Serving in Table Tennis is the act of putting the ball into play at the start of a point. So, how many types of serving, and What are the best ways to serve in Table Tennis for Beginners?
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What is serving in Table Tennis?
In table tennis, serving is the act of putting the ball into play at the start of a point. A player may serve any number of times during a point and change serves after every two points. The server stands behind the end line, and the receiver stands in front of the end line. The aim of a serve is to put the ball into play so that the receiver can’t gain an immediate point.
Serving Techniques in Table Tennis
There are various serving techniques in table tennis that players can use to gain an advantage over their opponents. The most common serves are the forehand serve and the backhand serve.
The forehand serve is the most popular serve in table tennis. To execute a forehand serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand, using a sideways motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
Types of Serves in Table Tennis
There are two main types of serve in table tennis: the forehand serve and the backhand serve. The forehand serve is when you hit the ball with your racket hand facing toward the front. The backhand serve is when you hit the ball with your racket hand facing toward the back.
1. Forehand Serve
The forehand serve is the most common serve in table tennis. To execute a forehand serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand, using a sideways motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
2. Backhand Serve
The backhand serve is less common than the forehand serve, but it can be just as effective. To execute a backhand serve, the player holds the ball in their non-dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their backhand, using a sideways motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
3. Underhanded Serve
The underhanded serve is not as common as the forehand and backhand serves, but it can be used to surprise opponents. To execute an underhanded serve, the player holds the ball in their non-dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their racket hand, using an underhanded motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
4. Overhand Serve
The overhand serve is not as common as the other types of serves, but it can be used to surprise opponents. To execute an overhand serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their racket hand, using an overhand motion.
>> See more: The Technique of serving in ping Pong for Beginners
Basic Serving Techniques in Table Tennis
1. Sorting serve by spin
1.1. Topspin Serve
The topspin serve is the most common type of serve in table tennis. To execute a topspin serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand or backhand, using a topspin motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces two or three times before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
1.2. Backspin Serve
The backspin serve is less common than the topspin serve, but it can be just as effective. To execute a backspin serve, the player holds the ball in their non-dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand or backhand, using a backspin motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
1.3. Side Spin Serve
The side spin serve is not as common as the other types of serves, but it can be used to surprise opponents. To execute a side spin serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant or non-dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand or backhand, using a side spin motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
1.4. No Spin Serve
The no spin serve is not as common as the other types of serves, but it can be used to surprise opponents. To execute a no spin serve, the player holds the ball in their dominant or non-dominant hand and tosses the ball up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand or backhand, using a no spin motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
2. Long/Short Serves
2.1. Long Serves
The long serve is a variation of the standard serve. To execute a long serve, the player tosses the ball up higher than normal and strikes it with their forehand or backhand. The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
2.2. Short Serves
The short serve is a variation of the standard serve. To execute a short serve, the player tosses the ball up less high than normal and strikes it with their forehand or backhand. The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
3. Drop Serves
The drop serve is a variation of the standard serve. To execute a drop serve, the player tosses the ball up and then drops it onto the table. The player then strikes the ball with their forehand or backhand. The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
4. High Toss Serve
The high toss serve is a variation of the standard serve. To execute a high toss serve, the player tosses the ball up higher than normal and then strikes it with their forehand or backhand. The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
5. Chop Serve
The chop serve is a variation of the standard serve. To execute a chop serve, the player holds the ball in their non-dominant hand and tosses it up into the air. The player then strikes the ball with their backhand, using a chop motion.
The aim of the serve is to land the ball on the table so that it bounces once or twice before hitting the opponent’s side of the table.
>> See more: What are basic Strokes in Table Tennis?
What is the Best Serve in Table Tennis?
The best serve in table tennis is the one that is most effective against your opponent. If you are not sure what type of serve to use, try using a variety of serves and see which ones are most successful against your opponent.
What Table Tennis Serve is best for Beginners?
If you are a beginner, it is best to use a simple serve such as the backspin serve or the no spin serve. These types of serves are easy to execute and will help you get used to the game.
How to Improve Your Table Tennis Serve?
The best way to improve your table Tennis serve is to practice, practice, practice! Try serving against a friend or family member, or even against a wall. The more you practice, the better you will become at serving. You can also try watching professional table tennis matches to see how the pros serve, and then mimic their techniques.
What make a good serve in Table Tennis?
There are many factors that make a good serve in table Tennis. Some of these factors include:
- The type of serve you use
- The speed of the ball
- The placement of the ball
- The spin on the ball
- The angle of the ball
All of these factors will come into play when you are serving, so it is important to practice and learn how to control all of them. The more you practice, the better your serves will become.
Table Tennis Serving Tips
Here are some tips to help you improve your serve:
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you serve, the better you will become at it.
- Use a variety of serves. This will help you keep your opponent guessing and off-balance.
- Pay attention to the speed, placement, spin, and angle of the ball. These are all important factors in serving.
- Watch professional matches to see how the pros serve. imitate their techniques.
- Talk to a table Tennis coach. They can give you specific tips and feedback on your serve.
By following these tips serve in table tennis, you can improve your serve and become a better table Tennis player.
