Responding to Short Underspin Serves and Pushes

Rich Daly Asked 1 month ago

What are the techniques to return a short or relatively short underspin serve or push besides pushing it back?

Alois Rosario Answered 1 month ago

Hi Rich,

Returning a short underspin serve or push effectively is a crucial skill in table tennis that can help shift the momentum of the game in your favour. While pushing it back is a common response, there are a few more techniques you can use to add variety and unpredictability to your game:

1. Flick - This is a more aggressive option. Use a flick to attack the short underspin ball. By using a quick wrist action and slightly opening the racket angle, you can lift the ball over the net and place it deep or to an awkward position for your opponent. Practicing both forehand and backhand flicks will make you more versatile.  Here are some tutorials on the various flick strokes that will show you more about how to execute them. Forehand Flick , Backhand Flick, Banana Flick.
2. Side Spin Push - Adding side spin to your push can complicate the return for your opponent. Use a brushing action to impart side spin while still keeping the ball short. This can create uncertainty and potentially force an error or a weaker return from your opponent.

These techniques require practice to master timing, touch, and placement. Try to incorporate these into your training sessions, focusing on not just executing the stroke but also on when it’s best to use each stroke depending on your opponent’s position and playing style. Remember, the key to a successful short game is variation and precision.