Site Products
Coach Jeffrey Zeng

How to Train a Good Serve

Posted on

(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

Rankings: Big Movement in Top 50

February 18, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Little has happened at the top of the rankings, as the World's best… Read More

Nishant Lebaka – Two Backhands, Two Forehand Smashes

February 18, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Nishant Lebaka is executing Two Backhand Loops, followed by a… Read More

Austin Table Tennis Club Elevates 2026 Competitive Season with Butterfly Partnership

February 17, 2026
(By Austin Table Tennis Club) AUSTIN, TX – The Austin Table Tennis Club (ATTC) is proud to announce a… Read More

Center of Gravity in Your Stomach

February 16, 2026
Robot serves short backspin to Forehand/middle, Logan Backhand swipe to Forehand, robot plays topspin to long Forehand and… Read More

Positioning Part 3 of 4: In the Rally

February 16, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, www.tabletenniscoaching.com/blog)   Many players do not really… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Princeton Pong

February 15, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Princeton Pong's 10,000 square foot table tennis facility is in Princeton Junction, New Jersey.  They… Read More

Jancarik – Winning in Chennai at Age 39

February 15, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) WTT's Star Contender series events are a bridge between lower level Contender level… Read More

Dusseldorf and Saarbrucken Battle in TTBL

February 15, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo TTBL) When the two teams met in December, Saarbrucken beat Borussia Dusseldorf 3-2 on… 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.