Playing Leftie's Pendulum sidespin

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 3 years ago

Ryan Bhattacharya

Ryan Bhattacharya Asked 3 years ago

How should I return a Left-Hander's Pendulum side Spin or Side-Top Spin Long Serve. I have been struggling to return it during Doubles. Any idea? Kindly suggest any idea. I have been returning them using a weird backhand flick which is not so consistent. This make me concede cheap points.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 3 years ago

Hi Ryan,

In doubles you can use the backhand more easily.  Don't try to do too much with it.  Use the natural angle of your racket for the backhand and come forward and through the ball on contact.  Once you get the feel for that you can start to think about spinning over the ball more to generate your own topspin.


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Ryan Bhattacharya

Ryan Bhattacharya Posted 3 years ago

So, you are suggesting me to get on the line of the Ball and make a natural Backhand Flick. Will the Flick be able to land the ball on the other side of the court considering the length? 

I meant that if the Length of the serve is Long, then I expect a heavy side spin which drags me more out of the table. But, it also make me block the shot or play a Flick, since it is a fast serve. What should my approach be if it is a long side spin?

A little side note: I can land the ball on the opposite corner of the table if it a Reverse Pendulum side spin or a Reverse Pendulum Side-Back spin serve. Since most of the side spin of these serves assist me in making a consistent return, I think a safely say that it won't be used against me. 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

Hi Ryan,

If it is a long serve then use a topspin to return the ball.


Ryan Bhattacharya

Ryan Bhattacharya Posted 3 years ago

Thanks. I won a match Yesterday by playing against the same player who was serving Fast Pendulum Side Spin Serve. I used either Chop Block or Top Spin and both of really made my opponent's partner uncomfortable. Especially, for Chop Block. They never knew what kind of spin I am putting with it and most of the time, their return went out of the Table. But Top spinning the ball slightly from lower position gave a heavy Topspin which was good to Block but neutralized the spin for my opponent to attack.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

Thanks for the update Ryan.



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