OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I originally had this as a reply to haggisv's similarly titled post, but realised if I am asking a question it's better to start a new topic since people usually just reply to the original question.

So here is a copy-and-paste job:

One time I played this guy in a tournament. He was a very good player and it was a fun match, but nothing unexpected. Suddenly he did this serve. How to describe it? It came off his racquet like a wicked backspin...slow. Then, half way through its arc it became a weird side/top spin, picked up speed and bouced sharply off the table. Already committed to coming forward, it completely aced me. This guy served this ONCE in the our three 21 point sets.

I went on to lose and watched him play in the next round. His next opponent was much better than him and was cruising. Then he did THAT serve again...and even against a far better opponent, once again he completely aced him! The opponent didn't even get his racquet on it! Once again, he only used it ONCE.

Now this is a secret serve. And like all secret serves, no matter how good it is, if you over-use it then the opponent gets used to it. Knowing what a good thing he was on, he obviously had a policy to never use it more than once in a game - no matter how much he needed a win.

How many people have one secret super serve like this up their sleeve, or have played against other people who do?

sounds like a nicely done corkscrew serve (ball spun sideways from underneath instead of behind)...

when in a tight spot i like to do serves i know i wont miss. (that pretty much rules out reverse pendulum serves for me)

i like to use my "Secret weapon" serves thruout the game.. no point in keeping them just for 1 point i have a few that look alike but are completely different, then at that last point is when i like to serve the one i didnt serve as much during the game