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Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Basic Strokes - FH Tomahawk Sidespin Serve

By Greg Letts, About.com

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Pre-Contact With Ball

Photo of FH Tomahawk Sidespin Serve - Pre-Contact With Ball

Pre-Contact With Ball

(c) 2007 Greg Letts, licensed to About.com, Inc
The ball is descending, the player has finished his backswing, and is about to swing forward to contact the ball for service.

Points to look for:

  • The bat face is held at an angle, since the player wants to make the serve look similar to the other varieties of tomahawk serves.
  • The player has kept track of the ball once it starts to descend, in order to make sure of the flight of the ball. However, as shown in the next photograph, he will not actually watch the contact of the ball.
  • The free arm has continued to move out of the area between the ball and the net, so that the receiver will have a clear view of the ball throughout the service motion, as required by the rules.
  • The server has continued to bend his knees to bring his body lower to the ground.

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  8. Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Basic Strokes - Forehand Tomahawk Sidespin Serve - Step 5

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