Service return with Long Pimples

Hi  Alois,

I am using a paddle with a smooth inverted and very grippy rubber on my Fh and a long pimpled rubber on my Bh.

My dominant syle is an all round offensive (such as the style of the famous sweden player Fabian Akestrom).

My question is :  I flick on return service very often by using the smooth side on every short ball. What are the differences of techniques of flick by using the long pimpled rubber? Is it similar to a punch shot ? are there any videos of fh and bh flick shots with long pimpled rubber?  I should be very interested to master on this.

Thanks

Massimo from Italy

Hi Massimo,

With the long pimpled rubber it is quite easy to flick or punch off a backspin ball.  If there is backspin the ball will come off your rubber like topspin so will have the natural lift.  Therefore you can hit straight through the ball.

It is something that we can make a video on but haven't done so as yet.  AT this stage we have a lesson on LP Attack Against Backspin which may help in some ways as the principles are the same.