Returning long side and topspin serves

max kraayeveld Asked 14 years ago

Hello Alois, 

A lot of times when I'm playing competitive I face people who
usually play a short backspin serve. Sometimes, however, they
would play a long, fast, serve with topspin and/or sidespin. I find
myself always spinning it over the table or next to the table, so
I now return them softly in their backhand. But that's not what I 
want! I want to hit the long sidespin serves! Especially the ones
with only sidespin are difficult. Could you and Jeff make a video
about it? Like where you serve long with sidespin and Jeff uses a 
certain kind of topspin to smash it? I can't do it :S

Thanks in advance,
Me

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Max,

This is difficult to deal with.  Perhaps you can stand a little further away from the table to give yourself more time to deal with the faster ball.  It is easier to move in to the short ball than move backwards to the faster ball.

When you make the return of this ball it is important to make sure you use a topspin stroke to deal with it.  A smash or flatter ball will result in all the spin of the serve taking effect.  If you spin the ball you will generate your own spin and get it spinning in the direction you want.

Jeff and I will look at how we can make this video.

Thanks for the suggestion.