If you win the toss, which do you choose?  Serve or Receive?
 
This article starts off seemingly insignificant but concludes with the main point.  You must read the full article to understand the thought process…
 
If you are like most players, you play better when you are winning.  Most players want to be winning because they have more confidence in their shots, stay level-headed, and aren’t as easily upset with an unlucky break or bad call from the umpire.  If your serve is good, you should choose to serve because statistically speaking, you have a better chance to gain a 2-0 or 4-2 or 6-4 lead in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th games.  With confidence in the first game, you have a better chance to win the first game.  Winning the first game, gives you a better chance to continue the match with confidence.
 
If you have a good serve return…  such as the ability to push with spin variation or flip with excellent placement or able to loop long serves really well, then you should choose to receive serve first.  Many of the world’s best players have been dedicating much more time to serve receive than serve, in recent years.  When I was a kid, many top players practiced their serves so much and some a lesser time practicing receiving.  Now that the serves have less spin with the 40+ poly ball, much more time has been dedicated to perfecting the receive and slightly less time on serving. 
 
So which are you?  Are you the player who should serve or receive first?
I know that many of you are thinking, “It doesn’t really matter if I get a lead.  What matters is the end of the game!  Can I handle pressure at 8-8 or 9-9 and win?  That’s what matters!”  Actually, with this mindset, you have a faulty understanding that the point at 9-9 counts as more than 0-0.  Really, all the points count equally!!!  Playing carelessly in the beginning then putting tons of pressure at yourself at the end will lead to sloppy play in the beginning and nervous play at the end.  You should mentally approach each point the same BUT make tactical adjustments point by point as the match progresses!
 
Key Point:
Do your absolute best to win every point from the very start!  Take measured risks to break out with a 5-1 or 6-0 lead in the first game!  You should choose to serve first if you have a strong serve or choose to receive first if you have a strong receive!  Every decision you make is important!  To warmup or not warmup, to eat breakfast or not eat breakfast, to get 5 hours of sleep or 9 hours of sleep, to choose to serve or receive.  Every excellent decision brings you closer to victory!
 
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Hi Friends,
 
Since closing the Samson Dubina TT Academy, I have been working full-time online with Power Pong International in sales, marketing, and online coaching!  It is great to have the best robot in the world, it is even better to have the best robot with a coach working with you every step of the way.  I'm here to give you online support!  I have given over 700 online table tennis lessons and you will be surprised at how much you can learn about techniques, tactics, your playing system, probabilities, indicators, and much much more (from the convenience of your home)!  Buy any robot here from my website and get free online lessons!  These lessons can be through FaceTime, Zoom, or any other online video chat!  
 
Have a question?  Great!  I love questions!
 
Just send me an e-mail tt@SamsonDubina.com and I'll get right back to you!  I look forward to coaching you soon!
 
Samson Dubina
tt@SamsonDubina.com
 
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