How to Win the Serve and Return Battle in Table Tennis

Most table tennis rallies are over within three or four shots. So how do you win the serve and return battle? In this episode of Ask the Coach, Alois and Jeff explain why the average rally at the top level lasts just 3.4 shots, why most players spend so little of their training on the first few balls, and how to change that. You'll learn: Why the serve and return decide most points How to use more of the table with your serve How to practise new serves without fear of faults When to push, flick or topspin the return How top players vary the amount of spin with the same action Simple ways to practise your serve and return Chapters: 00:00 Most Rallies Last Just 3.4 Shots 00:47 Welcome to Ask the Coach 01:08 Why the Serve and Return Matter So Much 02:58 Rebalance Your Training 04:06 How the Serve Shapes the Rally 05:33 Use More of the Table With Your Serve 06:53 Overcoming the Fear of Serving a Fault 08:42 What Should the Receiver Read First? 10:28 Push, Flick or Topspin? 13:02 Returning Short Backspin Serves 14:27 How Top Players Vary Their Serves 16:35 Set Up the Attack or Go for the Winner? 17:59 What Beginners Should Focus On 19:10 When to Learn the Flick 21:32 How to Practise Your Serve and Return 24:58 Start Every Drill With a Serve 26:20 Practical Takeaways 27:11 Two Reliable Serves or Lots of Variety? 28:40 Joke of the Week 30:06 Question: How Can You Tell a Short Serve From a Long One? 34:24 Question: How Do You Read the Spin on a Serve? 38:06 The New PingSkills Community We also answer two listener questions: how to tell a short serve from a long one, and how to read the spin on a serve. Listen to the full episode: https://www.pingskills.com/podcast/ho...