Returning a wave serve
Receiving
Simon Lewis Asked 13 years ago
Hi Pingskills,
I have been looking at the wave serve recently, and how it can be returned. I'm not sure if it is called the wave serve everywhere, but this is what it's called here. It is a serve where a player is usually crouched down low, and the service action is the same as a wave behind the ball. The ball is usually served with topspin or backspin, depending on where the ball is contacted on the bat. Topspin if the ball is contacted in the first half of the wave, backspin if it is contacted on the down half.
I understand how the spin is formulated, and what spins are possible, but I struggle to read what the spin is when receiving. The wave is normally so quick that it's tough to see where the contact was made. Are there any other clues to look for? Some people have said to see how the ball reacts off the table. If it kicks off the table, its top, if it skids, its bottom? What do you think?
Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago
Hi Simon,
That is a good name for that serve. Their key is to get the contact as close to the top of the wave as possible. I think the advice you have is sound. If you watch the contact the ball will go up slightly on contact with the topspin and it will go down off the bat for the backspin.
The bounce of the ball will jump a little for the topspin and go through lower for the backspin as well.
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