returning pendulum serve
Receiving
Hasham Iqbal Asked 14 years ago
Hi Alois,
I wanted to ask you that how to return a pendulum serve which has
1) speed but little sidespin
2)slow but too much spin on it
3) and if i like to smash both these types of serve how should i do it...?
More over how should i drive and loop the ball using my forehand which is weak. Any tips on how to improve my forehand would be welcoming.
Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago
Hi Hasham,
For the long serve like with any serve your approach should be to make an attacking topspin. Because it has speed, it may feel heavier of your bat so you will need to lift the ball a little more.
If there is a lot of spin, you need to be able to recognise the spin on the ball. This is a major step and one that will take time. If the ball is going to bounce twice then your first option is a push or flick. If it is long, then brush it heavily with topspin to make the return.
I wouldn't attempt to smash returns unless the serve really sits up high.
To improve your forehand, you should work especially on the finish position of your stroke. Take a good look at the lesson on the Forehand Topspin.
Our DVD on returning serve will be out very soon.
Recommended Video
Judging the Length of a Serve
A really important skill in table tennis is to be able to judge if a serve will be short or long. If it's short you won't be able to take a full swing at the ball and hence will need to use either a push or a flick to return the ball. However, if it is coming long then you can make a topspin attack. In this video we give you some tips to help you judge the length of the serve and hopefully this makes you a better returner.
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Rahul Ramesh Posted 14 years ago
then if we want o counter that serve should we close the racket to topspin the serve