Medium length backspin serve

David B Asked 13 years ago

I have a really hard time with my robot giving me short backspin serves, where the 2nd bounce is close to the edge of the table.

I open up my bat and attempt to push the ball forward, but can't create any lift as the ball won't bounce very high and the ball moves horizontally into the net.

When the ball is really short, it will bounce higher and being closer to the net I can flip it.  And long backspin balls, I can counter the backspin with topspin like you suggested when you answered this question in a video.  But the backspin that will bounce twice at the table edge are really frustrating.

Would you help please?

Alois Rosario Answered 13 years ago

Hi David,

This is a difficult ball to return.  You probably need to push this ball. You can definitely get the ball to lift over the net by adjusting the angle of your blade. Then it is a matter of developing enough touch so that you can place the ball accurately.  Because it is a longer distance form your target it is a more difficult skill.  Like most things though, training will make it all better.

Work at getting the angle of the bat correct.  You said that the ball is going into the net so you need to face the bat even more to the ceiling.  That what will determine, more than anything else, where the ball will go. It is good that you have the robot for this purpose.