Returns short and wide

Vigneswara Prabhu Asked 6 years ago

I have been playing with an opponent, who has single odd return which he utilizes 90% of the time. It is quite effective because he aims it to the sides of the table, close to the net, and it has quite a lot of spin.

It is an Over the table shot. Right handed, he leans in. Both lack of a better word, he thrusts the bat, simultaneously raising it from bottom to top. at an angle of 90-70 Degrees towards the table. with some topspin, or perpendicular spin ? mixed in.

The ball makes a sharp return to the sides with high speed.

Currently i can pick up with ball 50% of the time, predicting the trajectory and his hand movements, but it often gets me lunging and off balance. 

Any advise on how to practice against such fast close to the net returns, specifically, or in general?

Alois Rosario Answered 6 years ago

Hi Vigneswara,

If you know he is going to play that shot move in closer to the table straight after you serve.  The other thing that you can do is to serve slightly longer which will limit the angle that he can get.  If you serve really short he can get a wider angle, if his contact is from further back then he has less angle to play with.