How to return fast, long serves

In this video I explain how to return fast, long serves. These are quite common in amateur table tennis and can cause all kinds of problems.
To return these serves, you should give yourself a bit more space back from the table and shorten your strokes. This gives you more time and makes it easier to time your shot.
In the video I show how to return fast, long backspin serves and fast, long topspin serves.
Thanks to Daniel Hearne-Potton for providing the demonstration.
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[@aldopalacios3357]

Thank you Tom. Besides, I believe variation in shots are the key to success.

[@idrivearttabletennis]

Good video - thank you!

[@randylegamer8725]

Yes! Helpful and entertaining video! Thank you very much

[@movakalin5333]

Great video Tom, and thanks for your efforts

[@randyllamas1071]

Thank you, these are super helpful tips.. God bless you

[@ruworkinprogress8725]

Thank you, Tom.

[@MarcelSM01]

Thxs again Tom.

[@songnuoc2]

Thank you!

[@andrespiedrahita3145]

thnk u for share he knowledge

[@abdulqavi007]

thaaaank you sooooo much, I really needed it.

[@eswarrao3707]

Thank you dear

[@robertovargas-ob9xb]

Ayer tuve problemas para devolver esos servicios, si hubiera visto este video antes hubiera ganado jejeje pero para la próxima lo aplicaré, gracias!!

[@PraisePrayPeace]

Thank you

[@wisdommuchanga4895]

Watching from Zimbabwe

[@eloimumford5247]

I really need to incrustate those tips in my head , i am often afraid vis-a-vis some better servers giving spinny balls and responding softly ...big mistake to correct . Thank you both.

[@TomLodziak]

Just tell yourself "play an active shot". Even if you get it wrong, it's better than being too passive.

[@eloimumford5247]

@@TomLodziak ,i will repeat this mantra every game good advice , thank you very much.

[@parthsavyasachi9348]

Make a list of useful tips and keep the paper somewhere. Then few minutes before going out to play just go over that list. Do it every time you go out to play no matter if you know what the list says.

[@eloimumford5247]

@@parthsavyasachi9348 , I i like the suggestion ,it gives strong mental advantage , thanks.

[@ProcTech]

Was reading a long serve wrong the other day. I thought it was backspin so I was trying to push or defensively chop it back, but it was going long. Eventually after losing like 10pts to it, figured it was deceptively a topspin serve yet somehow served long it stayed low.

[@danangtriyono1985]

Thk u master

[@Joygulplay]

Hey Tom can you make a video about how to move forwards and backwards to the table cause I find this footwork really hard and I'm not exactly sure how to do it?

[@TomLodziak]

I'll add that to my list

[@steve44xds]

As a lower ranked player I don't use the fast serve very often. Use it as a surprise

[@TomLodziak]

Some players hate long fast serves. If you sense a player is struggling, you can use them more.

[@barrier6026]

Thank you sir thank you sir thank you sirrrr

[@nimakh5176]

New mic???

[@cooldudemalhotra11]

Hey Tom, This really helped me with fast serves, but I have difficulty controlling side spins that are slow and low, i usually push a dead bat at the center of the table and it spins to the right side of the table, but I can't do it regularly, any idea on how to play this more consistently or better? If I don't push and actually lift the ball I get a smash which is tough to pick up.

[@TomLodziak]

It sounds as though you have found a way of returning these serves. A sharp push will override the sidespin to some extent. So make sure you add your spin to the ball. This will help keep the ball on the table. And practice returning these serves a lot. It will soon become easier.

[@eloimumford5247]

@@TomLodziak , i like the expression ''add your spin''.

[@haegarvonelz2451]

♥️👍 wunderbar

[@mega2codnoob]

my biggest problem is no-spin serves.. cant seem to attack them, and pushes get high...

[@TomLodziak]

If you want to push, you need to close the bat angle and contact down the back of the ball. This will keep the ball lower over the net. If you want to attack, you should play a short topspin stroke, but don't lift too much.

[@blueheart9873]

Late response but, keep it simple. The serve is simple so the return should be as well. Don't try to force spin on the ball, it won't work. Rather do a short push stroke played sharply or do a small flick (sidespin flick also works well)

[@313keiko1]

Thanks for the video I might actually win a game

[@ndragon88]

Oh, didn't mention the most effective long fast float or very light back spin where you absolutely need the active return

[@TomLodziak]

Yes good point. I could have mentioned this in the video. And you are right, you definitely need to play an active shot against the light spin long serve.

[@rcarioca]

I have lots of problems returning short tomahawk serve to the forehand. What do I need to do ? Thanks.

[@TomLodziak]

If it is tomahawk with topspin you could flick the ball back or even just block it. But you will need to contact over the top of the ball to control the topspin. If it is tomahawk with backspin, you can flick these also, but might need to lift the ball a little more. Or you could play a push shot.

[@Wisstihrwas]

For the tomahawk you have to adjust your bat angle. Its really different from underspin or sidespin serves. Best tips is, watch a video about tomahawk serves. Once you master it, the secret isnt that secret anymore. In my club we have a dude that does exactly that serve over and over again. Back in the days i lost every match just by serves. But since i learned forhand flicks, i do most of the points against his tomahawk topspin serve. Just because nobody attacks it, thus hes not used to it

[@rcarioca]

@@Wisstihrwas Thanks. I get very nervous whenever I see a tomahawk serve coming. My forehand flick is not so good.

[@RobertoCostas]

​@@rcarioca If you block or push, try to contact the ball on the same side that the server touched it. If you make a topspin, a flick or a loop, you could do the same, but if you are not able to do it, aim to the center of the table or to the side from which the bat of the server comes.

[@shatadruchakraborty2237]

I legit thought the tip at 0:34 was a life advice.

[@harryharishpotter]

I want to learn block, but it's not happening effectively. so my opponent has identified that I am forehand dominant player, so now in singles he is serving me very fast back hand side serve, I tried chopping it but it's not effective since out of 10, only 5 are going and out of those 5 successful returns, 2 are very high for him to smash. So can you please be more specific how to block effectively, I mean, where should the touch the bat, the bat angle, where should the bat direction should go?

[@TomLodziak]

Take a look at this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXeodWOagJuDg7s > This goes into a bit more detail about blocking. The focus is on blocking attacking shots, but the same technique could be used for blocking fast topspin serves too.

[@harryharishpotter]

@@TomLodziak Thank you so much

[@MAZ_II]

⚘

[@YoYoZamolo]

Your partner in this video is ridiculously good 😂

[@blueheart9873]

A long and fast serve is what I really hate. I play slow and spinny and serves like these feel overwhelming sometimes

[@kdgr]

🏓👍

[@TheCrazyChessasian]

The trickest spin for me is backhand backspin. Troubles me a lot..

[@icee0711]

Is your problem that you hit it back into the net? If so, he briefly mentioned what would help with this. Opening the angle up. Tilt the top of your paddle towards yourself when using these to send it back while giving the ball the lift you need

[@TheCrazyChessasian]

@@icee0711 okk thanks

[@TomLodziak]

Agreed.

[@mgarzonf]

🌎🇪🇨🙂👍

[@beneditoceciliosampaio7451]

Aqui no Brasil falamos Português e a maioria dos filmes e comentários vem em Inglês! Será que podem traduzir para o Português?

[@DyaVictor]

The key point on this: push/block should be long! If it is short - it will be smashed

[@TomLodziak]

Most of the time the return of serve is likely to be deep because there is a lot of speed in the ball (because of the fast serve). But sometimes the reverse can be true. If you manage to take the pace off the ball when returning the fast serve, this can sometimes disrupt the timing of the server. In general though, I agree with you. Long returns, low over the net are going to work better.

[@blueheart9873]

You can play short but it's really hard to do. Almost like a chop-block

[@cecehidayat9175]

Terjemahkan ke bhs indonesia

[@crazymracuber8]

My dog name is Tom 🤣🤣

[@ttjesus4959]

Never push a long, spinny serve. Always remember: You can't create spin against heavy incoming spin. Play attacking strokes against these serves ALWAYS. Just shorten your wrist movements and expect the ball to have extra speed from when it kicks off your rubber during your stroke. So, you need 30% less power and you need like 80% less wrist. Other than that, play a normal stroke, just with those parameters. Don't get mind-f*cked by incoming spin + speed. Ignore it and do the things I said, and you'll be just fine

[@jcjensenllc]

Loop is a strange name for a stroke with no LOOP. The loop stroke should be called a brush.