Site Products
Coach Jeffrey Zeng

How to Train a Good Serve

(by Coach Jeffrey Zeng)

There are many types of table tennis serves, each with its own characteristics. Let us look at the types of table tennis serves without considering the factors such as the soleplate, sponge, and rubber.

  • According to the clap hands
    1. Shoot with left hand – For opponents who shoot with the left hand, they can send the ball to the right triangle more often.
    2. Shoot with right hand – For opponents who shoot with the right hand, you can throw the ball back to the left small triangle more often.
  • By station
    1. Forehand position
    2. Backhand position
    3. Middle position
  • Divide by gesture
    1. Forehand
    2. Backhand
  • According to the beat surface
  • By rotation – 24 kinds of effective rotation and non-rotation. The rotating ball can be divided into the following 6 types according to the prominent main rotation:
    1. Upward rotation
    2. Downward rotation
    3. Left hand rotation
    4. Right hand rotation
    5. Clockwise rotation
    6. Reverse rotation
  • According to the length of the arc
    1. Long ball
    2. Short ball
    3. Half out billiards
  • According to the falling point (line)
    1. Left triangle
    2. Right triangle
    3. Left triangle
    4. Right triangle
    5. Left triangle
    6. Right triangle
    7. Network front area
    8. End line area (pursuit area)
    9. Central district
  • Score by throwing height
    1. Low throw
    2. Middle throwing
    3. High throwing
  • Comment on a good serve from five elements
    1. High speed
    2. Strong or soft power, with obvious contrast
    3. Strong or weak rotation or no rotation, with obvious contrast
    4. Low arc
    5. Precise or tricky landing point
  • Five serving strategies in the game
    1. Observe the opponent’s state and serve
    2. Serve according to their own state
    3. Change five elements
    4. Variable rhythm serve
    5. Key point serve

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

Rachid El Bou Bou – Two Backhands, One Forehands

November 18, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Rachid El Bou Bou is executing Two Backhand Loops, and… Read More

Two Simple Ways to Approach Tactics

November 17, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) Tactics can be complicated because there are so many possibilities and so many styles to… Read More

Taiwo Adeyinka – Multiball Training Forehand Loop from underspin

November 17, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips,  Taiwo Adeyinka is working with a student on the Forehand… Read More

MLTT Week 6 Recap: The Revolution and Wind Roll in Georgia

November 16, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) Week 6 of Major League Table Tennis visited Duluth, Georgia where the Princeton… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: LATTA

November 16, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The Los Angeles Table Tennis Association (LATTA) LATTA is a non-profit organization established in 1998. The center… Read More

Fan Zhendong Wins in China

November 16, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The result of the final game was clear for several minutes as Fan Zhendong played… Read More

Maybelline Menéndez – Backhkand Push to Backhand Loop Sequencing

November 16, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Maybelline Menendez is executing a Backhand Push over the table,… Read More

China National Games: Fan Reaches Final

November 15, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The China National Games is played every four years – a massive multi-sport event that… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.