How to Get the Most Out of Your Session With a Coach

October 16, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Depending on the coach and the location, you may be paying anywhere from $30 to $100/hour for a professional coach. So you want to get the most out of it. Here are some things to consider. Don’t be shy about discussing with the coach what you want out of a session. Here […]

The Best You

October 9, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) To reach your maximum potential, don’t try to be someone else, or you’ll just be a shadow of that person. Instead, focus on being the best you. This includes learning from top players, of course, but that’s only part of it. Here are four things you should build on, roughly in order […]

Four Short Serve Scenarios

October 3, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Here are six scenarios when serving short. You should incorporate these into your own serving game and learn to follow them up with strong attacks. For these scenarios, I’m assuming your forehand loop is stronger than your backhand loop, and so you’d want to favor it when possible. If you prefer to […]

To Hit or to Loop?

September 25, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) That is the question, and whether you’re Ma Long or Hamlet, you have to decide. Back when I started out, the answer was easier – except at higher levels, you mostly looped against backspin, and (except at higher levels) mostly hit against topspin or blocks, though there were plenty of forehand loopers, […]

Top Ten Table Tennis Tournament Travel Tips

September 18, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Some of these are table tennis specific, others are more general – but they are all tips for travel to table tennis events. (Some are things you should do in advance of the tournament to help prepare.) Keep necessary stuff in carry-on bag when flying. Bags sometimes get lost. So try to […]

The “No Net” Rule Against Heavy Backspin

September 11, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) We’ve all done it – faced with attacking a heavy backspin, often deep on the table, you get nervous and try to weakly topspin it up, and it goes right into the net, plop. Often players get frustrated by this heavy backspin, saying or thinking, “It’s too heavy! I can’t lift it!” […]

Tactical Confidence

September 5, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) I’ve seen coaches give tactical advice that wasn’t particularly helpful in itself. And yet, it often paid off with the player confidently executing the so-so tactics – and winning. Why? Because it’s not always the tactics. Given confidently, these tactics, whether good or not, gives the player a plan, and that inspires […]

Nine Battles

August 28, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) How many years have you played before noticing that “Table Tennis” is just an anagram of “Nine Battles”? And it’s applicable to our sport. Here’s my list of the nine biggest opponents you battle with in a match. Your assignment is to think about each and figure out how best to deal […]

The Value of a Good Stiff Push

August 21, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) I once watched video of a top junior who’d just lost a close five-game match. He’s normally an aggressive player, but has a good, stiff push that often catches opponents off guard. He’s also comfortable blocking, so he can get away with letting the opponent attack first as long as he’s not […]

Shadow Replay

August 14, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Over the many decades I’ve watched and learned about this sport, there are certain trends I see that stick out. This is one of the simplest, often the difference between fast-improving players and those who just stare at their rackets in frustration after missing a shot and continue to do so the […]