Just started...
Serving
Tyler Unknown Asked 16 years ago
Hello, I just started playing Table Tennis and I just wanted to know some basics on serving and returning. Thanks
Tyler
Alois Rosario Answered 16 years ago
Hi Tyler,
Take a look at our How to Serve lesson. This covers the basics of serving.
If you are ready for something a bit more advanced you can get yourself a copy of Serving Secrets Revealed DVD. This covers how to get spin on your serves and makes it easy for you to learn the art of serving with spin.
Returning is an art that comes with more play. you first need to understand the basics of serving and then play lots of competition to learn to return well.
Good luck with the game.
Recommended Video
No Spin Serve
It may sound like a bad idea but the no spin serve can be effective when put together with a range of spin serves. In fact, this is a must have in your arsenal of serves.
Watch NowThoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Hi Tyler,
Hopefully the lesson on How To Serve cleared up some of the basic rules. It really is important to get thing right from the beginning. If you develop bad habits such as hitting the ball straight out of your hand without throwing it up, it can take a while to reverse. And once you start playing competitively at a club, you will get faulted if you serve illegally.
Once you have mastered the basics of serving, take a look at our video on the placement of the serve. I have included it below for you to watch. As a basic rule we would suggest serving 80% of your serves short on the Table so that they would bounce at least twice if left untouched by your opponent. Then serve the other 20% long as a surprise tactic. And remember the good areas! Of course this 80/20 rule is only a guide and you should vary this depending on how well your opponent returns each type of serve.
And as Alois said, if you are after something more advanced and want to learn some serves like the Tomahawk, the pendulum or the high toss, then be sure to get yourself a copy of Serving Secrets Revealed