Table tennis drills
Table tennis serve drills
7 free Table tennis drills for serve, each with the setup, how it runs, what to coach, and how to make it harder or easier.
7 drills
ServeBackspin and sidespin servesBuild legal backspin and sidespin serves, landing the backspin short and the sidespin long on marked targets.15 min · 1–4 players · U11+
Doubles playServeDoubles serve and receive orderWalk through and then play the doubles serving rules: right half to right half, partners hitting alternately, and the serving and receiving order rotating every two points.15 min · 4 players · U12+
ServeFirst legal servesNew players learn the legal serve step by step: flat palm, a near-vertical toss of at least 16 cm, strike as it falls, one bounce each side.12 min · 2–8 players · U7+
ServeReceiveServe and receive-only pointsPoints that stop after the return of serve: the receiver scores for a legal return, the server scores when the return misses. Builds serve quality and safe receiving.15 min · 2–4 players · U12+
ServeLoop & topspinServe and third-ball attackServe short with backspin, read the push that comes back and attack it with a forehand loop on the third ball.15 min · 2–4 players · U12+
ServeTactics & patternsServe disguise and variationBuild a family of legal serves from one action, so the receiver cannot tell backspin from no-spin or short from long until the bat meets the ball.15 min · 2–8 players · U16+
ServeShort and long servesAlternate short backspin serves and fast long serves to marked targets.10 min · 1–6 players · U8+