Fast spinny serve

My friend learned a new service. It's a backhand serve with a lot of sidespin and topspin or backspin. He serves it and long and fast at my backhand. I am usually able to return serves with the same spin but this one is awkward. It goes in the net or out of the table. Please help

Hi Jeremy,

Try taking half a step away from the table when he is serving to give yourself a little more time to see it.  You will also find that the more you return it the better you will get at reading the serve and what spin is on it.

Try to learn the serve from him too.