Service Variation

Shripathi ramakrishnan Asked 13 years ago

Hey Alois,

Thanks to your advice my forehand is recovering slowly and steadily.

ive improved my service game tremendously, i can now serve short and super wide right next to the net and get easy third balls. As a variation to my pendulum serves i use the fast long serve u advice me about. What else can i add as a variation besides change in spin? such as length and area.

i want to use a sidespin reverse serve that curves out of the table when served short and down the line but am not getting anywhere. The motion feels to awkward. How do i do that serve?

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Shripathi,

The main thing with the reverse Pendulum serve down the line is to get the movement of the serve correct.

Take a look at the video response we have on the site. How do I get feeling in the Reverse Pendulum Serve? This will help you to get this serve right.

ANy variation to serves can be good, from placement to changes in spin. It always depends on your opponent and what they don't like.

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Recommended Video

5 Essential Serve Strategies in Table Tennis

Serving in table tennis is about much more than just getting the ball into play; it's about setting the pace, controlling the game, and exploiting your opponent's weaknesses from the very first touch. In This Video, You'll Discover:

- The Danger Zone: Learn why serving to your opponent’s comfort zone is a mistake and where you should aim instead.
- Wide Serves: Understand the tactical advantage of serving wide and how it can open up the table for your next shot.
- Targeting Weaknesses: Tips on identifying and exploiting your opponent's weaker side with precision serves.
- Varying Your Serve Position: The benefits of serving from different positions and how it can confuse and unbalance your opponent.
- The Crossover Point: How to target the elusive crossover point (the transition between forehand and backhand) to force errors or weak returns.

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Shripathi ramakrishnan Posted 13 years ago

thanks alois!

any tips as to how to find out what they dont like in a best of 5 match? i can mak out obvious weaknesses but besides that cant analyse further

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 13 years ago
Try watching them in a previous match as well. You may see things that other players are doing to them that is effective. Watch and see when they are returning the ball high or when they look uncomfortable returning. You can also see which serves they don't return at all.