Advanced Table Tennis Service and Return

Once a basic short and long service has been established on both the forehand and the backhand, the player may look for a greater variety of services to improve his/her game, by varying the spin, speed, disguise and direction of the ball. For advanced service technique the wrist becomes of paramount importance.

1. Short Backspin Service

TASK

• Apply backspin. Two bounces on the receiver's side.
• Keep the ball low.
• 
  WHY?
  
• To limit the receiver's chances of attacking the ball. To increase the chances of the server getting a ball long enough to attack.
• 
  HOW?
  
• Stance - Facing and low
• Table Position - Close
• Length of Swing - Short as possible to disguise the stroke
• Timing - Strike on descent
• Body Action - Minimum to aid disguise
• Bat Arm - Relaxed and fast wrist action
• Free Arm - Releases the ball
• 
  WHEN? - When servers wants to stop the receiver from attacking.
  
  
  
  TEACHING TIPS
  
• Medium degree of touch with a fast action.
• Bounce on the server's side must be near the net.
• 2nd bounce on receiver's side must be close to the base line.
• Strike the bottom/back part of the ball.
• 
  This type of service should be encouraged since it makes it difficult for the receiver to play an attacking stroke.
  
  Significant progress can be made in developing service by using multi-ball practice in which several balls are available with which the server can practice alone.
  
  
  
  
  2. Backhand Sidespin Service
  
  TASK
  
• Apply sidespin. Two bounces on the receiver's side. Keep the ball low.
• 
  WHY?
  
• To limit the receiver's chances of attacking the ball. To increase the chances of the server getting a ball long enough to attack. To limit the receiver's range of stroke. To encourage receiver to return the ball to specific area e.g. to server's forehand.
• 
  HOW?
  
• Stance - Facing and low
• Table Position - Close
• Length of Swing - Short as possible to disguise the stroke
• Timing - Strike on descent
• Body Action - Minimum to aid disguise
• Bat Arm - Relaxed and fast wrist action
• Free Arm - Releases ball
• 
  WHEN?
  
• When server wants to stop the receiver from attacking.
• 
  TEACHING TIPS
  
• Medium degree of touch with a fast action.
• Bounce on the server's side must be near the net.
• 2nd bounce on receiver's side must be close to the base line.
• Strike the back/middle part of the ball.
• 
  3. High Toss Service
  
  Favoured by many top players, originally established by the Asian players, to convert the accelerating descent of the ball into spin and speed. The service can be distracting and it is possible for the free arm to shield the contact point of bat and ball making it very difficult for opponents to read the spin.
  
  4. Forehand High Toss Service from Backhand Court
  
  TASK
  
• Apply sidespin and/or topspin/backspin. Two bounces on the receiver's side. Keep the ball low.
• 
  WHY?
  
• To limit the receiver's chances of attacking the ball. To increase the chances of the server getting a ball long/high enough to attack. To limit receiver's range of stroke. To encourage receiver to return the ball to specific area e.g. to server's forehand to make service difficult to read.
• 
  HOW?
• Stance - Sideways at the B corner of the table
• Table Position - Close
• Length of Swing - Short as possible to disguise the stroke
• Timing - Strike on descent
• Body Action - Minimum to aid disguise
• Bat Arm - Relaxed and fast wrist action
• Free Arm - Releases ball and shields bat for deception
• 
  WHEN?
  
• Server wants to stop the receiver from attacking. Server wants to attack the return.
• 
  TEACHING TIPS
  
• The grip should be relatively relaxed to allow use of the wrist.
• To produce a bounce which is consistent with a low trajectory over the net, the contact point should be around 15cm higher than the surface of the table (about the same height as the net).
• The service should be varied in length, speed and direction.
• A long fast service may be produced using a slightly closed bat angle. The ball should make contact with the table within the first third of the server's half.
• A short, relatively slow service may be produced using an open bat angle. The ball should make contact with the table around two thirds of the way down the server's half.
• A particularly effective short service is one in which the second bounce on the receiver's side (if the ball is not played) makes contact with the table at or very near the end of the table. (See Figure.2.13.)
• 
  
  
  
  ADVANCED RETURN OF SERVICE
  
  Once a basic push and drive stroke has been established to return service, it is possible to consider a variety of positive returns. The three which are favoured by most leading players to return a short service are:
  
  1. Short Push
  TASK
  
• Return the ball with at least 2 bounces. Return the ball to a wide angle. Return the ball low.
• 
  WHY?
  
• To make it difficult for the server to attack the ball.
• 
  HOW?
  
• Stance - Low, wide, eyes level with the ball
• Table Position - Well over the table
• Length of Swing - Short
• Timing - Early as possible, before peak of the bounce
• Body Action - Lean over the table
• Free Arm - Assists with balance. Points to the ball acting as a reference point
• 
  2. Fast Attacking Push
  
  As above but use fast wrist action to push it deep and fast. Aim into cross over point (see Figure 2.5) or play it wide.
  
  
  
  
  3. Flick
  
  As above, but change from an open to a closed bat, hit over the back or top of ball, using wrist. (See Figure 2.16.)
  
  
  
  
  APPLICATION OF STROKES WITHIN THE GAME
  
  It is important to remember that the only purpose of techniques and skills is to enable the player to apply them effectively and efficiently within the game. While there is never only one standard application, the following provide examples of when a player may use a specific stroke. (See Table)