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Learning To Spin

We explain the principles behind spin and how you can generate different types of spin with your serve. We also give you some challenges so you can test yourself and see how you are progressing.


Tutorial Lessons

Introduction to Serving

Introduction to Serving
Back to Serving and Receiving 0% COMPLETE 10 LESSONS
1 Serving Secrets Introduction 2:32
2 Basic Serving Strategy 3:24
3 Service Rules 5:31
4 Serve Placement 6:43
5 Learning To Spin 13:43
6 Tomahawk Serve 6:24
7 How To Practice 4:23
8 Fast Chop Serve 2:24
9 Serving grip 2:06
10 Improving My Serves 1:46

Thoughts on this lesson

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Judy Whorton

Judy Whorton Posted 11 years ago

I was surprised that we are advised to try different spins away from the table.  That seems like a good idea, as a table can "put you on the spot" so to speak.  I'll go try it now.  Thanks.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Let me know how it works for you.


Esteban Mendez

Esteban Mendez Posted 10 years ago

Hi Alois,

I'm practicing my Tomahawk serve away from the Table and brushing the ball naturally with sidespin. First, I'm holding the bat with the proper grip and simply swinging it with a loose wrist and watching my swinging action without the ball. Once I started feeling comfortable with the swing, I tossed the ball and hit it with maximum fine contact while maintaining that same swing action. Some balls curved and spun well, others not so much. Whenever I saw the contact on the ball was off, I knew that's when the ball didn't curve and spin well. When practicing away from the table, is this what I'm supposed to be thinking? Also, how much should I practice away from the table before I can spin the ball with fine contact without losing speed? Will it happen automatically just by practicing this without thinking or should I keep focusing this hard while practicing?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Hi Esteban,

Yes you are on the right track.  You don't need to do this for long.  You can try it on the table as well.  Keep changing from the table and away from the table if you feel you are not getting the action or the contact correct.


Esteban Mendez

Esteban Mendez Posted 10 years ago

Ok thanks Mr. Rosario.


Eshaan Mishra

Eshaan Mishra Posted 10 years ago

which serve is the most effective serve? 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

A serve that is troublesome for your opponent at the time.  That will change for each player you play and may even change during the match.


jason poulos

jason poulos Posted 9 years ago

I'm confused by the clockface analogy at the beginning of this video. What does 1 o'clock mean when your racket is horizontal and tilted-doe this presume that the racket is upright and the top of the blade is upward at 12 o'clock?

and are these suggestions for the forehand serve only? 

Also, what is the reason we hit it in this area? does it produce more spin at 1'o'clock? if so, why?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

Hi Jason,

It can be a bit confusing as we are trying to make a 3D image into 2D.  

Try to think of the clock face changing with where you have the bat and which direction you are wanting to hit the ball as well.

Hitting it in these positions generates the type of spin we are wanting such as the backspin, sidespin and topspin.

 


jason poulos

jason poulos Posted 9 years ago

ok, so it is the ball that you are comparing to a clock-face, not the paddle-face. Thank you.

It makes sense now.


Judy Whorton

Judy Whorton Posted 9 years ago

This video's very informative on how to create spin.  Is there another on how to return different types of side spin?  I have in mind especially combinations of side spin.  Too many time I've tried to return a side spin ball and it's gone off my paddle to the right or left, not touching the table.  There must be a simple formula to return side spinning balls that I just haven't stumbled upon or learned yet.  Thanks.  Judy Whorton  


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

Hi Judy.  Glad you liked this one.

For returning serves take a look through Receiving Secrets especially Understanding SpinReading Spin and Receiving Principles.


Harlan Abraham

Harlan Abraham Posted 8 years ago

Learning to spin your serves is very important.  Placement of the serve is also important.  The type of spin and placement could lead to certain returns and if you are prepared for those you will have an advantage. 


Fikau Teponga

Fikau Teponga Posted 7 years ago

Hi Alois,

Very interesting to learn something very new to me. Although I cant spin the ball like you do, but I keep practising alot of them..  Maybe i need a much better bat?  I am using very ordinary cheap bat.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

@Fikau, yes if you can't generate any spin with your bat it may be worth investing in something a little better. It completely changes the game when you have a decent bat.


Walter Lopez

Walter Lopez Posted 7 years ago

Where is the better spot on the bat to generate a better spin?

And what side of the bat is better to do servings, the red one or the black one?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Hi Walter the red or black doesn't matter at all unless the rubbers are different types.

The leading edge is usually better spot for generating more spin.  So for the topspin it would be the top area of the bat.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Hi Walter,

Further to that take a look at this lesson on the contact point for maximum spin.


kathy mckelvey

kathy mckelvey Posted 6 years ago

Great video, although so very complexed at this stage of learning for me. Hopefully with time I will have better ability to apply all of the spin variations!   Thank you both.


Ujjal Chatterjee

Ujjal Chatterjee Posted 5 years ago

Aloise & Jeff, Thank you so much for this wonderful video on how to generate different spin serves.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago

Glad you like it Ujjal.


adi das

adi das Posted 5 years ago

hello, request for video serving and attack, what serve should be use for attacking using backhand and forehand.by the way thank you.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago

Hi,

We have some advice in the tutorial on 3rd Ball strategy.

 


Roberto Suave

Roberto Suave Posted 5 years ago

I play with a ''regular'' cheap bat Kettler all plastic, how much should i invest to get a better bat , for example i ordered a Stiga Toledo costing 15 uscy.

Will i see an huge or little improvement. My opponent use a $ 150 uscy one ...i guess this a factor why he beats me regularly.

N.B. your videos are just fantastic , well done , very instructive.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago

Hi Robert,

Glad you are looking the site.

Re a bat I think getting something the next step up will help.  Don't need the $150 but maybe the $60 to $70 level so that it has reasonable rubber.  We have the PingSkills Rook.


Matt Mawson

Matt Mawson Posted 5 years ago

Hey guys, where can I get a 2 color ball like you use in the video? I want something to help me easily distinguish how much and what kind of spin I am getting on the ball when practicing my serve. My initial google searches have come up empty.

I suppose i coukd color a ball with a marker, but I don’t want it to mark up my bat or table. 

Thanks!


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago

Hi Matt,

We just colour the ball with a Permanent Marker.  It doesn't rub off on the rubber or table.  It is the simplest way to do it.


Matt Mawson

Matt Mawson Posted 5 years ago

Perfect, I’ll try that out! Thanks!


Pranjal Verma

Pranjal Verma Posted 5 years ago

Great video sir.

Thanks 


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 5 years ago

You're welcome Pranjal. This is one of my favourite videos because of the fun challenges :)


F Wilson

F Wilson Posted 4 years ago

Though a basic concept, this is one of your best ever videos (Learning To Spin).  Thank you.

 

 

 

 


adrian pirvu

adrian pirvu Posted 4 years ago

verry interesting and nice to watch,but the blade and rubbers are important too


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 4 years ago

Hi Adrian,

Yes as long as you have a rubber with some grip you can start to learn to spin.  You don't have to have an expensive rubber to start with.


Max Moullin

Max Moullin Posted 3 years ago

Excellent video. Very helpful. Thank you. Just a pity I can’t practice at the moment.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

You can do some of this without a table at home. 


jimmy huo

jimmy huo Posted 3 years ago

I like videos very much。Thanks Alois and Jeff.


Paul Griz

Paul Griz Posted 3 years ago

Thank you Alois!  This is one of my favorite, one stop shopping, go to videos.  

Always amazed on how small a movement by you and Jeff creates so much spin.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

Thanks Paul. Yes the bat angle can do a lot to generate spin. 


Andrew Draganski

Andrew Draganski Posted 2 years ago

Great tute guys, serving is important to me because it's how I set up the opponent. However, my problem seems to be that I involuntarily raise the bat when tossing the ball up, particularly for slicing serves. I expel too much effort to counter this to keep the serve low and thus not into the serve motion itself.

Thanks Martin&Andrew


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 2 years ago

This is a natural habit because your bat hand wants to do the same as the throwing hand.

 When serving get someone to just put a little pressure on your bat hand for a second while you throw the ball up. It just needs to be a finger pressure so you have awareness of the outward motion. See if that helps. 



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