Usefulness of the long serve?

[speedplay]

It is often pointed out to us how important it is to have a short serve that can't be (easily) attacked. Now my question is, what views do you have on the long serve?

Is it useful or is it simple to invite your opponent to attack?

If you feel this works different in different levels, please explain why.

[JKC]

I use a long serve when I think my opponent is starting to expect and set himself to return the shorter ones. Usually just 1 or 2 here and their to keep them on their toes. There is less margin for error on the longer serves and bad/anticipated ones will be punished at a higher level.

[speedplay]

Well, seeing how this is partly discussed in another thread, I thought i might revive this thread again, now that the SG ban is at full effect and we all have had some time to get used to it.

Is the long serve a more valid option now then it was before the SG ban?

Also, at lower levels, where a serve often can win you a point with no need for a third ball kill, I feel it is easier to get this "cheap" point with the long serve.

Now, obviously, young and ambitious, then learn how to serve short, but old and having fun, with no realistic chance of reaching the higher levels, the short serve is almost a waste of practice time. Most people can return it fairly tight, but a long serve is harder for the lower level players to retunr tight, and they usually don't have a killer first attack.

[Der Echte]

Long serves have their place if they are a surprise. They set you up to attack a weak return or get into those counterdriving rallies fro those who like that. JKC described well a few good times to break them out. They can fit in with your overall strategy of changing spins, depths, speeds and angles to get what you want. Speed glue or no speed glue, a long serve that the opponent anticipates or reacts to in time is still trouble with a capital T no matter what. Maybe the pros can get away with slipping in an exta long one or two.

[niteowl]

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[Der Echte]

Hey Niteowl, I don't exactly represent the welcoming commitee, but welcome to Rob's TT Forum and you'll enjoy the crew and the foruming.

[niteowl]

Thanks Der Echte :) I just realised that this subject is pretty old  :-[

[Vinnie]

That's ok. If you've got a good point to bring up, don't be afraid to post it!