Fake motions on serves

Table Tennis Serving

Last updated 10 years ago

Rob Janssen

Rob Janssen Asked 10 years ago

Hi coach,

At first I want to thank you for the advice on yesterdays question my training starts within an hour and I will try to improve my movement and reading of direction.

Serving is one of my passions in table tennis and I like experimenting with my serves. I can already get a lot of spin and I can vary the spin on my serve.

Now I want to learn how to do 'effective' fake motions on my serve so it will be harder to read the spin. I am already able to do fake motions on my serves but they are not fast enough after the serve. I want to be able to do it like a split second after contact point and still get the spin I want on the serve.

Of course the answer to this is just keep practicing. I was planning on starting with my regular serve, then add a motion and then try to add the motion faster and faster.

But if you got any other tips. they are very welcome! :)

Greetings Rob.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago

Hi Rob,

It is good to see you have put a lot of importance on your serving.

For the fake motion you can also move your elbow in different directions actually during the service action rather than after it.  You need to keep your bat going in the same direction as it normally would but move your elbow in different directions.  For the Pendulum serve for example as the bat is swinging in towards your body, your elbow can be swinging out.  It may sound odd, but give it a try.


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Rob Janssen

Rob Janssen Posted 10 years ago

Hmm, I cant really imagine what you exactly mean, do you mean like what ma long does? do you know a player who does that so I can get the right picture? :)

Thanks alot


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 10 years ago

Hi Rob,

I know it is probably just an excuse to put in Waldner again but he was very good at it.  In this video you may see some action of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rngeXGGyDBo 

Ma Long does do it in this video as well.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqxAPCx7fjc



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