How to receive side spin

Antonio Chan Asked 1 month ago

My friend's been mastering side spin for years, especially snake, he can recieve the ball under the table and create a heavy side spin but stay very low on the table, the only thing i can do is to recieve it with the same spin direction which is not very effective, he will only create more and more spin, until either one of us can't hit the ball, is there any other way to recieve it?

Alois Rosario Answered 1 month ago

Hi Antonio,

Dealing with heavy side spin, especially from tricky shots like the snake, can be challenging. It's great that you've observed the need to change your approach instead of just going along with the spin direction. Here are a few strategies you might consider to effectively counter your friend's side spin:

1. Use the right angle: Adjust your bat's angle to counteract the spin. If the spin is coming from right to left, angle your bat slightly to the left to counteract it, and vice versa. This requires some practice to get the angle just right without overcompensating.
2. Vary your returns: Mix up your returns between short and long, or use different speeds. Variability can make it harder for your opponent to predict and prepare for your return, thus reducing their ability to dominate the rally with their preferred spin.
3. Attack the spin: Sometimes, the best defense is a good offense. If you can manage to attack the ball aggressively despite the spin, it can turn the tables. Use an aggressive topspin with a fast brushing action to get the ball spinning in the direction you want it to.

Remember, the key to mastering spin in table tennis is practice and experience. The more you play against different types of spins, the better you will get at reading and reacting to them.