Coaching The Service

Rugby Table Tennis Club

The Service

The service is undoubtedly the most important stroke in table tennis and is the stroke that starts every rally. It also is the only situation in which the player has total control over how and where to play the ball.

Rules

1. The ball must start stationary, on a flat palm, behind the baseline and above the height of the table.

2. Throw the ball straight up 16cm or more (the same height as the net) without spinning it.

3. Contact the ball as it drops but not lower than the playing surface.

4. The ball must bounce once (anywhere) on server side before passing over the net and bouncing at least once (anywhere) on the other side of the table.

5. In doubles play the ball must go diagonally from one right hand quarter to the other.

If a service is good but it touches the net on the way over a let is called and the service retaken.

The following will help deal with the basics of service

1. Use a normal grip with the bat held stationary and at an open angle.

2. Hold the ball between the thumb and first finger of your free hand, at a height of about 30 cm (12 ins) directly above the bat.

3. Drop the ball onto the bat. The ball will be projected forwards and upwards . The first bounce should be on your side of the table and then clears the net and then bounces on the opponent’s side.

4. Once you have gained confidence progressively move your position to a point nearer the end of the table, in each case repeat 1 above introducing sufficient movement of the bat arm to achieve the same result as in number 2.

5. Also try throwing the ball up as near vertically as possible from the palm of the free hand - if the ball first bounces on your side of the table, then clears the net and ounces on the opponent’s side then you have achieved an acceptable service.

Basic service speeds

1. Using a slightly closed bat angle can produce a long fast serve. The ball should make contact within the first one third of the servers half.

2. A short relatively slow service should be produced by using and open bat angle (see picture below) the ball should make contact with the table around two thirds of the way down the servers half.

3. A particular effective service is one where would make contact at or very near the end of the table on the receiver side; this makes it difficult for the receiver to play an attacking stroke. A very short low service is also difficult to attack.

Service Return

Service return can be regarded as the second most important stroke in table tennis, since this is the first opportunity, in any rally for the receiver to play the ball.

At basic level, depending on the length of the service you can return the ball in one of two ways.

1) Push (from a short service)

2) Drive ( from a long service)

Remember the grip should be relatively relaxed to allow the use of your wrist.

To produce a bounce which is consistent with a low trajectory over the net, the contact point should be about 15 cm above the table ( the same height as the net).

Your service should be varied in length /speed/direction.

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