Trick your opponents with service deception (with Craig Bryant)

Summary

In this informative video, Tom Lesniak collaborates with top coach and pro player Craig Bryant to explore the art of service deception in table tennis. They emphasize the importance of disguising serves to confuse opponents about the ball's spin, thus enhancing one's service game. Techniques such as creating topspin with a backspin illusion and vice versa are discussed, along with the 'wiggly' or 'snake' serve. The video highlights the significance of realistic, subtle movements and avoiding patterns for effective deception. Viewers are encouraged to visit Craig's website for coaching services and the sponsor's site for table tennis equipment.

Takeaways

• 🎾 Deception in table tennis serves is crucial for creating an unpredictable and strong service game.
• 🏓 Mastery of basic serving elements is essential before attempting to add deceptive movements.
• 🕊️ The quick movement of the wrist and racket under the ball is key to creating the illusion of different spins.
• 🔄 The serve's effectiveness lies in the ability to mimic other spins, tricking the opponent with deceptive movements.
• 💥 For topspin serves, the illusion of backspin is created by a quick upward flick of the wrist after hitting the top part of the racket.
• 📉 Backspin serves involve contacting the bottom part of the racket and a quick upward movement to create a topspin illusion.
• 🐍 The 'Wiggly' or 'Snake' serve's effectiveness comes from the pendulum-like action followed by a quick movement in the opposite direction.
• 🔄 Consistency in creating different finishes for topspin and backspin serves prevents obvious patterns in play.
• 🎭 Overacting can be used deceptively in serves, with exaggerated movements after a backspin serve to confuse opponents.
• 🔍 Subtle movements are more effective for topspin serves, creating a realistic effect that is harder to read.
• 🏆 Craig Bryant shares his expertise on deceptive serves, emphasizing the importance of realistic and varied serving techniques.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video with Tom Lesniak and Craig Bryant?

The main focus of the video is on service deception in table tennis, which involves disguising the spin of the serve to confuse the opponent and gain an advantage.

Why is service deception important in table tennis?

Service deception is important because it can cause more problems for the opponent, making it harder for them to predict the spin and return the ball effectively, thus strengthening the server's game.

What is the role of the sponsor 'Bribe Our Table Tennis' in the video?

Bribe Our Table Tennis is the sponsor of the video, providing a range of table tennis equipment from various brands, and their website is mentioned for viewers interested in purchasing such items.

What are the basic elements of serving that should be mastered before attempting deception?

Before attempting deception, one should have consistent and high-quality basic elements of serving, such as the basic format and technique of hitting the ball.

How can a player create topspin deception in their serve?

To create topspin deception, a player should hit the top part of the racket and flick the wrist upwards to create spin, while quickly moving underneath the ball to give the illusion of backspin.

What is the key to making a backspin serve deceptive?

The key to a deceptive backspin serve is to contact the bottom part of the racket with a downward movement and then quickly move upwards to create an illusion of topspin.

What is the 'Wiggly' or 'Snake' serve and how does it create deception?

The 'Wiggly' or 'Snake' serve is a technique where the server creates a pendulum-like motion with a small action, and then quickly moves in the opposite direction to create deception, making it seem like a different type of spin.

Why is it important to vary the finish of the spin in deceptive serves?

Varying the finish of the spin helps to prevent obvious patterns in a player's serve, making it more difficult for the opponent to predict and counter the serve.

What is the significance of overacting in creating deceptive serves?

Overacting can be used to exaggerate the movement after serving, which can mislead the opponent into thinking the serve has a different spin than it actually does.

How can subtle movements contribute to the effectiveness of a deceptive serve?

Subtle movements can make a serve appear more realistic, which can be more deceptive because the opponent is less likely to suspect that the serve is disguised.

Where can viewers find more information about Craig Bryant's coaching services?

Viewers can find more information about Craig Bryant's coaching services on his website, which is mentioned in the video as 'top edge table tennis coach dot uk'.

Outlines

00:00

🏓 Mastering Service Deception in Table Tennis

In this segment, Tom Lesniak introduces viewers to the art of service deception in table tennis with the help of top coach and pro player Craig Brine. The focus is on disguising the spin of the serve to confuse opponents, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the serve. The video is sponsored by Breeze RTT, offering a variety of table tennis equipment. The key to a deceptive serve is the quick movement beneath the ball to create an illusion of different spins. Techniques for creating topspin and backspin are discussed, with an emphasis on the quick transition from one movement to another to trick the opponent. The 'Wiggly' or 'Snake' serve is highlighted as a pendulum-like motion that, when executed quickly in the opposite direction, can be highly deceptive. The importance of not establishing obvious patterns in serving is stressed, to keep the opponent guessing.

05:15

🎭 The Art of Deceptive Serving: Subtlety and Overacting

This paragraph delves deeper into the nuances of deceptive serving. Overacting is a common tactic used to mislead opponents, where an exaggerated movement follows a serve with backspin, creating confusion. Conversely, when serving with topspin, the movement is kept short and subtle to enhance the realism of the serve. The effectiveness of a serve is directly related to how well it can deceive the opponent, with the aim of winning more points through unexpected spins. Craig Bryant shares his expertise and invites viewers to learn more about his coaching services through his website. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to subscribe for more content and a reminder of the sponsorship by Breeze RTT, which provides a wide range of table tennis products.

Keywords

💡Service Deception

Service deception in table tennis refers to the art of disguising the spin and direction of a serve, making it difficult for the opponent to anticipate the ball's behavior. It is a strategic technique aimed at gaining an advantage by causing confusion. In the video, Craig emphasizes the importance of service deception for creating problems for the opponent and enhancing the strength of one's service game.

💡Disguise

To disguise in the context of table tennis means to make one's serve appear different than what it actually is, in terms of spin or direction. This is crucial for service deception. The script mentions disguising serves so that the opponent is unsure of the spin on the ball, which can lead to more problems for them during the game.

💡Spin

Spin is the rotational force applied to the ball during a serve or a shot in table tennis, which affects the ball's trajectory and bounce. The video discusses creating topspin and backspin serves and how to disguise these spins to deceive the opponent. The effectiveness of a serve often depends on the ability to apply and disguise different types of spin.

💡Topspin

Topspin is a type of spin where the racket makes contact with the top part of the ball, causing it to rotate forward. In the video, Tom Lesniak explains how to create topspin serves and the importance of the quick movement underneath the ball to give the illusion of backspin, which is a deceptive tactic.

💡Backspin

Backspin is the opposite of topspin, where the ball rotates backward after being struck. The script describes how to create a backspin serve by contacting the bottom part of the racket and moving downwards to add extra spin, followed by an upward movement to create a topspin illusion, which is part of the deception.

💡Wiggly Serve

The wiggly or snake serve is a specific serving technique mentioned in the video, characterized by a pendulum-like motion followed by a quick movement in the opposite direction. This serve is effective due to the post-serve movement that creates the deceptive effect.

💡Pendulum Motion

Pendulum motion in the context of the wiggly serve refers to the back-and-forth movement of the racket before making contact with the ball. The script explains that the serve creates a pendulum effect, and the speed of the movement in the opposite direction after contact is what makes the serve deceptive.

💡Overacting

Overacting in table tennis serves is an exaggerated movement after making contact with the ball, which can be used to deceive the opponent. The video mentions that sometimes players will use a big cover and exaggerated movement after serving with backspin to make the serve look deceptively different.

💡Subtle Movements

Subtle movements are small, less noticeable actions used in serves to make them more realistic and deceptive. The script advises that when creating topspin serves, short and subtle movements should be used to give the serve a realistic effect, which is more likely to deceive the opponent.

💡Patterns

Patterns in table tennis refer to predictable sequences or styles in a player's gameplay. The video emphasizes the importance of avoiding obvious patterns in serves by mastering different finishing techniques for topspin and backspin serves, ensuring variability and unpredictability in a player's service game.

💡Coaching Services

Coaching services are professional guidance and training provided to athletes to improve their skills. The video gives a shoutout to Craig Bryant's coaching services, suggesting that viewers can learn more about his offerings and potentially enhance their table tennis skills through his expertise.

Highlights

Service deception in table tennis can cause problems for opponents and strengthen your service game.

The video is sponsored by Breeze RTT, offering a wide range of table tennis equipment.

Deception in serving is an advanced technique that involves disguising the spin to trick the opponent.

To create topspin, hit the top part of the racket and flick the wrist upwards quickly.

The illusion of backspin while serving topspin makes the serve deceptive.

For backspin serves, contact the bottom part of the racket and move downwards for extra spin.

Quick upward movement after serving backspin creates a topspin illusion.

The 'Wiggly' or 'Snake' serve involves a pendulum motion followed by a quick opposite direction movement.

Creating topspin with a backspin finish and vice versa can confuse opponents.

Mastering different serve finishes prevents obvious patterns in your play.

Overacting in serves can be a deceptive tactic to mislead opponents.

Subtle movements in serves are more realistic and effective for deception.

Topspin serves should have short movements for a realistic effect.

Craig Bryant shares his expertise on deceptive serving techniques.

For more coaching tips from Craig, visit his website at topedgetabletenniscoach.uk.

The video is sponsored by Breeze RTT, a table tennis equipment provider.

Stay tuned for more table tennis videos and subscribe for updates.

Transcripts

hello I'm Tom Lesniak in this video I'm

here with top coach and pro player Craig

brine and this video is all about

service deception now this is really

good stuff if you can disguise your

serves so the other opponent isn't quite

sure what spin is on the ball then

you're going to call some lots more

problems and you're going to have a much

stronger service game this video is

brought to you in partnership with bribe

our table tennis visit bribe RTT co uk

today for a wide range of rubbers blade

bats balls and clothing from all your

favorite table tennis brands

so deception is quite an advanced part

of serving once you've got the basic

elements consistent and yet and you're

happy with the quality of them then it

is trying to add in different movements

that are trying to replicate other spins

and you're trying to trick your opponent

with these movements

[Applause]

so how I do this in various ways I'll

give you the basic format to start with

if I'm trying to create topspin that I'm

hitting the top part of my racket and my

wrist is just flicking them all up to

create that spin what makes it effective

and what creates the deception is how

quickly I can move underneath the ball

so I'm creating the topspin but trying

to give the illusion that I'm creating

backspin and that's what makes the serve

tricky

if I'm looking at my backspin serve I'm

trying to come in from the side I'm

trying to contact the bottom part of the

racket and I'm there's a little movement

downwards just to create that little bit

extra spin and then how afterwards how

quickly I can move off upwards to create

that topspin illusion is what makes the

serve effective

[Music]

so the Wiggly or the snake serve again

it's the this the movement afterwards

that that creates the effect the serve

is just creating a pendulum with a small

action and then the quicker that you can

move around in the opposite direction

the more effective that serve is so the

server looks like it does this but it's

only moving in a pendulum fashion

so we've talked about creating topspin

and having a backspin finish and we've

talked about creating backspin and

having a topspin finish there's

obviously a system there that people

could pick up on so once you've got

these skills mastered or you think

you're starting to get there it's making

sure that you can create backspin with a

Down finish and topspin with an up

finish and you're creating all these

different finishes to the techniques to

make sure there's no obvious patterns to

your play

[Applause]

so a common thing we're trying to create

deceptive serves is a little bit of

overacting so sometimes people will

serve with backspin and then they'll be

a really big cover exaggerated movement

afterwards and things don't quite look

right as people see that there's

something that's not quite right and

eventually they'll work it out when you

create topspin it's normally with a

short movement so when I am playing with

backspin I'm just trying to create those

small subtle movements to give that

serve a realistic effect so the more

realistic the serve is the more subtle

the deception is the more success you'll

have with your serve yeah the more

topspin ones they'll push the more

backspin ones they'll flick the more

cheat points you'll be able to win thank

you very much for watching and big

thanks to Craig Bryant for sharing his

service tips if you want more

information about Craig and his coaching

services go to Craig's website at top

edge table tennis coach dot uk' and also

thanks to the sponsor of this video

bribe our table tennis I've got lots

more videos coming soon if you like them

please subscribe and I'll see you then

by the way