Returning against a good server

[peterban]

Hi Greg,

recently I have played against some players that had serves that I just couldnt read  

However if we got into a rally I seemed to win just about every point. which was to say the least frustrating !

Is there some techniques/strategies you could suggest to improve how to read serves?

Warm regards

Peter

[haggisv]

Yes, use a pimpled rubber like Greg does! - just kidding Greg

[Greg]

Thanks for that haggisv 

Seriously though, it's a good question and one that deserves an article of it's own, which I'll have to get around to soon! Some quick tips in the meantime though.

1. Learn to serve better - if you know how to do the serve itself it gets easier to pick what serve is coming at you.
2. Make sure that you are actually seeing their bat contact the ball - if not it's much harder to know what serve is coming.
3. Long serves should be looped - your heavy topspin will help make it less important what is on the ball. When in doubt on a long serve, go for medium depth with as much topspin as you can - under no circumstances swing slower - you'll be more affected by their spin.
4. Scout your opponents - certain players have favourite serves, and usually a couple of special serves saved for tight situations. Knowing what is likely to come at you can help a lot when you have to make a guess. If you can face the player when he's serving to another opponent, it's a good time to try to guess what he has just served, and see if you got it right!
5. Watch the bounce - backspin sits up and slows down off the table a bit more, topspin tends to kick forward and lower. You need good eyes for this though.
6. Don't return too many short services with float - you get more affected by the spin. Choose to push or flick and give it some spin of your own to help your control.

Greg

[Alson1987]

Hi, Im new.

I need some tips on returning serves.
Supposedly my opponent serve a low and spiny sidespin serve that just float over the net and curving to my left, how do I counter it?
I once read a book 6 years back, it says something like if you are encoutering sidespin serves, return it by using backspin. Isit true? I have yet to prove it as I just pick up the spot about a week ago after not playing it for like 5 years lol.

[Johnson]

When I encounter a sidespin serve, I first judge which sidespin.  In your case, the ball is curving left, which will cause your returning shot to spin off to the right.  I look (with my peripheral vision) for the direction my opponent's bat is going immediatly after the serve (very hard to see if playing an experienced player).  Whichever way it is going, thats the direction the ball is going to come off your bat.  When I see this, I can adjust my return accordingly.   It's all about compensation and quick reflexes.  As far as your book in concerned, I've been successfully returning these with backspin.  Some players see a backspin return, get scared, and return softly.  Others either know to aim a bit higher to adjust for the backspin, or slam it which will make your backspin mostly ineffective. 

Man this is a great game.

[cheapo]

In theory any ball that is served deep over the end line can be looped or smashed.  After a few loop kills of your opponets serves they will move on to a short spinny serve that you can't attack. 

[surfbeach]

I use my robot purely set in service mode, and each workout involves a full rotation of the head (after each position has served a few dozen balls), that means that every service (spin) has been served by the robot in each session, which takes about an hour.

One of the things I've noticed from doing this is that trying to 'dead bat' the ball back, is similar to braking around corners when driving your car- the ball (or car) is more controlling you, than you controlling it. Greg mentioned about 'push', 'flick' or 'loop', which I agree with, certain limitations present themselves when the ball doesn't bounce over the end of the table on first bounce but generally those serves won't have quite as much spin on them.

Regarding sidespin serves, they are the easiest to read, as generally the sidespin will reduce the amount of back or topspin on the ball, which I find more dangerous.

Maybe if you have a problem with serves, hire a robot for an hour a week, and do what I do in my session.

[TTYounga]

On service return touch the same side as the server is. Watch Mark Smith's Service Coaching Video and for each serve he shows, you can touch the same side to counter the spin. In all the following scenarios it will be a right handed server serving to a right handed returner.
Side spin = right side of the ball
Back spin = back of the ball
Top spin = top of the ball
Reverse side spin = left side of the ball

Better players can add two spins to the ball such as side back for example. If so touch atthe bottom corner on the right side.

Service return isn't that easy at all but if practised can really help. if it's long then loop it. That's the easiest bit. 

[yogiyogi]

You need to read the motion of the serve and try to understand the spin.
After youv done that you need to return it at the oposite serve.
At the start it might be a little confusing but dont worry its kinda easy.

A very good tip:

You need only to know how to return a forehand serve because once you learned it backhand is the same just oposite directions and the reverse FH is like the BH.

so tell one of your freinds to shoe you the motion of a typical FH serve and draw with your hand the spin of the ball and than u can understand it.

i hope i helped you

yuval