Table Tennis - Out of Left Field?

Hmmm... time for a change of plan! CHO Eon Rae (KOR) at the 2005 Chile Open

Photo by: Christian Larrain, courtesy of www.ittf.com

Rocky Dotzler writes:

Hi Greg,

I'd like your opinion on serve strategy, but first my style as I see it. I am a left hander who stands close to the table with decent reflexes and speed. I play a pure power game, relying mostly on a loop drive versus both topspin and backspin to win points outright. My question is:

1) What type of serve would you use to generate the most favorable return for a 3rd ball attack? Also, if during a point a 3rd ball attack is not feasible, how would you play the point to attack the 5th ball? Since most of the people I play are right handed, and I am left handed, how does that change--if any-- where I stand, what part of the table I serve to, and the length of serve for the 3rd ball, and my positioning, type of return, and to what location for the 5th ball.

Your help is appreciated. Thanks for a great site.

Greg replies:

This page has moved to here.

Greg is now running the About.com Table Tennis site, and as such a number of these articles will be transferred over to About.com. Please feel free to join me at About!

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