2008

Sometimes, you are facing a player that has good serving skills. In case of doubt that is if you cannot “properly read” the serve coming at you, it is always better to try to receive it long instead of short, and then go for the rally.
Practice your short serves. Often, players tend to get tense during crucial points and the serve always “comes out” and the opponent takes the opportunity to start the first attack.
The most efficient short service is when the third bounce lands on the white line on the opponent side. The opponent is tempted to think that the serve is coming out but it is not and the latter is most likely forced to returned it back long due to the confusion. Consequently, you can start the attack.
Also, to be able to return a short service back short, you need to take it at right at the bounce. If you wait for example to return it when the ball for instance reached the top of the bounce (i.e. highest height level before coming down), your return is going to be too long.
It is always a good idea to keep a new service (i.e. not used in the match yet) for the end of a game when the score is tight. However, make sure you are comfortable with it meaning that you know what to do (“how to play”) after you have made that serve.

Homayoun Kamkar-Parsi’s Equipment