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Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong - Forehand Pendulum Topspin/ Sidespin Serve

By Greg Letts, About.com

7 of 9

Start of Return to Ready Position

Photo of FH Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve - Start of Return to Ready Position

Start of Return to Ready Position

(c) 2006 Greg Letts, licensed to About.com, Inc.
The ball is about to bounce on the table, and the player is starting to return to his ready position.

Points to look for:

  • The player has begun to watch the ball again, since he is looking to see the result of the serve. If he sees that the serve will successfully go low over the net and bounce twice on the opponents side of the table, he will look for an aggressive third ball. If he sees that he has not served a good serve (too high or too long), he will get ready for an attack by the receiver.
  • The bat is now being moved to the player's right to return to its ready position, while the hips, waist and shoulders continue to turn to the left.
  • The player's right leg can now be seen to be moving to his right, as he starts to get squarer to the endline of the table.
  • The ball is moving almost straight forward.

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  8. Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong - Forehand Pendulum Topspin/ Sidespin Serve - Step 7

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