Why slow spiny serves

Chandrachur Mukherjee Asked 11 years ago

I watch professionals serve and every serve I see its usually a slow short serve. I don't understand that, I play ping-pong recreationally and the slow spinny serves we eat up and kill, so we like to serve it fast and long as fast as we can get it... because... well its harder to hit right? So why all the slow lame serves; what's the strategy behind this that would make them superior to fast serves? Why not a fast serve with lots of spin? If anyone can answer that for me.

Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago

HI Chandrachur,

At a base level the fast serve can be effective. However once you get to a level where your opponents can hit faster topspin strokes, if you serve long, they will be able to react and attack the ball back to you That is why at that level, they all serve mainly short.

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Abhinav Upadhyay Posted 11 years ago

I agree with Alois. A good player will punish the long serve, moreover, it is more likely that you will get the taste of your own medicine when the return comes back. On the other hand, a slow spinny serve makes sure that the receiver will not be able to attack it, giving you the opportunity to make a 3rd or 5th ball attack.