ball to the center of the table and the side spin would automatically push it to the side. you could judge whether there is underspin on that so that you could use a push and if its got a little topspin to it then play counter topspin.simple forehand drive generally is used to attack such a serve if it is placed on your forehand.
try this and give a feedback.THIS SERVICE IS MEANT TO BE ATTACKED.
GO FOR IT!
Hung Diep Posted 15 years ago
Siddhartha Raja Posted 12 years ago
as jeff says when the opponent is put side spin on the serve i hit a side spin stroke on the ball and the stroke is very effective
Hi Hung Diep,
It actually says that Hung Pham asked this question, not yourself. Thanks for your thoughts on returning the serve.