| When it comes to serving in table tennis, you should | | | | it's probably time to increase the difficulty level. |
| start with the basics and build off of them. Remember | | | | A Short Backspin Serve is an excellent serve to have |
| that the serve is the only time during a game where | | | | in your table tennis game regimen. When starting out |
| you have total control over the ball. By getting a quality | | | | you want to keep in mind the position of your body |
| serve in play, you can greatly increase your | | | | and placement of your feet. You'll want to begin close |
| opportunity for securing the point so try to practice | | | | to the table with a low, relaxed stance. |
| your serve as often as you can. | | | | When you're ready, toss the ball into the air about six |
| Basic Table Tennis Serves: | | | | inches. Transfer your weight from the back foot to the |
| For beginners, position yourself at either side of the | | | | front foot and rotate your upper body to help you |
| table. You want to hold your racket with an open face, | | | | make contact with the ball. |
| with the racket itself slightly angled either in a | | | | Let the ball hit your racket at an open angle and with a |
| backhand or forehand position. Drop the ball onto your | | | | forward follow-through motion as if you're trying to |
| racket sending the ball to bounce once on your side | | | | brush just underneath the ball. The key to this serve is |
| and then over the net towards your opponent. | | | | adding backspin, and to generate backspin, you'll want |
| Experiment with different distances so you can get a | | | | to snap your wrist just as your racket meets the ball. |
| good grasp on the amounts of force necessary to get | | | | Also keep in mind the follow-through, as it should be |
| your ball over the net. Also experiment with different | | | | short with an upward motion of the wrist. |
| heights of tossing the ball into the air. Once you've | | | | If done correctly, the ball should land on your |
| practiced and mastered this key step, it's time to move | | | | opponent's side twice before they get a chance to |
| on. | | | | return. This serve takes time to learn, so be diligent |
| When serving in table tennis, you always want to keep | | | | with your practice regimen. |
| in mind the distance and landing position of the ball. If | | | | The Backhand Sidespin Serve is another advanced |
| the ball hits your opponent's side in the middle of the | | | | technique that you should practice. This serve begins |
| table, chances are your opponent is going to be in a | | | | much like the Short Backspin Serve; you should stand |
| prime position for returning the ball with a forehand or | | | | close to the table and take a low and relaxed stance. |
| backhand smash. This is something you want to try to | | | | Again throw the ball vertically into the air at least six |
| avoid. | | | | inches high. When the ball is falling, with your racket in a |
| You should practice trying to land your serves either | | | | backhand position, strike the ball with a sideways |
| toward the corners and the deep ends of the table, or | | | | slightly forward motion and remember to snap your |
| just over the net like a drop shot. The deeper serve | | | | wrist. The snapping motion again helps to generate the |
| will make it harder for your opponent to return the ball | | | | required sidespin necessary to the success of this |
| with a quality attack while the shorter serve will also | | | | serve. |
| require your opponent to adjust, because a well placed | | | | Regular table tennis training is essential to improving |
| short serve is more likely to bounce twice before | | | | your game. Take time to practice your serves on a |
| reaching your opponent. | | | | regular basis, and once you've mastered the |
| Advanced Table Tennis Serves: | | | | advanced serves, don't be afraid to try and put your |
| When you feel like you've mastered the basics and | | | | own variations on them or even try developing your |
| can successfully serve the ball to all parts of the table, | | | | own unique serves. |