Backspin, sidespin, empty serves returns and blocking

Hi Alois, 

I am currently using a 804-20 short pips max on my BH and acuda s2 max on my FH.

1. I am having troubles with returning backspin balls when i push return. I usually push hard on the backspin balls with my short pips/inverted to give a deep backspin return but i always get it to the net. Am I pushing the ball too hard on a backspin ball or do i have to adjust my bat-pushing angle to push forward, brush under the ball and finishing a little up to bring it over the net? my short pips plays a little like inverted as they are still very spinny and are sensitive to spins. What do you recommend to correct my strokes? I used to just lift the backspin serves/balls over the net but they are always less spin on it and my opponents take the advantage to attack those types of balls. 

2. Furthermore I am having problems driving/looping backspin balls with my forehand. They either go off the table on the other side or goes straight down to the net when i brush upwards. Is it a timing problem? i can counter loop and loop well topspins and smash float balls.

3. For blocking, I am having problems with those very spinny fast topspin balls. Do I push the return of the ball with a little closed bat downwards towards the table to return those balls?  I have tried loosening my wrist and angleling the bat but the balls still fly right off the table for my forehand block returns. For my backhand I dun really have a problem as with short pips i can push block back the ball or rolling the ball back. Just for my forehand it just flies off the table on the other side. This cause a habit of bringing my backhand side to block even to block on my forehand area which causes me more unseen errors.

4. For sidespins serves, how to determine if it is a sidespin-topspin/sidespin-backspin. Can they be returned by a specific general one way method by looping from the backhand wing or do i have to determine the backspin/topspin that comes with the side spin first?

5. Finally, for those fast(no spin/topspin/little backspin) serves with very low bounce just slightly higher than the net, what would you recommend me to return those type of serves.

thank you in advance :)

Hi Adrian,

For the pushing, it is probably a matter of adjusting your angle.  Tilt your bat back and brush under the ball to get the ball over.  You can experiment with this with your angles.  It is impossible for them to do a backspin ball that you can't return with the angle of your racket.  It does get difficult though when the angle gets really flat.

For the topspin against backspin, firstly what type of bat are you using.  As long as you have something with a bit of grip on the surface it should be OK.  One of the things you can focus on is to make sure you are brushing the ball on contact to generate the topspin.  If you put enough topspin on the ball you will have a much better margin for error.  You can hit the ball higher and the topspin will bring the ball back down quickly.  Take a look through our lesson on the Forehand Topspin Off Backspin again.

For the forehand block try to hit the ball when it is a little higher.  Then you can hit more down on the ball.  From the greater height the ball can see more of the table and has a better direct line to the table.

For returning the serves, it is best to be abel to recognise the spin on the serve.  This will come with more play.  You can brush the ball very fast with topspin and this will eliminate some of the guess work.  This will get the ball spinning and moving in the direction that you want.

If a serve is long then in general you should try to topspin it.  Because they are fast they will feel like they have a bit more backspin so make your stroke more vertical.

Hope this all helps.