Keeping serves short with backspin?

Nick Ungson Asked 13 years ago

I've been trying to get more training time focusing on my serves (Variety, placement). I've been doing well with long topspin/sidespin serves, but I'm having a VERY difficult time with short, underspin serves. I can get pretty short serves, but they end up being no-spin or very slight underspin.

I'm not counting any serve that bounces in the middle 3rd of the opponent's side as passable. How do I impart enough force to put good underspin on a serve while still keeping it short on their side?

Thanks!

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi Nick,

The key is to be able to brush the ball fast while making the contact really fine.  The flatter the contact the further the ball will go.  The thinner the contact the shorter it will go.

So then you need to find the balance to get the ball to spin a lot and get it short by getting good fast brushing on the ball. 

Also focus on getting the ball to bounce close to you on your side of the table.  This will assist getting the bounce on the other side of the net to be close to the net.