After watching all the backhand over-the-table banana flick returns at the worlds, it sure looks like they have been further developed. Many returns for outright winners.
Not being anywhere near that level or even able to understand what goes on there, it looks like the incoming spin of the serve is almost irrelevant to this return. The racket speed is so fast, it sure looks like it could overpower most, if not all, of any incoming spin. The only concern would be how the spin affects the bounce and trajectory of the ball, as knowing precisely where the ball is in space would seem to be crucial to make this return work.
Is any of this true? I cannot tell from watching videos, even in slow motion. The stroke sure looks the same no matter what the incoming serve is, but I am probably not able to pick up on the subtleties.
Not being anywhere near that level or even able to understand what goes on there, it looks like the incoming spin of the serve is almost irrelevant to this return. The racket speed is so fast, it sure looks like it could overpower most, if not all, of any incoming spin. The only concern would be how the spin affects the bounce and trajectory of the ball, as knowing precisely where the ball is in space would seem to be crucial to make this return work.
Is any of this true? I cannot tell from watching videos, even in slow motion. The stroke sure looks the same no matter what the incoming serve is, but I am probably not able to pick up on the subtleties.