Coach CornerServe and Receivehalf-long-serves
Slicepong asked 6 years ago

Hi guys. Half long serves are a challenge for almost anyone to return. When I try to serve half long, is the mid point on my opponents side the optimum target? Thanks.

2 Answers
TomTom Academy Coach answered 6 years ago

Hey Slicepong,
Yes for sure if you can get some tricky half long serves lots of players find them hard to return well. So obviously for a good half long serve the second bounce of the ball on your opponents side needs to be either very close to the white line or dropping just off the end of the table, this creates the indecision and makes it hard to return.

So I think what you mean is that the first bounce on your opponents side needs to be mid way up the table which would be just right. To achieve this, a good area to focus on is getting the bounce on your side at the midway point of your half.

Let me know if that’s what you meant and hope it helps!

Slicepong
replied 6 years ago

Hi Tom, yes, that’s exactly whay I meant. Keep it low and aim for around the midpoint. Thanks a lot. Now it’s clear in my mind where to go. I will enjoy my brother and nephew’s hapless struggles!

TomTom
Academy Coach replied 6 years ago

No problem at all, glad it’s made things clear for you, yes that will definitely be very satisfying!

TomTom Academy Coach answered 6 years ago

Hey Slicepong,

Yes for sure if you can get some tricky half long serves lots of players find them hard to return well. So obviously for a good half long serve the second bounce of the ball on your opponents side needs to be either very close to the white line or dropping just off the end of the table, this creates the indecision and makes it hard to return.

So I think what you mean is that the first bounce on your opponents side needs to be mid way up the table which would be just right. To achieve this, a good area to focus on is getting the bounce on your side at the midway point of your half.

Let me know if that’s what you meant and hope it helps!

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