Serve for Beginner

Hi, I started playing table tennis for over a month now, I have a coach but I'm currently having problems with serving because the serve I do is very basic and I really want to improve, is there any recommendations for a serve that is good for me to do?

Hi Ralph,

Great to hear that you're keen to improve your table tennis skills, especially your serve! As a beginner, it's important to focus on serves that you can consistently execute while also starting to introduce a bit of variation to challenge your opponents. Here are a few serves you can start practicing that are effective yet manageable for beginners:

1. The Pendulum Serve - This serve involves swinging your arm sideways similar to a pendulum, which allows you to generate a good amount of spin. You can vary the spin by contacting the ball differently with your racket (e.g., side-spin, back-spin, or a combination). Take a look at the tutorial that is available on the Pendulum Serve.

2. The Backhand Serve - This serve is executed from your backhand side and can be easier to control initially. It's also quite deceptive as you can easily vary spin and placement without significant changes in your action.

3. The Topspin Serve - While a bit more challenging, learning a topspin serve can be very beneficial. It involves striking the ball in an upward and forward motion, which can catch opponents off guard if they're expecting backspin.

When practicing these serves, focus on:

- Consistency: First, make sure you can get the serve in regularly without faults. 

- Placement: Try to aim for different areas of the table to make it difficult for your opponent to predict and return the serve comfortably.

- Spin: Experiment with different racket angles and speeds to see how it affects the spin of the ball. Remember, the key to a good serve isn't just about how fancy or difficult it is to execute; it's about how effectively it sets up the point for you.

Practice these serves regularly, and you'll soon find yourself becoming more confident and versatile with your serving game.