Long Backspin Serve

Grenville Pereira Asked 12 years ago

Hi Alois

I have read about the importance of serving short and have developed my game around the short serve. However I also serve a long heavy backspin serve with the bat in parallel to the table and I see that it gives me good results.

I find that my opponents have trouble lifting the ball and they chop it more often and i ready to pivot and make the forehand topspin.  I am also ready to block the ball and to place this shot in case the opponent is able to lift it.  However making the serve into the body of the opponent, I see that they have no room to lift the ball.

Is this a good tactic to have as I progress and meet higher level of opponents. I do not see long backspin serves used in matches so I'm not sure. If you feel that one could mix up the serves and serve a long serve now and then what would your pointers be for a long serve.

Thanks
Grenville

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Grenville,

The long serve should be used as a surprise.  If done this way it can be effective.  You will notice at the high level they don't serve too many long simple serves because their opponents will attack the ball.