Always flicking sidespin backspin serves

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 8 years ago

Tam Eastwood

Tam Eastwood Asked 8 years ago

Hi Alois should I always flick a sidespin backspin serve with my forehand/backhand and only touch pure backspin serves? Because when I try to touch a sidespin backspin serve it is hard to control most of the time goes high


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Tam,

It is possible and also good to push a sidespin serve sometimes.  If you find the ball going to high, focus on relaxing your hand a little more and making the swing of your racket more downward.  You need less forward action with the bat to keep it short.  In fact at the start almost just let the ball rebound off your racket without any motion and see where the ball goes.

Another thought is that you are slightly misreading the backspin on the serve as well.  Perhaps there is less backspin than you are thinking.

The flick is also an option but if you can develop the short push, it will open up a lot of possibilities in the game.


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Tam Eastwood

Tam Eastwood Posted 8 years ago

but isn't it better if you can gain the attacking advantage as quickly as possible in the game?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Only if the attack is strong enough.  Sometimes with a flick you can't get enough power to gain the advantage so then the push is a better option.



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