How to Forehand Serve in Table Tennis

The most common serve in table tennis is the forehand serve. Once you master the basic principle, there are many variations that can be done on this serve.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand with your hips and shoulders 45 degrees to the base-line. Your paddle foot and paddle arm are back away from the table.

    • 2

      Hold the ball in the palm of your non-paddle hand, just behind the edge of the table.

    • 3

      Hold the paddle near your paddle-side hip.

    • 4

      Look at your opponent's position and decide where you will serve the ball to.

    • 5

      Throw the ball straight up about chest high to head high.

    • 6

      Bend your elbow to raise your paddle up to a height between your waist and shoulders. The exact height will be determined by the type of serve you wish to hit.

    • 7

      Swing from the shoulder with a bent arm.

    • 8

      Hit the ball with a flat paddle (unless you are adding spin) and a slighlty downward swing. The ball must bounce on your side of the table before it passes over the net.