Mastering Your Serve Part III
No-Spin Serve
No-Spin serves are the smashing play that comes fast and straight.
A well mastered no-spin or flat-spin serve can catch an opponent off guard when mixed up with a medley of spinning serves. This serve can be tuned to be very accurate because technically, if it is hit properly, it should fly straight and true.
Also, a very fast, long, no-spin serve can often be most effective when your adversary is too far on one side of the table.
Training Tips
Start easy. Draw a box on either corner of the table with chalk or lay down some tape. Now just start cracking, practice holding the paddle at the proper angle to get the flattest spin possible, hitting it as straight as possible.
Aim for one box until you land 50 shots within it, then move on to the other.
Always try playing the hard angles, finish off your practice round by tossing a few in right down the pipe or rather where your opponents mid-section might be. This will rise in your advantage in match play by keeping the enemy on their toes.
Bonus Trick
Another trick is as follows; position yourself about 20 feet to the side of the table and, standing sideways, nail the ball hard on the side so that it arcs back to the table and opponent.
Not only is it a lot of fun, but trying these serves also promotes the development of ‘touch’ and spin skills.
Conclusion
Mastering the no-spin serve is not a skill you should overlook. It can greatly increase your potency behind the net.
The more serves you have mastered the harder it will be for the adversary to stick your play.
Always vary your serves, but be careful to look upon the opposition; spot and concentrate on your opponent’s weaknesses. You can pick up upon the weak points from carefully observing their play.
Likewise, you must be observant in watching how the ball is served to you in order to compensate for your opponents spin and smash a wicked return.
