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

Carlos Hernandez – Foundational Warm up Skills

August 4, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Carlos Hernandez is executing some Foundation skill for warming up.… Read More

The Short Serve & Short Receive, and Looping

August 3, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame) If you have a nice loop, then… Read More

Matthew Cao – Youth Contender Highlights

August 3, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Highlights, Matthew Cao is in action at the Youth Contender U-15… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Washington DC Table Tennis Center (WDCTT)

August 2, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The Washington DC Table Tennis Center (WDCTT) offers something for everyone—whether you're looking for league… Read More

WTT Champions Yokohama: Preview

August 2, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The next tour stop is the WTT Champions series event in Yokohama, Japan.  The event… Read More

Getting to Know Karina Xiao

August 2, 2026
(from Bowmar Sports and Karina Xiao) Recently, we had opportunity to connect with Karina Xiao, a California athlete… Read More

MLTT Meet the Teams: Carolina Gold Rush

August 2, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) The Carolina Gold Rush have won the East Division in all three of… Read More

Lingshaui Meng – Short Push & Forehand Loop

August 2, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Lingshaui Meng is working with a student on a over… 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.