Serve Returns

Okay, my main problem during matches are serve returns. I need help.

So, when the serve is long, I can loop it, that part I am fine. I have about an 80-90% efficiency rate.

When the serve is close to the net, I do a flip or walk to the side and loop it, I am also good here. Again, 80-90% efficiency.

Now, my problem lies in serves that land mid-table that cannot be looped nor flipped. It is in the middle so I cannot walk to the side of the table either. What should I do, push it? Any offensive strokes I can do?

Any suggestions on my serve returns are welcome. Thanks!

if its underspin you gotta push but you can just smash it if its topspin

Team_Vietnam wrote: Okay, my main problem during matches are serve returns. I need help. So, when the serve is long, I can loop it, that part I am fine. I have about an 80-90% efficiency rate. When the serve is close to the net, I do a flip or walk to the side and loop it, I am also good here. Again, 80-90% efficiency. Now, my problem lies in serves that land mid-table that cannot be looped nor flipped. It is in the middle so I cannot walk to the side of the table either. What should I do, push it? Any offensive strokes I can do? Any suggestions on my serve returns are welcome. Thanks!

Push and be ready to defense against third ball attack.  The shorter and lower your push, the less damage your opponent can do to you.  Nobody can hit offensive shot all the time.

push it long low and spinny preferably to the backhand

Hasham wrote: push it long low and spinny preferably to the backhand

dragon kid wrote: Chiquita Spin it!!! Watch how Ovtcharov does it!!

lol, his wrist is made outta jelly!

sometimes being on the offense all the time is too predictable, opponents may get used to your placement and speed. Yeah just push it so their opening loop [if they dont push it back] is manageable like the others have said.

kong's the man

7plywood wrote: Hasham wrote: push it long low and spinny preferably to the backhand - 1  If the opponent does not have a consistent (BH) loop you can try it, otherwise not a good strategy.

depends on your style. For me (I loop everything!) I would either loop or push that ball. If it doesn't have much spin I would loop. If it has a lot of spin I would push.

By the way, does anyone know why my forehand rubber (Sriver FX) dies after two or three matches? At the club, do I have to clean my rubber constantly? Or is it because my rubber is getting old and it dies quickly? (My coach gave me old used rubber to begin with: the rubber seems very old because it has slight rips near the edges) The backhand (Bryce FX) is working fine. The whole evening, it never died out. (It also came used, but it seemed much newer and fresher)

Team_Vietnam wrote: By the way, does anyone know why my forehand rubber (Sriver FX) dies after two or three matches? At the club, do I have to clean my rubber constantly? Or is it because my rubber is getting old and it dies quickly? (My coach gave me old used rubber to begin with: the rubber seems very old because it has slight rips near the edges) The backhand (Bryce FX) is working fine. The whole evening, it never died out. (It also came used, but it seemed much newer and fresher)

Swiffers wrote: Team_Vietnam wrote: By the way, does anyone know why my forehand rubber (Sriver FX) dies after two or three matches? At the club, do I have to clean my rubber constantly? Or is it because my rubber is getting old and it dies quickly? (My coach gave me old used rubber to begin with: the rubber seems very old because it has slight rips near the edges) The backhand (Bryce FX) is working fine. The whole evening, it never died out. (It also came used, but it seemed much newer and fresher)   Your rubber isn't dying, but the actual stickiness (not tackiness) of the rubber is decreasing as you play with it and it gets dusty or dirty.  The feeling of tackiness or spin should be about the same, but feel different to the touch.  Once you clean it, even with your breath it will start returning to original stickiness.    It's takes a while for the sponge to actually start dying.  The rubber will lose speed and tackiness and overall liveness.  And your topsheet will probably have a little color loss.   hope this helps.