OOAK Table Tennis Forum

i want to learn zhang jike's reverse pendulum (the coolest serve i've ever seen), however, i want to learn both bottom and top spin (im pretty sure zjk can do both). so far, i can serve top spin. i couldnt get the bottom spin though. any tip or video on how to do it?

You have to get your elbow far to the side and a bit forward to reach "around" and get the bat under the ball.
A short vid from Pingskills:

Although it is not obvious from the video, you need to almost "lead with the elbow" to get it right. (I mostly don't get it right, BTW.)

Zhang Jike serves with smaller swing than Alois Rosario shows, which makes it hard for the opponent to tell what kind of serve is coming. That short movement requires a very strong wrist though, so he is perhaps not the best model to use when building technique for your serves. I'd start from the Pingskills video.

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My blog of failures, etc., also containing equipment list at "resurrection" (referred to in a few of my early posts), and my current lineup
Rating in the middle/low range in the region.
Moderating the LP Attacking subforum in the Technique section.

Great advice Keme. Initially at least it is often better to have a long swing when serving so as to learn to get healthy spin on the ball. Remember, it ain't worth a thing if it ain't got that spin. Another reverse pendulum worth looking at is Achanta's - his soft-hands and beautiful use of wrist are sublime.

Agree. Have a look at the slo-mo of Achanta from Pro Table Tennis Serves. Don't expect to be able to do that for a long time (I still can't get my wrist as relaxed and fluid as his!), but watch how the raised elbow drives the service motion. That becomes the fixed point to allow the "pendulum" to swing freely.

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BTY Korbel ST
Red FH: BTY Tenergy T80 1.9mm
Black BH: TSP Curl P4 1.5mm

Another approach is to keep the handle under your arm/wrist instead of over as seen in the videos. This is easier to do for most people it seems.

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thanks! time to practice!

Have a look at defender Adam Pattantyus who has a very good version of this one.

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Getting better - health and game | Def-attack's attempts to find balance between defence/attack

I find having the handle over my arm makes creating the backspin variation much easier. It gives the perfect angle for backspin and a slight tilt of the arm or small change in timing or contact can create the side top version. Most people expect the side top but many opponents dump the backspin/ side variant into the net. It's a early or late quick cheap point for me normally.

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-Teddy

I'm having difficulty picturing how this is done. Are you saying the ball is struck using the backhand side of the racket?


Do you have a specific vdeo showing the technique that Elvis56 describes? In the video's I've seen, Adam's reverse pendulum looks like he keeps the handle above the wrist.

Here is a match. Difficult to say if handle is above or below wrist though. But he has good serves anyway

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Getting better - health and game | Def-attack's attempts to find balance between defence/attack

No, hit with the forehand side but let the handle rotate under your wrist instead of over your wrist. This requires a somewhat different grip but seems to be easier for most people.

_________________
Competition bats:
Win-tec power def Tibhar 5Q sound Power Update 1.8 * Spinlord Agenda ox
TSP Balsa 3.5 Tibhar Genius+Optimium sound 1.8 * Grass D-tecs ox

Put to rest:
Galaxy T10 Bluefire M2 2.0 Palio Ck531a ox
Victas Koji Matsushita Tibhar Genius+Optimium sound MAX * Spinlord Dornenglanz ox
Donic Defplay Senso Tibhar Aurus Sound Black max * Grass D-tecs ox

Check out my quest for my new blade here: http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=23241
Current standings:
Butterfly Matshushita powerdefence * Joola Chen Weixing * Nittaku KVU * Nittaku Shake defense* Tibhar stratus power defense * Victas Koji Matsushita * Yasaka Sweeper * Win-Tec power defence

I've always thought that Alexey Smirnov has a very smooth and natural reverse pendulum. There are some nice close ups in games 2 and 4 of this match against Shibaev.

_________________
BTY Korbel ST
Red FH: BTY Tenergy T80 1.9mm
Black BH: TSP Curl P4 1.5mm