Stances
Receiving
Justin O'Toole Asked 13 years ago
Is it better to stand closer to the table rather than far away or in between? I have noticed people that stand very faraway from the table especially defenders have trouble with other peoples serves. They generally have trouble with topspin and much more trouble with very short serves with heavy backspin-underspin.
The reason for their trouble with very short backspin-underspin serves is they are too far away and have trouble picking up the serves because they are short and have oodles of backspin. So is it better to stand up to the table on your service return and for all your other shots?
Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago
Hi Justin,
In general stand where you can just touch the table. Some players feel more comfortable a little further away and some closer. Just see what feels best for you.
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Recommended Video
Returning Short Topspin Serves: Two Options
Returning a short topspin serve can be tricky because the spin wants to lift the ball up. In this video, we look at two effective options: developing an attacking flick and learning how to push the ball safely.
For the flick, the key is to be positive. Take a few risks, hit through the ball a little harder, and aim for a fast, flat contact. In practice, don’t worry too much about making mistakes as this is how you learn to control the shot under pressure.
The second option is the push. You can push a short topspin serve, but you need to adjust your contact. Instead of getting under the ball, come down the back of it more, almost feeling like your bat is moving slightly backwards. This helps counter the topspin and keeps the return lower and more controlled.
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