Returning spin serves

Table Tennis Service Return

Last updated 11 years ago

adrian george

adrian george Asked 11 years ago

Hi.I saw a coach that to explain how the spin works he put a pencil on the racket and he directed his bat where should the ball go on the table.This technique is similar to yours.The question is:How does this technique help to understand the spin?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

Hi Adrian,

Yes, we have used this technique on our Receiving Secrets Revealed DVD. What you do is firstly see the angle that the ball goes off your racket when they do the serve.  If you point the pencil in that direction while placing one end on you racket you can then move both the racket and the pencil angle until the pencil is facing where you want the ball to go.  This will give you the direction you need on your racket to get that particular serve back.

The best thing is if you can purchase Receiving Secrets Revealed.  This will show you in detail how to return spin serves. 


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Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Hi Adrian,

You move the pencil and the bat together till the pencil is pointing in the direction you want the ball to go. It is much easier to understand with a video that is why we included it as part of our Receiving Secrets Revealed DVD.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Actually you need to move the racket and the pencil at the same time keeping the angle of the pencil the same. You move them together until the pencil is pointing where you want the ball to go. Now your bat will be on the correct angle to return the same serve with the same spin. 

 Once you get used to this and understand the principle it becomes easy to do this in your mind without actually needing a pencil.

Let me know if this clears things up.  


adrian george

adrian george Posted 11 years ago

I don't understand the second part of the answer.,, If you point the pencil in that direction while placing one end on you racket you can then move both the racket and the pencil angle until the pencil is facing where you want the ball to go."I mean if the racket is straight and the pencil is pointed to the right what I need to move?The racket until is in the same direction with the pencil?Or what?

andrew brand

andrew brand Posted 11 years ago

if the bat is pointing straight forward, and the pencil is facing to the right (indicating the ball is flying off to the right when it touches your bat) - you then (imagine the pencil is fixed to the bat and cant be moved either direction without the bat moving the same way with it), then turn the whole lot together the same way until the pencil points to where you "want" the ball to go ie on the table. then note which  angle your bat is facing. this is the angle you should then use next time against the sidespin serve to get the ball on the table.


Jeff Plumb

Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 11 years ago

Nicely explained Andrew!


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