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
How to Return Spin Serves in Table Tennis (and Stop Misreading Them!)
Struggling to return spin serves? You're not alone! In this video, we break down how to read spin, adjust your bat angle, and return serves effectively—so you stop giving away easy points.
What You'll Learn:
🔹 Skill Breakdown: How to identify different types of spin and adjust your return technique.
🔹 Common Mistakes: The biggest errors players make when returning spin serves—and how to fix them fast!
🔹 Viewer Q&A: Answering your top questions about handling tricky spin serves.
🔹 Train Smarter: Drills to help you practice and improve your serve returns.
Mastering serve returns is one of the fastest ways to level up your table tennis game. Try these tips and let us know in the comments: What’s the toughest spin serve you face?
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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