Learning crazy service skills

Summary

In this instructional video, table tennis enthusiast Tom Noak learns from professional server Craig Bryant the secrets behind his exceptional ball control and spin. Craig demonstrates how to achieve a U-shaped serve trajectory with a flat bat angle and minimal wrist movement, emphasizing the importance of ball contact and follow-through. The video, sponsored by Briar Table Tennis, also showcases the impact of physical constraints on technique improvement. Viewers are encouraged to visit Craig's new YouTube channel for a variety of tutorials aimed at enhancing their table tennis skills.

Takeaways

• 🏓 Craig Bryant shares his service secrets in the video, demonstrating how to achieve good spin on the table tennis ball.
• 🌐 The video is sponsored by Brar table tennis, which offers a wide range of equipment and now ships internationally.
• 🔄 Craig emphasizes the importance of bat angle, suggesting a flat back with a slight tilt to create a 'U' shaped spin.
• 🤚 The use of wrist is not excessive but helps to add effect to the serve after initial contact with the ball.
• 📉 Craig advises against tilting the bat too far to avoid losing the desired arc of the ball's trajectory.
• 🎯 Practicing with physical constraints, like cones, can help improve serve accuracy and force adjustments in technique.
• 📈 The video shows the learning process, with Tom Noak gradually improving his serve under Craig's guidance.
• 📹 Craig has started his own YouTube channel to share tutorials and short videos on improving table tennis skills.
• 🔗 A link to Craig's YouTube channel is provided for viewers interested in more content on table tennis techniques.
• 👍 The video concludes with a positive note, highlighting the effectiveness of Craig's coaching method and Tom's progress.
• 👋 Tom Noak invites viewers to look forward to more videos and to explore other tutorials for further learning.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the video script discussing table tennis techniques?

The main character in the video script is Craig Bryant, who is sharing his service secrets with Tom Noak.

What is the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video is to demonstrate and teach table tennis serving techniques, specifically how to achieve good spin and control to maneuver the ball around the table.

What is the significance of the 'U shape' mentioned in the script?

The 'U shape' refers to the trajectory that Craig Bryant aims to create with his serve, which involves the ball moving around the table and back through the cones.

How does Craig Bryant describe the initial bat angle for his serve?

Craig Bryant describes the initial bat angle as being completely flat, with just a small tilt to create the desired serve shape.

What is the role of the wrist in Craig's serving technique?

The wrist plays a supporting role in Craig's serving technique, helping to add extra spin and effect after the initial contact with the ball.

What is the importance of the ball's contact point in the serve?

The contact point is crucial for achieving the desired spin and trajectory. Good contact is essential before adding wrist movement for a bigger effect.

How does Craig Bryant use physical constraints to improve serve technique?

Craig uses physical constraints like cones to force the player to adjust their swing and bat angle, which helps in naturally achieving the correct serve motion.

What is the significance of letting the ball drop low in the serve?

Letting the ball drop low is important to avoid hitting it into the table and to create a more severe spin and bounce, which is part of the serve technique.

What common mistake do players make when trying to serve around an obstacle?

A common mistake is serving over the obstacle by hitting the ball higher instead of adjusting the serve to go around it effectively.

What type of content will Craig Bryant share on his new YouTube channel?

Craig Bryant's YouTube channel will feature a mix of in-depth tutorials and short videos aimed at helping viewers improve their table tennis game, including serving techniques.

How can viewers access Craig Bryant's YouTube channel as mentioned in the script?

Viewers can access Craig Bryant's YouTube channel through the link provided on the screen during the video and also in the description of the video.

Outlines

00:00

🏓 Mastering Table Tennis Serve Techniques

In this video script, Tom Noak engages with Craig Bryant to uncover the secrets behind his exceptional table tennis serving skills. Craig demonstrates how to achieve a 'U' shaped spin on the ball, which allows for precise control and maneuverability. He emphasizes the importance of a flat bat angle with a slight tilt, and the use of wrist action to enhance the spin effect. Tom attempts to replicate Craig's serve, and with the help of a physical constraint (a basket), he learns to adjust his swing and bat angle to achieve a similar serve. The video is sponsored by Brar table tennis, which offers a wide range of equipment and now ships internationally.

05:02

🎥 Exploring Craig's New YouTube Channel for Table Tennis Enthusiasts

The second paragraph of the script focuses on the challenges Tom faces while trying to master the serve under the guidance of Craig. Craig introduces a physical obstacle, two cones, to force Tom to adjust his technique and successfully execute the serve. The script highlights the effectiveness of this coaching method, which leads to Tom's eventual success. Additionally, the paragraph announces the launch of Craig's YouTube channel, which will feature a mix of in-depth tutorials and short videos aimed at improving viewers' table tennis skills, including their serving techniques. A link to Craig's channel is provided for interested viewers.

Keywords

💡Spin

In table tennis, 'spin' refers to the rotation of the ball as it travels through the air, which can greatly affect its trajectory and bounce. The video discusses how Craig Bryant is able to impart exceptional spin on the ball, enabling it to maneuver around the table and back through the cones. This is a key concept as it is central to the theme of mastering the art of serving in table tennis.

💡Craig Bryant

Craig Bryant is a renowned table tennis player known for his exceptional serving skills. The video script features an interview with him where he shares his service secrets. His name is significant as it personalizes the instructional content, providing a real-world example of skill mastery in the sport.

💡Control

Control in the context of the video pertains to the ability to manipulate the ball's direction and spin, allowing for precise placement on the table. It is a fundamental aspect of table tennis serving and is highlighted as a key attribute of Craig's serving technique.

💡Service Secrets

'Service Secrets' alludes to the specialized techniques and strategies that Craig Bryant uses to excel in his serves. The video aims to reveal these secrets to the viewers, offering them insights into the nuances of effective serving in table tennis.

💡Brar Table Tennis

Brar Table Tennis is mentioned as a sponsor of the video and is described as a retailer offering a wide range of table tennis equipment. The mention serves to acknowledge the sponsor and to inform viewers about a source for table tennis gear.

💡Backhand

The 'backhand' is a stroke in table tennis played with the back of the hand facing the opponent, typically using a different grip and motion than the forehand. In the script, the backhand is discussed in terms of how to execute a serve with a specific spin and trajectory.

💡Tilt

Tilt in this context refers to the angle at which the racket makes contact with the ball, affecting the spin and direction of the serve. The video emphasizes the importance of the correct tilt to create the desired 'U' shaped trajectory of the ball.

💡Wrist

The use of the 'wrist' in table tennis serves is crucial for adding spin and finesse to the ball's movement. The script explains that while a lot of wrist action is not necessary for this particular serve, it can enhance the effect once basic contact is mastered.

💡Bat Angle

The 'bat angle' is the position of the racket in relation to the ball at the moment of impact. The video script describes how finding the right bat angle is essential for replicating Craig's serving technique and achieving the desired spin and trajectory.

💡Physical Constraint

A 'physical constraint' in the video refers to the use of an obstacle, such as cones, to force the player to adjust their serve and achieve a specific outcome. This method of coaching is highlighted as an effective way to improve serve technique by providing a tangible challenge.

💡YouTube Channel

Craig Bryant's 'YouTube Channel' is promoted in the video as a new platform where he will share tutorials and content to help viewers improve their table tennis skills. The channel is presented as a resource for further learning beyond the content of the video.

Highlights

Craig Bryant shares his service secrets for achieving good spin and control in table tennis.

The video is sponsored by Brar table tennis, highlighting their international shipping service.

Craig demonstrates how to create a U-shape serve motion for better ball control.

The importance of keeping the back flat and using a slight tilt for the serve is emphasized.

Wrist usage is discussed as a supplementary technique to enhance the serve's spin.

The concept of 'brushing contact' is introduced as a fundamental part of the serve.

The video shows the process of adjusting bat angle to achieve the desired serve shape.

Tom Noak attempts to replicate Craig's serve technique with varying degrees of success.

The use of physical constraints, like cones, to improve serve accuracy is explored.

Craig explains the need to let the ball drop low to execute a more severe serve.

The video demonstrates how to avoid hitting down into the table for a better serve.

Craig's YouTube channel is promoted for a variety of table tennis tutorials and content.

The video concludes with Tom expressing excitement about Craig's new YouTube channel.

A link to Craig's YouTube channel is provided for further learning and development.

The video promises more table tennis tutorials and content in the near future.

A call to action for viewers to check out other video tutorials is included.

Transcripts

how does he do that how does Craig get

such good spin that he can make the ball

maneuver around the table and back

through the cones my name's Tom Noak and

in this video Craig Bryant shares some

of his service secrets with me we all

know Craig is a fantastic server but how

does he have such good control on the

ball that he can manipulate it to go

into different areas of the table well

Craig's going to help me try to achieve

the same thing will I be able to do it

let's take a look this video is

sponsored by Brar table tennis Briar

sell a huge range of table tennis

equipment from the best brands and now

Briar can ship equipment

internationally so wherever you are in

the world you can buy from Briar

t.c. first time andan that's it that's

pretty good then talk talk me through

exactly how you're doing that okay so

the shape that I'm trying to make on

that side

is here it's almost like a u shape all

right so I'm going to show you on this

side here first so I keep my back

completely

flat yeah come straight back yeah I just

want a small tilt this way so from Flat

just lifting the handle up and then that

is enough to create that shape yeah so

now I need to put that into a serve flat

keep a little tilt and then project it

forward and then it starts to create

that shape

flat

tilt if I if I do too much if I tilt too

far it's going to go then it goes

forwards you don't get that Arc back so

how much are you using your your wrist

you don't to achieve this you don't need

lots of wrists but it will help so to

start with it's just that brushing

contact and then it's the addition

of the wrist afterwards to get a bigger

effect so you can get it just with good

contact

okay so this is just going to send it

straight not much spin

there that's perfect that's the shape

that you want okay so now I get the

length too much

so almost at the moment here I can see

this yeah we want it flat if not

anything tilt it back slightly see

lifting the

ball

nearly yeah so from there it's just here

this is what I see this this that shape

you almost want that Red Rubber or mine

to disappear can you see my Red Rubber

no yeah so that's the kind of angle that

I want

okay perfect that's it

[Applause]

nearly well

done didn't have as much of as dramatic

no and it's and it's all as yours and

it's all to do with that angle here it

was just flat enough yeah so it's almost

this is one thing I do this is probably

old new to you cuz I know you've done

all this before but so go for the serve

again if you hit that then obviously you

can't get it on you need to let the ball

drop really low we've got to get over

the

[Applause]

basket yes and now it'll be more

severe

yeah yeah so that's forcing me not to

hit down into the table yes it's forc

you to lift

up

to and I suppose this is constraints

Leed approach to coaching do I stand

there and tell you no lift up get under

or do I give you an obstacle for you to

try and you you'll naturally do it

anyway that's good yeah nice

so that angle and then that crucial bit

of just letting it drop yeah a common

thing you've just got to watch for is

that you know this is what people often

do is when you put this in the

way yeah is it they will serve over it

by hitting it higher so yeah absolutely

letting that drop a little bit I tell

you said set me one set you one set me

one just make it as difficult as you as

you want and I'll see if I can figure it

out the two cones you have to get

around all right

then let's see you come through come

through

okay hit it yeah no round the

back pretty

good okay

is that too

extreme I can give it a

go yeah I can get this

one oh he's done it very very

good

well I got there in the end but um it

didn't come particularly natural to me

it all made the difference when Craig

put a physical constraint on the table

which forced me to have to then swing in

a slightly different way but as you can

see once I was able to get my bat angle

in the right position I was then able to

replicate a little bit what Craig is

able to do quite excitingly Craig has

started his own YouTube channel hooray

about time too so on his YouTube channel

um Craig will be sharing a mixture of

some indepth tutorials and he also does

a little short videos as well so

there'll be a whole mixture of content

which can help you develop not only your

service game but your table tennis game

in general um so here is um a link to

Craig's YouTube Channel which you can

see on the screen here and I've also put

that link in the description of this

video thank you very much for watching I

will have plenty more videos coming soon

or take a look at one of these other

video tutorials see you all again soon

bye-bye