Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Get in the correct position
• Method 2 of 4: Learn effect balls
• Method 3 of 4: Learn the basics of saving
• Method 4 of 4: Practice an advanced save
• Tips

The service or storage is one of the most important parts of table tennis. You can't win a game without good service! It is important to follow the rules when serving, as you do not want the referee to signal a violation. You can also make your service more difficult for the opponent to return by practicing Basic and Advanced Service.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Get in the correct position

1. Hold the ball flat in the palm of your hand. To start a correct service, keep your hand fully open and flat after picking up the ball. Leave the ball there for a second or two (your hand shouldn't move) before throwing it.
   • An incorrect service may cause the referee to award a foul. While you may receive a warning during a match or if the official is not sure if the service is correct, any obviously incorrect service will earn your opponent points!
2. Hold the ping pong ball over the table and behind your serving line. The hand holding the ball (which becomes your "free hand") must be above the table when preparing to serve. The ball itself must stay behind the edge of the table (your serving line).
   • Your thumb may go over the serving line as long as the ball itself does not.
3. Keep your batting hand under the table to hide it. Unlike the ball, your bat can be hidden under the table. This will hide the type of service you will be doing. You must quickly raise your bat as soon as you throw the ball in the air in order to serve.
   • Until you have more practice serving, you can better keep your batting hand above the table. This tricky technique is allowed, but reserved for more advanced players.
4. Throw the ball up at least 16 cm. This is the minimum height that the officials need. If it is lower, it will not be counted as a legal storage. The ball must be thrown up vertically instead of sideways or diagonally.
   • Make sure your throw is almost straight up. For example, you cannot just drop the ball from a height of 16 cm. This is not considered a vertical throw.
5. Hit the ball when it falls. Do not hit the ball if it is still in the air or if it has reached the top of your throw. Wait for the ball to come back down to avoid making a technical foul.
6. Let the ball bounce once before it goes over the net. Hit the ball so that it lands on your side first. If it just goes over the net without bouncing, it is a false serve.
   • Practice until you can use the correct amount of force needed to follow this rule. You want a service that is fast enough to deceive your opponent, but not so strong that you immediately hit the net.
   • The ball can also go around the net as long as you can deflect it enough to get it back on your opponent's side. This is a fairly difficult skill, so aim over the net until you are sure you can save with an effect.
7. Aim anywhere on the table in singles. Your opponent's entire side may be played if you only have one opponent. This way you can really use the table. You can perform short and long serve to make the match more difficult for your opponent.
8. Save diagonally in doubles. You are limited to the square diagonally opposite you in doubles. If the ball comes outside this square, it is a foul.
9. Move your free arm away from the ball after the serve. You are not allowed to "hide" the ball with your hand from the referee or your opponent once you have served. Withdraw your free hand completely so that you do not commit an offense.

Method 2 of 4: Learn effect balls

1. Use a closed bat for topspin. Topspin is made by hitting the ball with a "closed bat" which means holding the bat pointed down parallel to the ground. Such a serve works best when it is executed quickly and hits the back of the table near your opponent.
2. Swipe the ball at the top for topspin. Using a closed bat, sweep the top of the ball in a fast forward motion with your bat. The ball will go up as it moves away from you and then bend down.
3. Use an open bat for backspin. Backspin uses an "open bat", which means that you hold the bat towards the ceiling. The serve is also known as the "under-spin". These low, short serves can be super useful against players who like to attack right away in the return.
4. Swipe the ball from the bottom bottom for backspin. Using an open bat, sweep the bottom of the ball in a fast forward motion with your bat. Keep the ball low and straight as it goes over the net.
5. Swipe the ball down the sides for a side spin. Hit the ball on the left to make it spin to the right and on the right to make it spin to the left. This will cause the ball to bounce in those directions. This tricky serve can be very difficult to respond to, as your opponent will not know which direction to run to catch the ball.
6. Apply quick wrist strokes to improve your spins. Clapping your wrist really gives you quick contact with the ball, increasing its speed. This speed adds more spin to your shots, making them much harder to return. Practice clapping the wrist every time you hit.

Method 3 of 4: Learn the basics of saving

1. Keep your body turned about 45 ° from the table. Your front foot (right if you are right-handed) should be a little further from the table than your other foot. This way you can let your body turn away from the table. You use this position to apply more force when you turn your body in the storage.
2. Bend your knees and keep your legs shoulder-width apart. Your posture must be strong and stable. Not only will this keep you balanced during the serve, but it will also allow you to react more quickly when you need to hit the ball back.
3. Bend your body slightly forward for balance. Lean forward from your waist, instead of your chest. Keep your shoulders back and open. Check your balance to make sure you are firmer.
4. Hold your bat at the ready with your elbow bent at a 90 ° angle. This position is perfect for positioning your arm so that you use your wrist and forearm when serving. Keep your arm loose and don't lock your elbow.
5. Move the bat down and forward for forehand backspin. Move your bat back and up a bit after tossing the ball. Then bring your arm forward and rotate your body and shoulder as you do so. This is a back spin serve, so hit the ball from the bottom with an open bat.
   • Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve.
6. Hit the ball up and forward for a forehand topspin as a serve. Move your bat back and up a bit after throwing the ball. Bring your arm forward by turning your body and shoulder. Just before making contact with the ball, hold the bat in a closed position and hit the top of the ball.
   • Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve.
7. Rotate your arm over your body for a backhand hold. With the backhand serve, you serve from a different arm position. Hold the paddle in front of your body by turning your arm along your torso. This store also has different effect balls.
   • You usually serve with a backhand.
   • Stay focused on the ball throughout the throw and serve.

Method 4 of 4: Practice an advanced save

1. Hit the ball with a short hit for a short backspin. The back spin serve works best when your opponent is further away from the table. This service can add variety to a game with many long spins.
2. Add sidespin to a backhand to make it difficult to return. If your opponent doesn't know which way you are going to spin the ball, they should stand in the middle of their side. This makes it so difficult for an opponent to return a side spin.
3. Throw the ball high for more effect. The longer the ball is in the air, the faster it will come down. With this high speed you can give the ball more spin after hitting the ball. If the ball has more effect, it will be more difficult for the opponent to return the ball.
4. When serving, hit the ball from left to right. This service gives the ball a slight side spin. This makes it difficult to return the ball with a backhand, as the ball will then come off your opponent and may not return over the net. You must keep the bat closed with this save.
5. Do a reverse side sweep from right to left. This also gives the ball a side spin, but this time from the opposite direction. Most players are more used to the standard pendulum serve with the forehand, so that this serve can put the opponent on the wrong track.
6. Strike right to left with the bat tilted up, for a tomahawk save. Hit the ball from right to left with an open bat. This service will also add side spin and make it difficult for your opponent to respond to it.
7. Practice with varied lengths, effect balls, and placements. The best way to have great storage is to be prepared with a lot of options. You will likely develop a specialty that will become your favorite storage. However, make sure to also practice long and short hits, all the different effect balls, and different placements on the table.
   • Practice with a partner to get the feel of a save as it would in a match. You can help each other practice all the different bat poses, hitting movements and effect balls.
   • You can also practice against the wall when you are alone.

Tips

• Alternate the type of effect you give a ball. This will confuse your opponent and make your service unpredictable, giving you a better chance of winning the match.