Can Someone Give Me Any Advice On Over Hand Serves?
103128
When you toss the ball the height you toss it is up to you. I tell my players that their serve should be in a rhythm. Start counting from when you start your motion of your toss. One count is from standing still to dropping your tossing hand down w/ the ball. The upward movement of your hand is the two count and the three count is the release of the ball untill your contact it with your serving hand. The toss is done in front of your body. Keep it front of your body so when you step for your striking motion you will be almost under the ball. When making contact with the ball, the ball should be slightly in front of your body, your arm extended, elbow elevated. Contact the ball with a open, slightly cupped, firm hand. Upon contact, snap your wrist giving the ball a downward spin.
1117329
Two people before me, Bella and Cruzer, have answered your question. Cruzer's answer was quite long and detailed while Bella's answer was very short and sweet.\n\nI'm a nationally certified Tennis instructor, and I can tell you that Cruzer's advice, though impressive in its detail and volume, is completely uninformed and incorrect.\n\nAlthough Bella's answer was quite short, she's completely correct. \n\nIndeed, taking PRIVATE Tennis lessons from a renowned Tennis instructor is the surest and shortest route to improvement. Rest assured that the only way to control the ball is by learning proper technique and spin, be it topspin or slice.\n\nYou might be tempted to take group lessons, but do yourself a favor and leave this to beginners. For sure, if you've been playing tennis for a while and have seen too little improvement, only PRIVATE tennis lessons will do.
936655
Don't break your wrists, my friend. Promotes consistent contact. Also, and this sounds stupid, make sure that you hit the ball first. Have confidence and practice a little and these two will help a lot.
748659
I have been playing table tennis for about 5 years now. I have a very powerful backhand and a reliable forehand. I also have quite a good serve. Here are some tips and tricks that I have gathered throughout the years:\n\n\nBackhand:\n\nI hit with a pretty full motion swing. I try to focus on contacting the ball in the center of the paddle (this goes for the forehand as well). So when you are practicing, try to think about hitting the ball with the center. You will not succeed every time, but as you practice this more, you will develop better judgment and will be hitting the ball more cleanly. Also, think about brushing up on the ball. Try to impart quite a bit of topspin, but also do not forget to hit through the ball a bit.\n\n\nForehand:\n\nAlthough I am weaker off this wing, I can still over you some tips. When I hit a forehand, I try to "wrap" the ball with my paddle. In other words, when the ball is coming towards you, get your paddle below the level of the ball and swing up. As your paddle reaches the top of the ball, rotate it so it "wraps" around it. I found that this helps me keep the ball on the table and minimizes the chance that it will sail long.\n\n\nServe:\n\nThe most common mistake I see people make is they try to hit the ball as hard as they can and when they do not get it in, they get upset. In the beginning, your main goal should be to get your serve in, for if you cannot get your serve in, it doesn't matter how good the rest of your game is. The serve is THE most important shot in table tennis! When you are getting your serves in, then begin to apply spin and power accordingly.\n\n\nTHE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS:\n\nKeep your eyes on the ball at all times! This is very important, do not lose track of it. At first, you might lose track of it, but as you practice keeping your eyes on the ball, you will become better at tracking it.\nBend your knees! When you hit, this will allow you to get under the ball better, lower your center of gravity, and provide more power for your shots as you are using the leg muscles as well in your shots.\nAlways keep moving! Footwork is one of the most important aspects of the game. Always keep your feet moving. This will help you get into position and will give you more time to prepare to hit the shot correctly.\n\n\n\nGood luck!
553811
I don't know how old you are but you really need to practice.  If you feel embarrassed doing it in front of your team, stay after and just stand close the basket with the ball in your left hand.  Don't use your right hand, just concentrate on your form.  If you're good with your right hand you should know the proper form so I won't bother to explain it to you here.  Shoot 5 times from the left side, 5 times from the center, and 5 times from the right side-all with your left hand.  Then practice hitting the backboard on the left side with your left hand.  You can eventually start practicing left handed layups.  You'll be a left hand shooter in no time!
770288
well that is true when you go up to block use both hands. But when you ar on serve-recieve get take a step back and then right when they touch the ball take a step up. that gets you moving.  talk on the floor. Call outs, in, tip, dink, middle, outside, and when someone on your team spikes it make a "cup" around them just incase the other team blocks it. Also dont put your hands on your knees.  When you go to spike it then go for the ball like you are opening french doors.. that gets your upper body in motion and ready to hit.  Also wait for the ball when going to spike! and if you are setter then make sure your sets are consistant.. good luck
51075
It's actually pretty complicated but here goes (just remember everything is in two's):\nThe serve is made starting on the left behind the baseline (the farthest box). It has to cross the net (in the air) and then go into the service box on the opposite side. But you have two chances to get the ball in. That is, unless you get the ball in the box and hit the net. There you have a let and still two chances (unless it's the second chance).\n\nThen, the ball is bantied about until somebody doesn't hit it before it hits the ground twice, someone hits it out of bounds or someone hits the net. The ball can only bouce one on your side, but doesn't have to bounce. \n\nThen the server switches sides and the steps are repeated. \n\nWhat's quirky is scoring. You have to win by two. Points are awared in increments of 15, 30, 40 then win. But when the players are tied it's deuce. You have to win the game by two. When someone wins the point after duece it's advantage. If that player wins the next point they win the point. If not it's back to deuce. \n\nSets are to 6 unless both get to 5, then it's to 7 unless both get to six and then it goes to a tiebreaker. You have to win by two or two in the tiebreaker.\n\nMatches are won based on the number of sets. 3 set match you have to win 2 sets. 5 set match you have to win 3 sets.
1153845
Here's the lowdown on serving up a floater.  First of all you have to have some serious power behind your serves.  You need to already be able to control where it lands.  Once that's all established, then you need to concentrate on hitting the ball without SPIN.  You'll need the coach to spend some time watching you to let you know what needs adjusted.  A lot of people tend to put backspin on their serves.  A good coach will be able to watch you and work out adjustments accordingly.  You may need to adjust the angle of your wrist or the angle of your body when you make contact with the ball.  You may also need to work on the amount of turn your body makes as you serve.
517629
Use as much of your body as you can - legs, back, shoulders.  Don't just toss the ball up, stand straight up, and swing your racket.  Instead, once you've tossed the ball crouch your body, bending at the knees AND the waist, as low as you reasonably can.  At the same time drop the shoulder of the arm that your racket is in as low as you can while keeping your toss arm up in the air (this will help you balance).  When the ball reaches the top of the toss, spring/uncoil your body by straighteing/uncoiling your lower body and at the same time bring your shoulder with the racket up and through the ball.  Notice "through", your follow through across your body is every bit as important to power (and accuracy).  Note - racket speed also has something to do with it but get this motion down first and once you've gotten comfortable with it you can work on doing it faster for even more speed.
364823
i know how hard it is to be short and play vball. i'm 5'4" and i've ALWAYS been a DS or libero. really work on your serve and quick feet. i spent a whole summer just perfecting all my serves (jump, floater, top spin, EVERYTHING) because i'm usually a DS so i always serve. my coaches always trust me when it comes to serving and if it's an important serve, they trust me to take it because they're confident in me. i served 97.2% on my last season. also, footwork and ALWAYS being low helps. if you're fast and you can get to any ball, they'll definitely think more of you. just keep working hard and work on rolls/dives too! and getting off the floor REALLY quickly. \ntheres a drill where you lay on the ground and someone slams the ball against the ground, making it bounce back up, and as soon as the ball contacts the floor, you get up as fast as you can, get to the ball and pass to a target.then right where you ended up, you get back on the ground and do it over and over and over. i LOVE that drill.
697828
Rule 1. Opponents stand on opposite sides of the court. The player who delivers the ball to start the point is called the server. The player who stands opposite and cross-court from the server is the receiver.\n\nRule 2. The right to serve, receive, choose your side, or give the opponent these choices is decided by a toss of a coin or racquet. If the choice of service or receiver is chosen, the opponent chooses which side to start.\n\nRule 3. The server shall stand behind the baseline on the deuce court within the boundaries of the singles court when playing singles and within the doubles sideline when playing doubles. See court dimensions. All even points are played from the deuce court and odd number points played from the advantage court. The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. Serves are made from the deuce court to the opponents service box on the deuce court. Advantage court to advantage box. If the server misses his target twice, he loses the point. If the ball hits the net and goes in the correct service box, another serve is granted. If the server steps on the baseline before contact is made, the serve is deemed a fault.\n\nRule 4. The receiver is deemed ready if an attempt is made to return the server's ball. The receiver can stand where he likes but must let the ball bounce in the service box. If the ball does not land in the service box, it is deemed a fault and a second serve is given. If the ball is hit by either opponent before the ball bounces, the server wins the point.\n\nRule 5. The server always calls his score first. If the server wins the first point, he gets a score of 15. Scoring is done like a clock. See example below. Love means zero in tennis. The second point is called 30. The third point is called 45 (now-a-days known as 40) and game is won when the score goes back to love. If the score is 40-40, also known as deuce, one side must win by two points. Advantage-In means if the server wins the next point, he wins the game. Advantage-Out means the receiver has a chance to win the game on the next point.\n\nLOVE 15-30-40\n\nRule 5. After the game, the opponents serve. Games equal 1. The first to win 6 games, by two, wins the set. The first to win 2 sets wins the match. If the score is 6-6, a tie-breaker is played. This is scored by one's. The first team to score 7 points winning by two wins the set. The tiebreaker continues until one side wins by two. Hence, Game-Set-Match.\n\nRule 6. If the ball goes into the net, or outside the boundaries of the court, the player who hit that ball loses the point. If the ball hits the net during the point and goes into the opponents court, the ball is in play. A player loses the point if he touches the net, drops his racquet while hitting the ball, bounces the ball over the net, hits a part of the surroundings such as the roof, or a tree, the ball touches him or his partner, he deliberately tries to distract the opponent.\n\nRule 7. A let is called during the point if a ball rolls on the court or there is a distraction from someone besides the players on the court.\n\nRule 8. A ball that lands on the line is good.\n\nRule 9. If players serve out of turn or serve to the wrong person or court, the point or game will stand and order will be resumed following the point or game.\n\n\nThe server is required to keep his feet in nearly the same position during the serve. The server's feet may be raised off the ground, but walking or running are not permitted, so as to prevent the opponent being misled as to where the serve will originate. Breaching this rule or exceeding the permitted part of the court constitutes a ''foot fault''.\n\nIn a legal service, the ball travels over the net without touching it and into the diagonally opposite service court. If the ball hits the net but lands in the service court, this is a ''let service'', which is void, and the service is attempted again. If the first service is otherwise
1017004
This is an easy trick to add power to your serve: start with your feet.\n\nInstead of trying to *arm* it over, use the momentuem of your entire body. Even if you are a biddy 90 lbs, if you use not just your arm, but all 90 lbs., you'll send the ball flying.\n\nHere how...\n\nBefore you toss the ball to serve, if you are a righty, start with you left front in front of you, and most of your weight on your back foot, which will be, of course, your right foot. (Unless you are a three footed freak, in which case this technique will not work.) If you are a lefty, of course, vice-versa.\n\nAfter you toss the ball, and you start to strike it, you should simultaneously push-off your back (right) foot, and "step through" your serve. If you step through your serve, you will get the momentum of your entire body behind the serve. After you contact the ball, and follow-through, you should continue with the step and finish with your right foot in front of your left. (If you are a lefty, of course, vice-versa.)\n\nThis push off of your back foot, will force your hips to rotate, which will force your shoulders to rotate, which will force your arm to pronate. It is a bio-mechanical chain reaction.\n\nThis motion is exactly how a tennis player servers, and how a baseball pitcher pitchers. Baseball players will tell you: good pitchers use their legs. Visualize a pitcher's wind-up. Basically, he is starting with his weight on his right foot, and "stepping through" the pitch. In volleyball, you do not need such an over-emphasized wind-up, but the concept is the same.\n\nFeel free to follow-up if you have any more questions.
821280
The best thing for you to do is obviously hit  a ton of balls.  Practice your serve as much or more then you do other strokes.  It has become a game of serving and returns because of the advances it racket tech.  \n        Try and play USTA tournaments in your section as often as you can.  At a minimum one each month.  Matches are key.  If you do that you will find yourself feeling less pressure then you do  when playing for your high school.  \n         Matches are also the best way to identify what you have to work on.   Do some off court training as well.  Jumping rope, sit ups , push ups.  If possible take a private lesson every once in a while.  When you take your lesson , know going into it what you would like to work on going into your lesson.  Not only practice your weak areas , but work on your strengths also so you can develop a few weapons.  The best ones are as I said before Serve, return of serve.  Make your footwork a priority . of you are quick it is a major help.  Big forehands once you get into a rally are important.
588062
For a one-handed backhand:\n1. Keep your hips parallel to the long side of the court during the entire swing. In other words, don't twist your hips. \n2. Follow through with the racquet. \n3. Watch Roger Federer! His one-hander is the best. \nFor a two-handed backhand:\n1. Make sure your arms are extended during the swing. \n2. Hit a two-hander like you would a forehand with your non-dominant arm. So, if you're a righty, work on your lefty forehand and when you put your right hand on there, let your left hand do the most work. \n3. Start the stroke with your hips parallel to the long side of the court, but unlike the one-hander, twist your hips during the stroke. \n4. Follow through with both hands on your racquet. \n\nIf all else fails, watch the pros!
995298
ok u have to cocertrate on ur serve and u will practice it dalily. in know this coz i have practised a lot i am a tennis player and i play for INDIA
658951
a good thing to do is to try to get the defender off of their feet if they are as tall as you.. so pump fakes work really good... another thing to do is a drop set since you are so tall it will be easier to do this all you have to do is step back and turn toward the basket while clearing you defender out without fouling.. another good move is a little hook shot just turn toward the inside and lay it in
1065904
I don't really thing there are any tricks to play better, the only tip that I can give you is to practice. I think it all comes down to that. When I used to play, I practiced 3-4 hours a day and I played pretty well... now that I haven't played in a few years I can't even hit the backboard -_-'. :) but yea, just practice if you really want to impress your friends.