How to do a reverse sidespin serve

[@JoseRamirez-yd2gz]

Hard serve... took me two weeks to get it across the net every time. This helped with technique. Thanks

[@bricksteer]

thank u coach tom, ur tutorial was very helpful, step by step and easy to understand... to improve my skill in TT...

[@ritterbruder212]

The follow-through where both of your arms are spread out looks really funny :D but hey, whatever helps you get a legal and spinny serve!

[@gregg1571]

Thanks for the tips. I was just practising this serve the other day but didn't know what it's proper name was. I agree that it's a very tricky serve to learn. I'll take you advice regards trying to learn the serve in stages I think, rather than just jumping straight into the full service action and getting frustrated as I miss the ball over and over!

[@TomLodziak]

Yeah, I had plenty of misses to begin with too. When I finally managed to contact the ball consistently, it wasn't very spinny. But I just kept working at it and gradually it got better.

[@smarttech6284]

Great video sir thanks.one question why not use backhand to serveit will be same but more effect more natural?

[@TomLodziak]

Yes you can use a backhand serve to create this spin. This is a serve I also use. The benefit of FH reverse sidespin is that it can create a bit of confusion, as the action is more complex.

[@johnhill1421]

Hi Tom just caught the video very interesting but i play short pips of the forehand would this serve be of benefit if I gave it a go thanks

[@TomLodziak]

You can always experiment and see if it works for you. The short pips may give an interesting effect when doing this serve. Some opponents may hate it. Others won't mind. Don't know unless you try.

[@johnhill1421]

@@TomLodziak thanks cheers John

[@tdub2422]

Tom, another excellent video, thanks. Is this the same as the reverse pendulum except for hitting the side of the ball rather than underneath for backpsin? I can see why it would take a long time to master since it's the opposite motion of the pendulum serves. Also, this serve uses weaker forearm muscles than the pendulum, so it takes much longer to get effortless spin and pace.

[@TomLodziak]

Yes, so this is basically the reverse-pendulum serve. To get side-topspin, you just need to get bat angle a bit more vertical and brush up a little when contacting the ball. To get side-backspin, you keep bat angle more horizontal and brush down when contacting the ball.

[@swativerma8706]

Where should we keep the contact point of the ball on racket?pls tell.

[@eh2acmq]

Tried this serve during my regular training session. It looked really awkward. I stopped it and trained the basic movement at the table we normally eat from. I will give it a try in the next week when my teammates can see it. But it's good to know that even a skilled player like you needed a year of practice. I will try it out earlier. But I only play in the lowest German league....

[@TomLodziak]

Yes, it is a tricky technique. I don't know anyone who has learnt it really quickly. It require lots of practise.

[@knotwilg3596]

Hi Tom I learned that we should bend well and create an empty space under our arm and chest so that we get a good backswing. If I watch FZD or ZJK I think they too have the arm swing from their sides, not from their belly. Another question: why would one serve this awkward serve when the backhand serve creates the same sidespin and one is in neutral position right away?

[@TomLodziak]

Hi Dieter Good point about make space to get a good backswing. To answer your question about why do this serve rather than a backhand serve...I often find that opponents are confused about a reverse sidespin serve. Up to a certain standard, you benefit from a surprise factor. The opponent doesn't recognise the service action and is uncertain what the spin is. If the opponent is uncertain, he may just prod at the ball and then it's an easy 3rd ball attack. I think players are more used to the backhand sidespin serve, so know how to return it. Tom

[@knotwilg3596]

Thanks for that! Yes I agree, at least from the perspective of myself as a receiver. Much harder to read the spin with the RP action than when receiving a BH serve. I have recently integrated this serve into my game, but more as a surprise variation - I don't have the control or the consistency yet to confidently place it where I want.

[@PankajKumar6493]

I bend a lot too and create a lot of space between my playing hand and my stomach. Then I use that gap to swing my arm. It is quite inconsistent though. Plus I am not able to do the long serve with this one.

[@laoamerica]

Very good Thanks

[@jimlim4323]

Is this the same as reverse pendulum serve? Like the one Zhang Jike uses?

[@otismack5916]

Are you allowed to lift your left leg off the ground whilst serving? I notice that you do this when serving a fast sidespin to your opponents backhand.

[@TomLodziak]

Ha! Yes, this is a strange habit of mine. So there is now law to say you have to keep both feet on the ground. I don't think it gives me any advantage. It's not something I consciously do. It's certainly not something you need to copy.

[@djhumantorch]

Great explanation. How do you add backspin on that serve. As I see, you make contact on the back of the ball. Does it apply to regular sidespin serve

[@TomLodziak]

Hi, to get backspin you should keep the service action the same and just change your bat angle on contact, so that the bat is brushing under the ball more.

[@akfsx]

Still struggle to add more back instead of top spin or nearly pure sidespin. And return back from serve grip quickly is not easy as well

[@Sealed-Only]

Will you add some tips for antispin players someday? Cheers form Poland!

[@TomLodziak]

I'll add tips for antispin players to the list!

[@jadidutashampolain1865]

nice video Tom.

[@digitalsickness85]

Doesn't the tomahawk serve do the same spin?

[@skuzzle]

Well yes the sidespin direction is the same

[@SK-qu4wo]

Do you have a video on how to do the regular sidespin serve?

[@TomLodziak]

Not yet, but I will add this to my list of videos to record.

[@SK-qu4wo]

Thanks! I'm a bit confused on the terminology though. Is the sidespin serve the same as the pendulum serve?

[@TomLodziak]

Yes, a sidespin serve is often called a pendulum serve also.

[@SK-qu4wo]

Thanks coach. I have an equipment question this time and I hope that you can offer some insight on this. What are your thoughts on the Stiga Allround Evolution blade?

[@TomLodziak]

Hi - this is a decent allround blade - not too fast, but not too slow either. It will give you good control, but you can still play strong attacks if you use good technique. You can read some reviews here (if you haven't done so already) www.tabletennisdb.com/blade/stiga-allround-evolution.html

[@latavijay4119]

I think i like it this way instead of tucking the hand near the armpit which is kinda awkward

[@RonnieColeman80]

You didn't speak about the change of handle in the bat.

[@alexbae7423]

You practiced that long and looks like that

[@alexismamadou2193]

That is a tough serve to master indeed. You didn't talk about the contact points associated with each spin variation and most importantly the positioning of the head of the racket right after the stroke. On your demo, the elbow is definitely not high enough to allow an effective wrist and trunk motion. It's been a year, hopefully you'll be back with a vengeance on this one.

[@slidz6423]

Youre not doing it right sideways White doing the serve just a tip to doing it right no hate

[@kylelngal3912]

you've practiced a year and that's what the serve looked.

[@__8023]

lol it looks so ugly though. Just have your reverse sidespin mix with your reverse pendulum, it'll look so much nicer :P

[@TomLodziak]

Ugly? Ha! It's a thing of beauty (when it works and the other player messes up!).

[@samithsrinivas7413]

Man I will beat u at low u mad

[@moak4u]

So sad you have dummy bats

[@rajabmdayal]

Noob level serve.. It will be flicked all day long dude..

[@TomLodziak]

At the level I'm playing at, it seems to be pretty effective against many opponents. Some players do flick the serve, but this is fine, as I'm ready to counter-attack their flick.