long-fast-and-high-bat
Slicepong asked 4 years ago
Hi Tom and Dan. Hope you’re well. Two part question. One, I saw a video of a guy hitting a long, fast serve, but using the backhand side of the bat. So, it’s with the forehand grip, but using the other side and it works surprisingly well. I certainly don’t try to hit it as hard as I can, since I’d like to hit the table occasionally, but I find it much more confortable, effective, and deceptive than the normal fast serve. I believe using the other side provides a slightly better forearm snap, and wonder what you guys think if it? Second, on a Q-vid, Tom, you mention a high bat, and a recent CC query mentioned a Chinese coach who is adamant about a high bat. I’m not sure exactly what this means. I hold the bat comfortably out in front, slightly above waist level, which seems to me optimal for most shots. What do you mean by a high bat? Thanks.
Tom Academy Coach answered 4 years ago
Hi Slicepong,
Ok so with using the backhand side on the long fast serve you can generate a fair bit of speed, but most players don’t use it because its more difficult to control. However if you find it’s comfortable and you can do it consistently then i don’t see a problem with using it, you can disguise it well as you said and you may get more speed than serving the traditional long fast serve method.
On part two, what we probably should have called the video is don’t drop the bat rather than keep it high. What were trying to emphasise is that its important not to drop the bat low like many players do between shots, this wastes time and aslo affects your ability to get over the ball to control fast shots or generate your own spin.
Usually we just say keeping the bat high in this scenario as many players tend to drop the bat too low, but in reality it’s not ‘high’ as such, it’s just making sure you are not dropping it between shots and you are high enough to come over the ball to topspin it well and play with quality.
SlicepongI didn’t realize the habit of dropping the bat was so prevalent. So, below the table? That would feel odd and make moving inefficient, but if you get into a bad habit, it’s hard to change. Thanks for your input on the long serve also, Tom.
No problem, yes I’d say a lot of people do it without realising. Not necessarily below the table but just to a point where you can’t brush over the ball and play a quality shot. Often players end up hitting long or feeling they have to be careful and this is because their bat has dropped 🙂
