How can I return a short pendulum serve?

Receiving

Merijn Machielse
Merijn Machielse Asked 14 years ago

What is the best way to return a short pendulum serve? 

On the training i train with a few big guys who use the pendalum serve and put alot of sidespin in it, I find it already very hard to read what spin its in because they do it fast and with extra movements..

When they do it short i try to push it, almost never ends well because it just goes to the right or left because of the sidespin..

How should I return them?

 

 


Jeff Plumb
Member Badge Jeff Plumb Answered 14 years ago

The main idea with returning spin is to use your bat like a rudder to counter the spin. This means you need change the angle of your bat depending on the spin that is on the ball. This is an important principle in returning serve.

You need to learn to read the spin that is on the ball so that you can counter the spin. You need to see the server's action, their contact and then the flight of the ball.


Recommended Video

How to Return Spin Serves in Table Tennis (and Stop Misreading Them!)

Struggling to return spin serves? You're not alone! In this video, we break down how to read spin, adjust your bat angle, and return serves effectively—so you stop giving away easy points.

What You'll Learn:

🔹 Skill Breakdown: How to identify different types of spin and adjust your return technique.
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🔹 Viewer Q&A: Answering your top questions about handling tricky spin serves.
🔹 Train Smarter: Drills to help you practice and improve your serve returns.

Mastering serve returns is one of the fastest ways to level up your table tennis game. Try these tips and let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest spin serve you face?

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Thoughts on this question


Merijn Machielse

Merijn Machielse Posted 14 years ago

Thanks for making a video response, very cool and helpful:)

The big guys arent as big as you guys are though haha.


Jeff Plumb

Member Badge Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 14 years ago
You're welcome! We were wondering just how big those guys were :)


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