The second type of serve is the backhand serve, where you grip your racket between the thumb grip and the base grip, and play a short serve with the variation of a flick. This is the opposite of the forehand serve and the advantages are:

• You don't start the rally defensively
• The opponent does not have many options when receiving unlike the forehand service

This service can however have a higher fault rate, and once you serve, knowing the choices of the opponent is key, meaning that you have to be tactically sharper when doing this serve, otherwise you can be in deep pressure.

Things to focus on:

• It is important not to stand in a neutral side to side position, but more of a front back position
• Always stand with your right leg ahead
• Have a soft bend in the knees
• When flicking, the action has to be the same as the short serve