Site Products
Top Ten Tactical Serving Mistakes

Tip of the week: Top Ten Tactical Serving Mistakes

Posted on

(By Larry Hodges)
Tip of the week: Top Ten Tactical Serving Mistakes
Not enough variation.
Serving to the backhand over and Over and OVER.
Always serving from the same spot, usually from the backhand corner.
Not serving with a purpose.
Always serving with heavy spin, without using no-spin as a variation (where you fake heavy spin – “heavy no-spin”).
Telegraphing your serves by how you set up or start your motion.
Too often serving long to loopers or short to quick players.
Not trying out all your main serves early on to find out what works.
Saving your trickiest serves for when it’s close, instead of using them early so it doesn’t get close, and then using them again as needed.
Not understanding the basic concept that you should essentially ALWAYS serve and attack UNLESS the receiver does something to stop you from doing so.

Latest News

Chirag Pradhan – 2026 US Nationals U 13 Highlights

September 9, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Chirag Pradhan is in action at the 2026 in the… Read More

US Open Teams: Rockets Blast Off from Myrtle Beach

September 8, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) Teams events bring a special comradery and a particular kind of pressure.  Its… Read More

The Game Between the Points by Di Liu

September 8, 2026
(Coach Di Liu) In table tennis, we often discuss techniques: Forehand, backhand, serve, receive and footwork. But there… Read More

Lingshaui Meng – Half Long Loop

September 8, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Lingshaui Meng focusing on looping a half long ball after… Read More

Practice Matches

September 7, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame) A practice match is just that -… Read More

Showtime Table Tennis News: Ontario Summer Games Bronze Medal

September 7, 2026
(by Showtime Table Tennis/Butterfly Americas) Following our July update, the Ontario Summer Games took place locally in Waterloo… Read More

Edmarie Leon Multi Ball Random Play

September 7, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Edmarie Leon is using multi-ball to train her Forehand &… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Austin Table Tennis Club

September 6, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The Austin Table Tennis Club is located at 8956 Research Blvd in Austin.  They are just… 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.

/* Constant Contact Universal Code */