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?

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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?

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

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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.

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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?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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