SERVING

The key point is in the execution of deception. Disguising what serve and where you are going to place it, freezing or causing a hesitation by the receiver with sudden change of spin, direction, depth and speed. As an example, for one style of serve like forehand serve from your backhand court, contact should be made at the last split second after you decided on a particular serve, keeping your service motion exactly the same each time.

• Deceptive motions that disguise the type and amount of spin, freezing an opponent and forcing mistakes or passive returns that can be attacked.
• Sudden changes of spin, direction, depth and speed that catch opponents off guard.
• Short sidespin/topspin serves that force an opponent to return serves deep, letting the server attack.
• Short backspin serves that are difficult to attack, forcing passive push returns that the server can attack.
• Short no-spin serves that are difficult to either flip aggressively or push short, giving the server the attack.
• Deep serves that break away from the opponent, catching them off guard as they reach for the ball.
• Fast down line serves that catch an opponent who tries to use the forehand from the backhand corner.
• Fast, dead (spinless) serves to the middle and wide backhand, catching opponents off guard as they put the ball in the net or weakly lift the ball up.
• "Tweeny" serves where the second bounce is right at the endline, so receivers hesitate, not sure if they can loop it or have to go over the table to return it

RECEIVING 

Here are some basics: the goal of the receiver is to take the initiative away from the server and gain control of the point. The major method to gain control is to attack the serve whenever possible, usually by looping long serves and flipping short serves. Another method is to push and jockey for position. Tactically, pushing can be safe and also used as an advantage if done tactically. For example, push short if their short game is poor, or push deep with heavy backspin to invite them to attack if you know their loop is weak and you have a good counter-attack or block.

• Taking control against deep serves by looping.
• Taking control against short serves by mixing up various returns, including:
• Dropping them short, stopping the server's attack.
• Flipping, either aggressively or deceptively, with good placement, catching the server off guard and giving the receiver the initiative.
• Sudden quick, deep pushes, catching server off guard.
• Keeping the server off guard by varying the type of return.
• Aim one way, go another.
• Placement, placement, placement