Topspin serve
Serving
John Kao Asked 5 years ago
Hi,
I haven't played TT for 2 and a half months till this week, and I forgot one of my favorite serves!
The serve is a forehand topspin high toss serve that originally I very used effectively.
I toss the ball in the air, wait for it to come down, and the turn the racket fast, like a flick, to add topspin.
Now, my topspin is very high and easy to attack. What should I do to improve this?
Alois Rosario Answered 5 years ago
Hi John,
A topspin serve in general isn't that effective because it is easy to hit back.
Try to add some sidespin or backspin to make the serve more effective.
Take a look at this tutorial on Don't use a Plain Topspin Serve.
Thoughts on this question
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John Kao Posted 5 years ago
Hi, I know what you mean, but I use it as a changeup to my backspin serves
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
this serve is really good against one of my friends
D K Posted 5 years ago
John,a good direction where a topspin can be incorporated is a WindShield serve.
My former coach used this serve with great effect,and is considered one of the best server in my district at his league level.
Yes,it is far from professional,but at this level 70% of players still serve with their backhand.
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
thanks dk
Nigel C Posted 5 years ago
John,
Why not get someone to film you performing your topspin serve then you should be able to see clearly things like, how high you are contacting the ball or how hard is the downward force you are applying and how much you are brushing the ball to make it spin. You need the correct balance of speed, spin, contact height and distance from table to get a low fast serve with spin.
You said it was a high toss serve so try with a lower toss to get the action right and then increase the height of the toss until you get the complete action right.
Then practise over and over (but always take your time, visualize the serve and maybe place a target on the table to try and hit. Ping skills has a video where they use string above the net to make sure they are keeping the ball low).
D K Posted 5 years ago
There is also question whether you use pendulum serve,windshield serve,tomahawk serve,punch serve,reverse pendulum,...what type is it?
All these serves are performable by forehand and it is possible to generate topspin using them.
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
OK, thanks
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
The service is more like a flick of wrist that confuses opponents.
Nigel C Posted 5 years ago
John as you contact the ball is the tip of your bat point down, out to the side or up ( this gives is an idea of the action you are using). Are you trying to serve fast and or make the ball kick off the table unexpectedly?
D K Posted 5 years ago
It seems to me like he is using an action similar to spin-oriented forehand flick,Nigel :/
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
Well, I sort of twist my wrist to apply spin, and use the flick to add speed
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
I try to let it be a "kick-off after touching the table" knd of serve.
D K Posted 5 years ago
Have you ever seen some top class player performing similar action?
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
I think this is an uncommon serve that sometimes my coach uses to surprise opponents.
D K Posted 5 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SunBzl-F3c&t=563s
John,does the service of the dirty-green/brown player (close to camera) look a bit similar?
John Kao Posted 5 years ago
@DK
Yes, but I just twist my wrist a bit more
D K Posted 5 years ago
OK but basically we now have an idea of what serve are you using.
It is basically a pendulum motion performed from forehand side from squareon stance.
This serve is commonly used at my level in my area. I use this serve in doubles,since I usually mostly serve from backhand corner.
I have experience that this serve can be very effectively exchanged with backspin one.