What to focus on, to generate lots of spin in pendeulum serve

It is best to have a few different types of serve. I have a very spiny short back spin serve but if I serve it to many times the opponent will adapt.
I vary the spin with my wrist motion and where I hit the ball with my paddle.

Definition of a good serve in TT: Any serve that produces a weak return. In contrast to tennis, we don't serve aces. It is all about deception. That is the thing that has to be front and center.

So what are the skills you need to be able to make your serve deceptive? We should discuss that, and even more, what are the things you can do to develop those skills?

Here is one: get two large paper binders and use them to clamp chopsticks or pencils to the net posts. Tie a piece of string to the sticks to create a space you can vary between top of the net and string. Start at about 15 cm. Practice serving under the string. Gradually reduce the space until you can do it with 6 cm or less and never miss. Make sure to serve to both sides.

This is not about generating spin. But you will develop skill needed for good serves including generating spin. Later you can do this with serves of markedly different spin. Long serves. Short serves. Hook serves etc.

Originally Posted by Baal

Definition of a good serve in TT: Any serve that produces a weak return. In contrast to tennis, we don't serve aces. It is all about deception. That is the thing that has to be front and center.

So what are the skills you need to be able to make your serve deceptive? We should discuss that, and even more, what are the things you can do to develop those skills?

Here is one: get two large paper binders and use them to clamp chopsticks or pencils to the net posts. Tie a piece of string to the sticks to create a space you can vary between top of the net and string. Start at about 15 cm. Practice serving under the string. Gradually reduce the space until you can do it with 6 cm or less and never miss. Make sure to serve to both sides.

This is not about generating spin. But you will develop skill needed for good serves including generating spin. Later you can do this with serves of markedly different spin. Long serves. Short serves. Hook serves etc.

I think that a good serve not only produces a weak return, it should also produce a ‘predictable’ return of serve, in general terms. If you know that the ball is likely to be returned in a certain way, to a position or area on your side of the table 8 times out of 10, then you are in a position to take the initiative with your 3rd ball attack. Your serve should be looked at with the view to ‘set up’ the point to your strengths.

EXPECT your serves to be returned, a serve return error by your opponent is a BONUS easy point!!!!!

Fake motion, is a good way of helping to make a serve deceptive, but the basics of the serve motion needs to be well ingrained first before adding the fake motion.

Spin variation is deceptive, so a backspin serve should be varied, heavy, mid-heavy, mid, mid-light, light and no spin etc.

One thing I’ve been doing recently is recording myself during a serve practice session. Choosing a serve type and recording that serve, trying to vary placement, spin and speed, then reviewing to see what my serve action looks like, how consistent, ie how many net serves, clean serves, failed serves (in the net or long), can I ‘pick’ whether the serve is going to be short or long and so on.
It’s really good to actually see what you are doing!!!

I watched one of the coaches practicing serves, the set up, was to place a ‘barrier’ that is an inch (25mm) or so higher than the net in front of the net by about 9 inches (225mm). He said the aim is to serve over the barrier which should then mean that the ball is descending when it passes over the net.
He said that serving tight to the net is very important, and if you can get the apex of the ball flight after the first bounce to be before rather than at the net it helps make the serve more awkward to return.
Anyone out there seen this or practiced like this??

Originally Posted by IB66

I watched one of the coaches practicing serves, the set up, was to place a ‘barrier’ that is an inch (25mm) or so higher than the net in front of the net by about 9 inches (225mm). He said the aim is to serve over the barrier which should then mean that the ball is descending when it passes over the net.He said that serving tight to the net is very important, and if you can get the apex of the ball flight after the first bounce to be before rather than at the net it helps make the serve more awkward to return.Anyone out there seen this or practiced like this??

Do you have a link to this net barrier video?

Originally Posted by thomas.pong

Do you have a link to this net barrier video?

Hi Thomas,
No vid clip, I was just watching him at the end of a training session, he was using a bat wallet case, which is much higher than the 25mm I was talking about!!! he just said it was all he had to hand at the time!! but 25mm is a good height to be higher than the net!!! keeps 2nd bounce lower.