Positioning for serve return?

[speedplay]

I was told by a former club player that I (right hander, shake) should always stand in my bh corner, about half a meter behind the table when I was about to receive.

According to him, this position would give me the most/best options. Anything long would allow me to open up with fh, short would allow me either a easy push or a harder (to perform) flick from either wing.

I tried this at tonights practice  and it gave me some success, especially opening up with Fh. Now, I'm thinking that I might have a too extreme position as I position my self way out at the bh corner, sometimes even standing more at the side of the table then standing in the corner.

Advice needed, were should I stand? Also, should I assume different positions depending on were the server stands? If he stands in his fh corner, I tend to take a step towards the middle of the table.

[JKC]

The position of the receiver depends on the position of the server. What coaches generally say is to work out where the widest points the server could serve and then cover the area inbetween 2/3 with your FH and 1/3 with your BH. So for a RH server serving from a typical position I (RH) usually stand with my left hip in line with or just outside a line extending from the LH side of the table. Facing a leftie serve I would probably have my right hip somewhere near a line extending from the centre of the table. I stand between 1 foot and 18 inches from the table, but without a table to stand next to I am not really sure.

I remember someone told me this a couple of years ago and I though to myself I would try it next time I played. When I did next play I realised that it was something I subconsciously did anyway.

[speedplay]

I do think the correct position comes easier for double inverted players, especially those with a strong Fh. Me, being a anti user, I have always tried to cover as much as possible of the table with my Bh (anti side) but now I feel like I'm getting a lot better at reading serves and really don't need the anti to return them safe, so covering more of the table with my Fh will probably give me more options.

Tanks for the answer!

[ckhugo]

Hi Speed,

I was just about to say since you are using Anti on BH, your style would require a bit more of a "middle" of the table stance, kinda like a chopper.

But this also goes with your FH style, that if you attack a lot with ur FH and like to open with FH loops then the stance in subject would be good. (besides, you can mix it up with twiddling and do a anti- FH loop to throw ur opp off).

As an example, I use about 50/50 FH BH, but my stance is still relatively close to my BH, left hip in line with the table edge with a very FH orientated stance - right foot way back - forming a 45 degree angle to my left foot. (used to be more towards BH side, but too slow now  a days in covering the FH short serves).
Think my serve receive stance comes from the old JPEN days, where I need to hit as many FH as possible.. and with shakehand now, I still struggle a little bit with the receiving stance.

The good thing about standing to your BH side is you can have the option of receiving serve ot ur BH with your BH or FH with just 1 step. Where if you stand in the middle, its harder to come around to receive with a FH, and since these days most ppl serve to BH, its probably easier to stand closer to BH side.

H

[Der Echte]

When I was seeking to BH return just about everything, I stood in a lefty stance in the middle of the table. Now that I have changed to FH dominate, I stand a half meter from the table in my BH corner. I really need to develop my ball recognition and step under footwork, as well as timing ball strike at top of bounce for flicking. I am too ashamed to post a vid of this and I couldn't anyway with guys here who are rec players and cant make 1 of 2 serves soft with no spin. I would LOVE to hear any of your insights on how you all change your position based on what you anticipate or seek to hit.

[ckhugo]

HI Der,

I think to answer ur qs,,, is to play more, and it comes with experience,,, know what opp likes to serve, and then guess it, and say leaning 70% towards receiving that serve while keeping 30% for the unexpected.

Think my personal rule was,,, stand in a position that my blade can touch the middle edge of the table (right hander), and more FH orientated stance (even though with my style now a days I should be more horizontal, but have problem fixing it).

Flicking on the top of the bounce - well, I am not good at it,,, but I think its just taht u need to step in quick and keeping low and dont wait for the ball to bounce up, but try to have ur hand ready when the ball abt to drop the 1st time on ur table,,, then u should be able to get on top of the ball more often.

Cheers,
H

[priior]

this is so style oriented...

from my close-to-the-table-i-wanna-loop-anything-long perspective, i stand in such a way so that when i extend my arm the tip of the racket touches the middle of the BH section. (to a traditional server as JKC mentioned)

the danger is the quick bomb down the line to my wide FH. so i have to always be mentally ready to leap 2 steps then come back. the other danger is the fast flat/chop serve to the crossover.. so mentally i have to be ready to deal with that as well.

short serves arent too stressful when ur not standing too far. (an arm's length)