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Tip of the Day - Inside-Out Forehand Serve

By Larry Hodges | Dec. 09, 2013, 9 a.m. (ET)

Kong Ling Xuan

Kong Ling Xuan (CHN) at the 2013 Junior World Championships


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Larry Hodges

Inside-Out Forehand Serve

Many players use the forehand "pendulum" serve. It’s the most popular serve in table tennis. Roughly speaking, the racket tip is down, and the racket moves from right to left (for a right-hander). However, at the advanced level, inside-out forehand pendulum serves are just as popular, with the racket moving the other way. Practice this serve, as even with less spin than your normal serves it is effective against most players, since the serve is so rarely seen below the advanced levels. The quickest way to learn it is to watch a top player do it. (Serves are very difficult to teach in print, even with photo sequences.)

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