What do I use against a chop serve?

Rock Mr. Asked 14 years ago

What type of backspin should I use against a very choppy serve? Should I push it or chop it back? What's the difference in terms of how it reacts off of my paddle?

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Rock,

The push and chop are just different versions of the same stroke. It is more about the angle of your bat. The more backspin that your opponent puts on the ball the more you need to face the hitting side of your bat towards the roof.

The angle of your bat will do most of the work for you. If you brush under the ball and make a forward stroke this will tend to put more spin on the return.

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Thoughts on this question

Hung Diep Posted 14 years ago

I have found it easier to push the ball over the net, either close to the net or to their weaker side.

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

I used to invariably push chop serves but I've been really getting a lot of practice flipping short chop serves lately. It's not that hard to do, it's like a regular flip but you just compensate by opening up the racquet face. Pingskills has video on it. However, only do it with short serves. If it is a long chop serve you can take a full swing at it. Also it's useful to practice this return in doubles because serves are more predictable then and you can focus on certain returns.

Indrit Bajraktari Unknown Posted 14 years ago

Well deppend on how powerful is the spin. If I play in a serious game I would push and when I feel confident I would lift the ball. But on practice game I try to lift the ball. It depend as well on you game style. If play most deff you will push the ball, if you are and Off player you will lift.