Want more sidespin on Pendulum serve

Table Tennis Serving

Last updated 3 years ago

toby kim

toby kim Asked 3 years ago

Hi Coach,

For some time I have been trying to do sidespin(pendulum) serve. I noticed that when try to contact the ball on the side, contact the lower area of the bat, use a lot of wrist, and have arm acceleration, I get little sidespin and sometimes good heavy backspin. I'm only looking for a good sidespin serve that bounces off my opponents racket when their racket is flat with no angle. Is there a way to fix this spin issue?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 3 years ago

Hi Toby,

the type of spin depends totally on the angle of your bat at the point of contact.  To generate the sidespin you need to have your bat more vertical, with the end of your bat pointing to the ground.

Really focus on this position.  I would advise taking a short video of your serve and watching it to see what is actually happening.  Often our perception of where our bat and hand is isn't quite right.  Seeing it on a video will really help this.


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toby kim

toby kim Posted 3 years ago

I still generate barely any sidespin and heavy backspin. I will take a look at your tutorial, I think this will help.


toby kim

toby kim Posted 3 years ago

I took a video of myself doing it and everything looked okay: contact point, wrist, speed. I figured out that it was the table tennis racket. A controlled racket seems better for sidespin, while the speed and spin racket is for backspin and topspin. I think I will practice sidespin serves with the control racket, then I will move to the speed and spin racket.


toby kim

toby kim Posted 3 years ago

The sidespin serve(pendulum) has been working, but I hit my chest too hard for extra spin. Is there a way to fix this issue?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

You can put a towel under your shirt while doing serve practice. 


toby kim

toby kim Posted 3 years ago

I tried the towel, but it didn’t work. Is there any recommendations for a chest accessory made for table tennis?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 3 years ago

I haven't heard of one.  Maybe someone else has seen something.



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