Forehand Back Foot Placement

July 10, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) When you first start out, players are taught to move the back foot backwards for forehands. (This would be the right foot for righties, the left for lefties.) This makes it easy to backswing and opens up a larger hitting zone from the side. Historically, this is how forehands were taught. However, […]

Consistent Rallying Pace

July 3, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) One of the toughest things is convincing developing and even advanced players to slow down for consistency. Too often they want to play at a rat-a-tat superspeed, believing that the way to develop fast rallying speed is to practice using full speed before they can control it, and that consistency will eventually […]

See Things from Opponent’s Point of View

June 26, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) One of the hardest things for players and coaches to do is see things from the opponent’s point of view. They think about what they want to do, and about tactically playing into specific weaknesses of the opponent. But they aren’t really seeing things as the opponent sees it. It’s easy for […]

Accelerate Through the Ball for Power

June 13, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Mike Tyson once said, “I tried to punch his nose bone into his brain.” That’s a rather graphic way of showing how to maximize power as well as killer instinct. (That’s a separate issue.) But it is one of the reasons why he had such power. In boxing, they tell you to […]

Random Drills Placement

June 5, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) In the standard random drill, one player (the “feeder”) plays backhand (or forehand) randomly anywhere while the other player (the “driller”) keeps it to his backhand (or forehand). There are really two things going on here, as both players are actually doing a drill. For the “driller,” he’s reacting to (“neuromuscular adaptation”), […]

Hardbat, Sandpaper, and Wood, Oh My! Three Huge All-Classic Tournaments Coming Soon

June 4, 2023

The Frontón México playing hall in Mexico City. Inset: Hardbat star AJ Carney (by Larry Hodges) Mark three dates on your calendar and make your plans for Austin, Westchester, and Mexico City . . . and leave the sponge behind! Yes, it’s the US Classic Nationals, US Hardbat and Sandpaper Championships, and the Classic World […]

Solving Slow Starter Syndrome

May 31, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) A common problem for many players is starting slow. Often they have a bad loss or two before they get going, and from there on they play well – but it’s too late for that tournament. And this happens over and over. I struggled with it for many years as well – […]

Table Tennis Gems

May 23, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) I think you’ll find these 20 general tips useful. Many are covered in other Tips, but now they are compiled in one listing! If your opponent hits the ball aggressively at your crossover point between your forehand and backhand (where your playing elbow is), return it mostly with your backhand if you […]

Are You Trying Too Hard?

May 16, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Dang it! How’d I miss that?!!! I can’t play! These (or perhaps harsher words) are the words of a player who is trying too hard, i.e. pressing too much. This is also true if you feel like saying these things during a match but hold back. They are symptoms of a player […]

Tactics at the End of a Close Game

May 1, 2023

(by Larry Hodges) Rarely have I heard more (and often weird) opinions on what to do at the end of a close game. Some say, “Play safe!” Others, “Go for it!” And a zillion other types of advice. The reality is that the end of a game is only different in two ways. First, there […]

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