Receive short topspin or dead ball ?

[kaisama]

Hello,
Please delete this post if there is already a duplicate, I couldn't find one.

I'm a beginner (USATT ~1000) and do not have forehand flip or backhand flick. I had a match yesterday, opponent served short topspin (not necessarily extremely spinny) or no-spin. My instinct was to step in as I would if I was gonna push and then tap the ball to the best location and quality I can, but it ended up with opponent 3rd ball killing me each time (he moves fast)., I'm too close to table by the time I back of for counter top or block he continues killing the ball til' he wins the point.

What is the best way to handle this situation? If I do not step in, the second bounce would be on the table.

Thank you.

 

[Loop Lob Smash]

Hello,
Please delete this post if there is already a duplicate, I couldn't find one.

I'm a beginner (USATT ~1000) and do not have forehand flip or backhand flick. I had a match yesterday, opponent served short topspin (not necessarily extremely spinny) or no-spin. My instinct was to step in as I would if I was gonna push and then tap the ball to the best location and quality I can, but it ended up with opponent 3rd ball killing me each time (he moves fast)., I'm too close to table by the time I back of for counter top or block he continues killing the ball til' he wins the point.

What is the best way to handle this situation? If I do not step in, the second bounce would be on the table.

Thank you.

Yeah, those 'nothing serves' can be annoying.
Usually I tried to end the point with a decisive blow, however more often than not ended up hitting the ball off the end of the table. So recently I short push and get ready to backhand flick. Worst case is I end up in a neutral position when adopting this approach, and generally gain an advantage if I get the first flick (or FH loop) in.
Cheers, LLS

 

[Dr Evil]

I'm a beginner (USATT ~1000) and do not have forehand flip or backhand flick. I had a match yesterday, opponent served short topspin (not necessarily extremely spinny) or no-spin. My instinct was to step in as I would if I was gonna push and then tap the ball to the best location and quality I can, but it ended up with opponent 3rd ball killing me each time..

Tapping or touching these serves with good control is possible but difficult as you found out. Easiest is to learn how to flip these serves. A little harder to learn but safer especially if you're not so quick is to learn how to long push them, which can be done even against topspin and which is what I'd recommend.

 

[dingyibvs]

Hello,
Please delete this post if there is already a duplicate, I couldn't find one.

I'm a beginner (USATT ~1000) and do not have forehand flip or backhand flick. I had a match yesterday, opponent served short topspin (not necessarily extremely spinny) or no-spin. My instinct was to step in as I would if I was gonna push and then tap the ball to the best location and quality I can, but it ended up with opponent 3rd ball killing me each time (he moves fast)., I'm too close to table by the time I back of for counter top or block he continues killing the ball til' he wins the point.

What is the best way to handle this situation? If I do not step in, the second bounce would be on the table.

Thank you.

You need to learn the flick or short touch then, probably in that order. With that said, I find it a bit hard to believe that a well placed block wouldn't work against someone near your level.

 

[NextLevel]

Hello,
Please delete this post if there is already a duplicate, I couldn't find one.

I'm a beginner (USATT ~1000) and do not have forehand flip or backhand flick. I had a match yesterday, opponent served short topspin (not necessarily extremely spinny) or no-spin. My instinct was to step in as I would if I was gonna push and then tap the ball to the best location and quality I can, but it ended up with opponent 3rd ball killing me each time (he moves fast)., I'm too close to table by the time I back of for counter top or block he continues killing the ball til' he wins the point.

What is the best way to handle this situation? If I do not step in, the second bounce would be on the table.

Thank you.

If you are truly 1000 and playing against similar level opponents, it is unlikely that the serves are truly short and dead, they tend to be easy to attack at the level with practice attacking long and half long serves. The problem that most inexperienced players have is judging the ball distance - too many players take the ball too early rather than wait for it to come long so they can attack.

If a higher level opponent is killing your return, don't worry about it, focusing on one skill vs a higher level player is usually a misperception of what is really going on. Returning one serve marginally better will just move the battle ground elsewhere which is good, but ultimately not going to change the result. It's better to work on things that general serve return that will affect your overall game. And to have the right mindset to plays you can't practice,

If you want to return those serves, getting someone to just roll the ball to you and you figure out something will help you far more than any verbal answer you get here.