The Pendulum Serve Tutorial
This tutorial vividly describes how to do the pendulum service and the multiple variations of spin that can be created with it
It is the preferred serve of professionals and needs to be the first serve that you learn. It offers a quick motion that is difficult to see and can create almost every type of spin. With precise contact timing, varied depths and placements on the table, and altered speeds, this serve can be a headache for your opponents. All of this supports the goal of giving you an outright advantage every time you serve
Quick Note: A high-quality paddle with grip, control, and moderate speed are essential to learning spin serves in table tennis. A recreational paddle will not all you to create the dynamic friction required for insanely spinny serves. A previous article of our outlines the best custom table tennis equipment for beginners
The Grip
Changing from the normal "shakehand" grip which we explain in phase 1 of our FREE Beginner to Intermediate Table Tennis Lesson Plan, the pendulum serve uses the "Pinch Grip.” Instead of wrapping our pinky, ring, and middle finger around the handle, we tuck them underneath it. The index finger and thumb remain in place "pinching" the head of the bat. We gain more flexibility of the wrist. This is needed to brush the ball in various directions and create different types of spin
Position to the Table
Stand at the side of the backhand corner of the table. Your tossing hand behind the end line, above the surface, and within the sidelines of the table. Your shoulders should be facing sideways across the table which will allow you to rotate your shoulders back and forward into the ball while serving. The non-dominant foot should be forward and paddle side foot staggered back
The Toss
Keep the palm completely open with the ball resting on top. Do not cup or grasp the ball. Initiate the toss vertically as straight as possible. It must rise and fall at least six inches before the paddle strikes the ball and this must occur behind the end line of the table. If the paddle contacts the ball behind the end line but drifts over the table after, this is still a legal serve. It is all about being behind the end line through the moment of contact
Serve Body Mechanics
Bend at the hips and knees to create a stable and mobile base to turn your body into the serve. This ensures contact with the ball as low as possible and results in a low bouncing serve that is difficult to return
After tossing the ball, immediately shift your weight back onto your paddle side foot and rotate your shoulders back allowing the forearm to loosely drift back with them
Watch the ball closely. Intend to turn forward and meet the ball when it is 1-2 inches above the net. As the ball begins its descent simultaneously shift your weight off of your paddle side foot and turn your shoulders forward naturally bringing your arm around with them
Right before the moment of contact with the ball, smoothly snap your elbow and flick your wrist to put spin into the ball. This wrist flick should create the U shape, or pendulum motion as the name suggests. You can create multiple types and variations of spin just by changing contact timing and the area of the paddle that you use. Everything is the same up until ball contact. We then change the contact timing, contact area with the paddle, and brushing direction
Underspin
Aim to brush downward and underneath the ball as the tip of the paddle is travelling downwards (the beginning of the pendulum swooping motion). The underspin ball is the one that always dies and dumps into the net when trying to return it. When serving underspin be prepared to push the ball back if your opponent pushes it as they have returned your underspin with underspin. Advanced players will loop and convert the underspin into topspin if it is high or goes long off of the table
Sidespin
For sidespin we aim just underneath the back of the ball and graze sideways to generate sidespin. This is the midpoint of the pendulum as the tip of the paddle is travelling sideways. Putting clockwise sidespin on the serve helps force the opponent to touch the left side of the ball (from our serving perspective) and results in most follow ups being taken with the forehand
Topspin
By brushing the back of the ball from low to high you can create a forward kicking topspin that opponents return high or completely push off of the table. This is created at the end of the pendulum as the tip of the racket begins turning up. Graze the rubber up against the back of the ball so the ball rolls off with topspin. If they return it, be prepared to drive, block, or loop the ball back with good placement.
No spin
Instead of brushing the ball try to fake the movement of brushing, but "bump' the ball with the area of the rubber closest to your handle. This area is barely moving at all and will create a spinless ball. Opponents often return these balls high or completely miss the table when trying to return them. Thinking they are returning underspin they may put too much upwards force into the ball
Mixed Spins
You will be able to create these after mastering the basic spins above. It is hard to explain, but intuition and experience will kick in at some point allowing you to combine spins to further deceive and dominate your opponents
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