Serve and Return of Serve

Now that you have received some advice on what general style you should play as a beginner, it's time to recap some advice on serving and returning serve.

Serving

When serving, you should be looking to set up your third ball or fifth ball attack, so you can be in control of the rally. Good serves will win the occasional point outright as well, but in the main you are trying to force a weak return from the receiver, so that you can start your attack sequence.

As a beginner, it is unlikely that you are capable of attacking difficult returns consistently, so the advice I'm going to give you is a little different than what I would recommend for advanced players.

• A weak return from the receiver should be attacked with power immediately - the classic third ball attack.
• An average return should be attacked with a little more spin and less speed for safety, and hopefully the receiver will have to block your attack, and you can then look to attack the fifth ball harder.
• Good returns that are too difficult for you to attack consistently should be treated with care, and returned so that it is difficult for the receiver to attack you.

Returning Serve

When returning serve, your goal is similar to when you are serving - to be the first player to attack well. But first you have to neutralize the server's advantage by returning his serve tightly.

Again, as a beginner you will find it difficult to make great returns from every serve. So the advice I would give you is linked to your current abilities.

• Weak serves should be attacked as hard as you can, while still being sure that you will make the shot. Don't overdo it.
• Average serves should be attacked with care (more spin and less speed), depending on your ability at attacking serves. If you aren't so good at attacking yet, don't be afraid to push the ball instead, going for placement wide or into the playing elbow, good spin variation, and reasonable speed so that your opponent does not have a lot of time to get prepared to attack.
• Good serves should be returned as tight as you can. If you are having trouble getting the serve back at all, aim for the middle of the table to give you a better margin for error. Once your control improves, start aiming for your opponent's playing elbow, and wide of his power zones.

Next: Advice on How to Control the Rally

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