Shovel service
Serving
Vijay Madge Asked 7 years ago
Hi Alois and Jeff. What's meant by "shovel service" and how to do it? These days a lot of players especially the Japanese and the Chinese employ this serve often. My imitations of them invariably end up in mild tepid reverse side spin serve and lacks the punch these players get. A video answer will be a great help.
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago
Hi Vijay,
Take a look at this tutorial on the Punch Serve. I think this is the one you are referring to.
Recommended Video
Variation of Spin
Varying the spin on your serve makes it harder to return. You can vary the type of spin but possibly even more effective is varying the amount of spin.
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Thank you Alois. As usual your explanation is so clarifying. I was confused because of the commentators using the term shovel service. I had actually watched your video on punch serve as you called it as well as Garrell doing that serve. The Japanese doing that serve look somewhat different. Hence my query. I had practised that serve for some time but gave it up. Today I added forearm and shoulder to my imitation of the 'shovel serve' and hey presto everything came aright!!! I'm just back from my evening solo practice session where I did that serve fifty times and almost for the entire duration I got the punch I wanted in addition to reverse side spin and the curve. And as you said it's so easy to disguise the spin and speed variations! I could manage them all thanks to you. Maybe if you don't mind I'll send you some videos of me doing that serve. Once again, thanks a million.
Well done Vijay. Yes send me through the videos of the serve to have a look at.