What serve should I use?

[Lungfish]

The serve which works is dependant on your opponent. Try different serves that you can execute well and be the judge. Serve which provokes errors and easily attackable balls is the one

I've heard that I should only have about 3 serves in my repertoire. Those serves should have lots of variation. Because I know too many, I'm wondering which to have in my repetoire.

 

[blahness]

I strongly recommend the hook serve, if you have a strong backhand then that serve will benefit the most.

If they push it to the BH corner yes this is the easiest spin for a BH opening loop. The problem with hook serve is when they push with their BH against the spin, long to the middle or down the line to the FH. It is not a difficult receive even for amateurs, but you do need a pretty strong FH and knowledge of how to attack this spin archetype to punish it because the incoming spin from the receive curves to your left and is not exactly the most friendly ball to attack with FH. If OP knows how to punish this ball decisively with the FH then hook serves would work.

 

[longle]

a hook serve's return drifts to his forehand. How does this help his strong backhand ?

based on my own experience, I use hook serve (no spin/topspin) a lot and almost of the cases the return will be a long ball so there are many chances for opening loop.

Lower level opponents usually push to BH with little spin - easy to BH loop, higher level opponents can flick the ball to FH side but usually not much power - can still FH loop.

 

[jk1980]

based on my own experience, I use hook serve (no spin/topspin) a lot and almost of the cases the return will be a long ball so there are many chances for opening loop.

Lower level opponents usually push to BH with little spin - easy to BH loop, higher level opponents can flick the ball to FH side but usually not much power - can still FH loop.

The point is that the op wanted to make use of his backhand. It is very unlikely that the receive will end up on his strong backhand. The only situation where the ball would be played to your backhand is when you actually don't impart sidespin in your serve which in turn does actually make your serve not a hook serve unless... You are this

 

[IB66]

I've heard that I should only have about 3 serves in my repertoire. Those serves should have lots of variation. Because I know too many, I'm wondering which to have in my repetoire.

You don’t necessarily ‘need’ lots of different serve actions, but I feel it’s good to have them!!

What I would say is that you should have 2 to 3 serve actions that are your ‘food and drink’ go to serve actions that you can concentrate on when practicing and playing matches.
If you take into account the spin variations, placement (long, short, half long) variations, speed variations and fake motion variation, there are numerous different ’feels’ to learn for 1 serve action alone!!!

Generally the FH pendulum is the go to serve action for left side spin, (ball contacted on the left for a right handed player) the other less common options being the wash wipe serve, and reverse tomahawk serve (which is pretty difficult!!) You need a left spin serve Which is traditionally the FH pendulum.
Then you need a right spin serve - tomahawk, hook/punch and reverse pendulum. Choose one and concentrate on that specific action.
A BH serve, which imparts the same side spin as the tomahawk/hook/reverse pendulum.

When you watch the Pro’s they usually stick to one or two serve actions and have a 3rd as a back up. These are serves that they have pretty much mastered!! that’s why they stick to them, they know the serve and likely receive they are going to get.
They probably have more in their bag but these are likely to be less ‘trained/practiced than the 2 ‘go to’ serve actions.

Sometimes, pretty rarely, a receiver struggles with a serve action. So, you are serving a hook serve and they return it well, change to a reverse pendulum and they make more mistakes. The side spin is the same but the action is harder for them to read. Maybe this is an option later in a game where you are struggling??

 

[longle]

The point is that the op wanted to make use of his backhand. It is very unlikely that the receive will end up on his strong backhand. The only situation where the ball would be played to your backhand is when you actually don't impart sidespin in your serve which in turn does actually make your serve not a hook serve unless... You are this

I forgot to say, I usually do hook serve to the short FH side of the opponent (if he is right hand) - 90% the opponents will return to my BH, the long hook serve to opponent's BH side will mostly be returned to midde/FH side

 

[TTAntiPlayer]

Maybe you can take a look at Dima's service strategy, there is a good video that explains his BH service strategy

. On the FH side, he mostly uses the tomahawk serve.

 

[Yuomay]

For me the best serves are the ones where I can most easily anticipate the receive, or where I know what my plan is.

Add to that a little uncertainty about placement and some slight deception in spin.

Which one ? Don’t really care actually. As long as I can do all spin variations and all placements with it

 

[MORTtheORT]

I think I will be practicing a backhand serve with heavy underspin, allowing me to engage my bh loop. I will also continue to use my pendulum but add more side spin to attack the 3rd ball with bh. I will mix in long fast down the line serves bc I love them.
Thanks for the advice!

Don't be afraid to do a short underspin FH serve as well. Since you are doing a pendulum serve you can use it without changing your setup at the start.and catch your opponent out positionally. If you do a pendulum serve then change to a backhand server...can be predictable which serve you are going to do in a match after your opponent has seen your serve a few time.

 

[BackhandSteve]

I have learned that serves that I easily do good, you might have difficulties doing. And the other way around.

My friend I believe trying different serves and see which ones you can already do ”easier” and then keep building that serve. For example, Im very good at reverse pendulum, my friend is not even though he is Much better player than me. Therefore, he does not do the reverse pendulum. But I do.

What are you good at?

Sounds like a short underspin serve would be nice. With the intention of it returning short or long in your backhand. So maybe under and sidespin to opponents backhand. Fast and long serve when you want to open. Short serve when you want to flick. Make sure the side spin is in the direction so that the ball will end up in your backhand.

 

[myl_nathxn]

I play close/mid distance. I have a strong control close to the table and good flicks (but not consistent enough to be called 'good'). I have a super powerful backhand open up and a decent forehand spin when the opponent pushes long. I have a strong block as well. I tend to suffer in long rallies when I'm forced to drift and I can definitely improve my counter attacks and loops.

What service benefits my style???

I have always practiced a pendulum but have never really though about which serve suits me best honestly.
Thanks for input to help my game!🙏

you can look at dimitrij ovtcharov's serves. he's a great backhand oriented player and he uses the tomahawk and the backhand serve, occasionally a pendulum too

you can also look at fan zhendong or zhang jike's serves, mostly reverse pendulum or pendulum/high toss pendulum serves

 

[Tyce]

Level 1: surprise your opponent. Fast balls, sharp angles or dead on the belly.

Level 2: overpower your opponent. Super spinny serves with the intention of being unreturnable.

Level 3: set up for your own success. You expect the serve to be returned, but try to limit the scenarios to those in your favour using intentional placement and spin.

Level 4: disguised spin serves for a win win. You set up a serve that will either come back where you want it, or pop up and give you a chance to finish the point. Multiple different, but beneficial scenarios.