Returning a serve spinning into your body

Hi,

These days I am having trouble with a particular kind of serve. When playing doubles, my opponent (who is right handed) does a backhand serve, where he moves his bat forward (to give speed to the ball) and towards the side, which generates side spin. In other words, it is almost a lefty's normal fast topspin sidespin serve to another lefty. Now, being a left handed, the ball has the tendency to spin from my left to almost the middle of my body. If I pivot and try to play forehand topspin, I am not able to control it, the ball goes over the table. My backhand counterhit is not very strong, but if the ball is high enough, I can hit it back, but otherwise, that shot also makes the fly past the table. What do I do? Normally, if the ball didn't have much speed on it, I would easily return it using a forhand flip or push. :(

Hi Abhinav,

I would use my forehand to return this.  Try standing wider at the table so that the ball doesn't cramp you up.  The ball will then come into the right area for you.