OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have a bad habit of not getting into a ready position after my serves or other shots. Although I'm well aware of it at times, I often find myself forgetting about it during the game. It is most annoying when I serve, as this should be the easiest time to remember it.

Then something struck me.... when I practice my serves, I never bother to get into the ready position afterwards!

When you practice serves, do you get into the ready position after each serve?

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

No, and a good point. It helps to have someone on the other end returning serve and reminding you to get ready. Maybe a good alternative to just practising serve is to incorporate it into your third-ball attack practice.

Or you could have a big sign on the back wall with words like, Did you get ready?

_________________

Weapon 1: Andro Kinetic Supreme Hinoki/Zylon OFF-; Andro Hexer HDs (FH 2.1/BH 1.9)
Weapon 2: Ross Leidy 'Smokey'; Friendship 729-5s
Club1: Daylesford - since 2010
Club2: Ballarat - since 2011
Blog: A Naked Bear

I like that idea I wonder if the clubs will let me put it up on the wall behind my opponents

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

It can be as simple as:

Ready?

The only problem is when you change sides. To fix this problem just ask your opponent to wear a shirt with that word.

_________________

Weapon 1: Andro Kinetic Supreme Hinoki/Zylon OFF-; Andro Hexer HDs (FH 2.1/BH 1.9)
Weapon 2: Ross Leidy 'Smokey'; Friendship 729-5s
Club1: Daylesford - since 2010
Club2: Ballarat - since 2011
Blog: A Naked Bear

I write notes on my non playing hand, usually, THINK! Use angles! Take your time!

You could put "Ready Position!" You just have to get in the habit of "Reading your palm".

Drives people crazy when they see me looking at my hand before serving.

I consider moving to ready after the serve, part of the serve motion. Practice 1000 serves without going to ready and that is exactly what you will do in a game.

I tried to post this earlier but got a PM from haggisv asking if I meant to post it or send him a PM. Oppsss.

So if you don't go to a ready position after serving what do you do? Start admiring the opponents shoes under the table?

_________________
I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

I have exactly the same problem as you, haggis. I serve, then stand there like a lemon - not just too far into the backhand corner but too close to the table. Doesn't really affect my current play level but every time I play against a better opponent it catches me out.

I enjoy practising serves, oddly, but as you rightly point out, I usually just serve, grab another ball, serve, etc. etc. Not once at any point do I serve then get into the ready position.

Thanks for the tip!

_________________
[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, Butterfly Joo Saehyuk, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)
Full list (PM me for price): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xNLwjz5uZq_FcCowBgZ4zk1NwU83xVyCRoo0zhphu3w/edit?usp=sharing
==================================================================================================================================================
My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg

I do get myself into some type of ready position, but I don't move nearly enough. Just as dunc mentioned, it might work fine against lower level players, but against higher ones that return and place the ball better, it can catch you out.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

I had / have this exact problem - i think it comes from watching the outcome of your practice serve too closely. To try and get better at this, I now go into the ready position and then do a shadow stroke after each practice serve. I look like a loon, but in my head it works. For eg if I serve heavy side, I'll shadow loop from the side the serve is most likely to come back to. It seems to be working for me, certainly changes me into a more active position.

_________________
Tibhar Stratus Power Defence
TSP Curl P4, 0.5 sponge
Stiga Calibra LT Sound
and my chickening out setup..
Donic Waldner Allplay
Stiga Boost TC 2.0 forehand
Stiga Boost TC 1.8 backhand

Have this problem. What i do is to make sure i take a small jump to get back in position. Because its a jump not a step you can actually even serve long topspin and jump back ready for a loop rally with the same process.

_________________
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC FL, FH - Tenergy 05, BH - Tenergy 05
Buying equipment is like getting into a relationship. One night stands are great but you get the most out of it when you work at it for a long time.

Good point there Alex. What we do in practice reflects in our game. One problem I am also encountering is serving without thinking of the next strategy. This can be corrected but I need to remember to think always before serving away.

_________________
Enjoy the game. It is a never ending learning experience once you play and keep the ball on that 45 sq ft of space or should I say half of that space.