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Short Serve and Third-Ball Attack in Table Tennis

Playing strategy 01 of 16 • Serve

The short serve and third-ball attack is the first pattern most coaches teach: serve short and low so your opponent cannot attack, then loop the push that comes back. Here it is step by step.

Diagrams show the table from above, you on the left. Solid gold lines are your shots, dashed lines your opponent’s. Tap any step to enlarge it.

Use it when — You have a low short backspin serve and a forehand loop, and your opponent rarely flicks.

The pattern

Serve short, attack the third ball, step by step

The animation plays the whole sequence; the frames below break it into single shots.

Animation of serve short, attack the third ball: Serve short backspin to the middle; They can’t attack it, so they push long; Step round and loop the third ball — ANIMATEDThe whole sequence, shot by shot. It loops.

Strategy 1, step 1: Serve short backspin to the middle — STEP 1Serve short backspin to the middle

Strategy 1, step 2: They can’t attack it, so they push long — STEP 2They can’t attack it, so they push long

Strategy 1, step 3: Step round and loop the third ball — STEP 3Step round and loop the third ball

Why it works

Why this pattern wins points

A short, low serve takes away your opponent's chance to attack first. Most players answer it with a push, and a long push is a slow ball with predictable backspin, which is exactly what a loop is built to attack. Because you know what is likely to come back before you serve, you can be in position for it early, and the rally starts on your terms.

Key points

Keep the serve low and short enough that it would bounce twice on their side. If it drifts long, they can attack it first.
Serve from your backhand corner, so your forehand covers most of the table for the third ball.
Use the same action for a no-spin serve now and then. A push against no-spin floats up and is easier to attack.
The long push is the ball you want. Be ready for it before the serve has even landed.

Common mistake

Watching your serve instead of recovering. Get back into a ready position the moment the ball leaves the bat, and lift the loop more against a heavy push rather than driving it flat into the net.

Common questions

What is the third ball in table tennis?

The serve is the first ball, the return is the second, and the server's next shot is the third. A third-ball attack means the server attacks that shot, usually with a loop against a push, after a serve designed to produce a predictable return.

What if my opponent flicks my short serve?

Keep the serve lower and shorter, and mix in more backspin, which is harder to flick. If they still flick well, vary with a fast long serve to the elbow so they cannot wait over the table for the short one.

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