Side Spin Serve
Receiving
Abhinav Raje Asked 17 years ago
i would like thank you for informative videos. IT has really hepled to improve my game especially the topspin.
I would like to ask you how to return the side spin serve on the forhand and backhand. Whenever i try to block the serve it goes outside the table after touching on my racket.
Alois Rosario Answered 17 years ago
Hi Abhinav,
The main idea with returning sidespin serves is to use your bat like a rudder. Don't try to spin the ball back, but rather angle the bat so that the ball goes back onto the table.
If you try to spin the ball back it all gets a bit messy and difficult. Keep things simple. If the ball is going off to the right, just angle your bat to point to the left. Let the ball hit your bat now and see where it goes. It should go a little straighter towards the table if you have the angle right. If not keep adjusting your angle.
Of course in a game situation it is a little late to be doing this. That is why you need to find lots of different players to practice with so that you get a variety of serves to face and so you get used to all sorts of spins.
Remember this is a slow process. Be patient, if you can...
Recommended Video
How to Return Spin Serves in Table Tennis (and Stop Misreading Them!)
Struggling to return spin serves? You're not alone! In this video, we break down how to read spin, adjust your bat angle, and return serves effectively—so you stop giving away easy points.
What You'll Learn:
🔹 Skill Breakdown: How to identify different types of spin and adjust your return technique.
🔹 Common Mistakes: The biggest errors players make when returning spin serves—and how to fix them fast!
🔹 Viewer Q&A: Answering your top questions about handling tricky spin serves.
🔹 Train Smarter: Drills to help you practice and improve your serve returns.
Mastering serve returns is one of the fastest ways to level up your table tennis game. Try these tips and let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest spin serve you face?
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dadyanke Unknown Posted 15 years ago
Hi
I am happy that i m much improving my game by using ur site. i wanna ask if the side spin serve is very fast then how to deal with the side spin as well as fast serve??it is the toughest part of T.T 4 me. though i m myself very good at fast side spin, but if i m doing it i must know myself how to deal with it effectively. THANX.(i cannot use your \'ask the coach\' facility so please let us use that as soon as possible.)
andrew brand Posted 15 years ago