Long, fast serve with lot of back spin

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 9 years ago

giri chandramohan

giri chandramohan Asked 12 years ago

Hi there!

You guys are doing a great job. Cheers!

I have a question for you: I have a friend who has this serving technique where he places the ball long and fast to my backhand with a lot of back spin. He is very good at it that he can pretty much hit the corner every time. Now, I am able to return the serve, but unfortunately, because of the speed, I don't have time to play a top spin (not enough time for the swing, and since he puts back spin on it, my top spin doesn't work unless i am able to get the complete swing). I end up playing a defensive chop every time and it becomes easy for him to attack the next ball.

I have been working on my backhand topspin, but is there something that I can do (tactically) to better return this type of serve?

Cheers, Giri


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Giri,

You need to shorten your swing on the backhand but use a lot of wrist.  The fast wrist will allow you to lift the ball over the net.  It also allows you the time to play the stroke.

The stroke is almost vertical as well to lift the ball quickly. 


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giri chandramohan

giri chandramohan Posted 12 years ago

Thanks coach!

Prateek Gupta

Prateek Gupta Posted 12 years ago

Hi,

This video is not working properly. Please give us the download link to this video.


Prateek Gupta

Prateek Gupta Posted 12 years ago

Hi,

I found the fault. Sorry!

I don't feel confident hitting backhand topspin, so in games I end up chopping long backspin serve. So opponent always get  chance to hit the ball. Can you suggest some trick for this?


mohsen dessouki

mohsen dessouki Posted 12 years ago

great video response .thanks guys

Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

You're welcome Mohsen!

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Hi Prateek,

You need to work on your backhand topspin so that your first response to a long ball on your backhand is to topspin.  At the moment the first response is to push so you go back to that when it gets tight.

Changing this involves a lot of training on the stroke so that you feel really comfortable to make the stroke. Do it in a controlled situation in training first where you know where the ball is going and at a gentle pace.  You can slowly build up the difficulty until you can do it in match conditions.  this can take months of training.  It won't happen in a day.


Hannes Lemberg

Hannes Lemberg Posted 12 years ago

I had exactly same problem.

Solution is exactly what Alois said.
My idea was - better loose some games at first for goal of winning in future  - it was worth it.

Long ball - attack! grrrr! 0:1
Long ball - attack! grrrr! 0:2
Long ball - attack! grrrr! 0:3

After about 2 months:
Long ball - attack! yeaah! 1:0
Long ball - attack! grrrr!   1:1
Long ball - attack! yeaah! 2:1

My long serve opponent is practising short one now.

Oh and even pro's make mistakes.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Nice lesson Hannes.

Siddhartha Raja

Siddhartha Raja Posted 11 years ago

i am not a premium member so tell me what is in this video


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago

It basically covers what Alois has mentioned in the original answer.

You need to shorten your swing on the backhand and use a lot of wrist. The fast wrist will allow you to lift the ball over the net. It also allows you time to play the stroke. The stroke is almost vertical as well to lift the ball quickly.



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