Crazy curve serve (zigzag)

Service Return

abbas shiha
abbas shiha Asked 9 years ago

So yesterday I played with my uncle ping pong we haven't played since a month and I beat that time but this time he has more improvments he does a short serve that stays in the middle of the table and curves just like a zigzag the serve is like this:fast bat then hits on his side no spin the before hits my side (over the net) it curves in the air to the right then bounces on my side and curves to the left very hard to get the ball to his side or even touch it pls help


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago

Hi Abbas,

Remember that the ball can only spin one way.  On the first bounce it still has a lot of forward momentum and that is why it doesn't curve straight away.  The ball will curve in the air after that as the spin takes effect.  Then when it hits your side of the table it may move sideways a little.  This is all a predictable path for the ball with sidespin.  The key is to watch the ball and try to get a chance to return as many of these types of serves as you can.  The more you do the more you will learn the path of the ball and also the reaction when it hits your bat.

Our section on Receiving Secrets has some good tips in there to help you to learn how to return a wide range of serves.


Thoughts on this question


abbas shiha

abbas shiha Posted 9 years ago

its to hard to get the ball as it spins to my right hand almost next to the net not in the middle of the table and then falls to the floor if Im fast enough I could sometimes get it but then I loose my pace and then he topspins to the left REALLY CRAZY SERVE AND VERY VERY EFFECTIVE TOO never seen any serve like this one


D K

D K Posted 9 years ago

You are a righthander?
And what action does your opponent do?
A backhand or pendulum or what?


Johan B

Johan B Posted 9 years ago

If it bounces fast to the side, it's probably sidespin with some topspin, so you should take a look at the lesson on forehand flicks :)


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