Backhand Banana Flip by Han Xiao In the last few years, the backhand banana flip has become a staple shot thanks to each new generation of players. Players such as Wang Hao and Dmitrij Ovtcharov were among the first players to use this shot as a primary method of returning serve in order to immediately […]
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Open Ended Drills
Posted onOpen Ended Drills by Han Xiao Over the last ten years or so, I’ve noticed that the overall level of table tennis coaching in the United States has improved drastically. This is reflected in the playing styles and technique of our players, from intermediate levels all the way up to National Team members. However, one […]
Playing Against Choppers
Posted onPlaying Against Choppers by Han Xiao In most professional table tennis teams around the world, especially in China, you can usually find at least one chopper on the team, even if this player does not usually participate in league matches. As a result, most professional players have the opportunity to practice against choppers and to […]
The Lefty-Righty Matchup
Posted onThe Lefty-Righty Matchup by Han Xiao Many players have specific styles that they are weak against or feel like they are weak against. This may be a result of not practicing against this style, or it may be because they have lost to this type of style in the past. Some of the common styles […]
Step Around Footwork
Posted onStep Around Footwork by Han Xiao One of the most common footwork drills in table tennis among all levels of play is the Falkenberg drill. It’s a very simple drill. The drilling player plays only to the blocking player’s backhand side, playing first one backhand, then a forehand from the backhand corner, then a forehand […]
Staying Balanced
Posted onStaying Balanced by Han Xiao Table tennis rallies often resemble a game of chicken. Balance and positioning are huge factors in determining which player gets the upper hand and takes the initiative. There are other factors as well, such as technique, but often times one player will begin to lose their balance and center of […]
How to Approach the Service Game
Posted onHow to Approach the Service Game by Han Xiao Think back to some matches where you had a lot of problems with an opponent’s serves. There are likely two scenarios you thought of. The first scenario is when you simply misread an opponent’s serve over and over again. This scenario doesn’t make for very good […]
Modern Topspin Strokes
Posted onModern Topspin Strokes by Han Xiao To round out our short mechanics series, we’re going to take a look at modern topspin technique. If you missed the previous two articles, we took a look at weight transfer and proper leg use as well as how to follow through correctly. Having an understanding of those concepts […]
Weight Transfer and Using Your Legs
Posted onWeight Transfer and Using Your Legs by Han Xiao It can be frustrating to perfect a stroke in table tennis, and even more difficult to learn a new stroke. Sometimes, you work really hard to get that forehand loop right, but it just feels inconsistent. It may be that you haven’t practiced enough, but you […]
What is the Goal of the Receiver?
July 6, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame Returning serve is the most difficult part… Read More
Rogelio Castro – Fast Pendulum Serve
July 6, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Rogelio Castro is executing the Fast Pendulum Serve everywhere https://youtu.be/ALn6I_nhgE0… Read More
Getting to Know Stuti Kashyap
July 6, 2026
(from Bowmar Sports and Stuti Kashyap) Recently, we had opportunity to connect with Stuti Kashyap, a 17 year… Read More
Matsushima Wins United States Smash
July 6, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Red, white, and blue continued to dominate at the United States Smash over Independence Day… Read More
WAB CLUB FEATURE: Trolley Car Table Tennis Club
July 5, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) With its location in the East Falls area on the North side of Philadelphia, the… Read More
US Nationals: Early Action
July 5, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) We are underway in San Jose at the 2026 US National Table Tennis… Read More
Fortune Favors Bold Players Entering Final Weekend at United States Smash
July 4, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The saying "Fortune Favors the Bold" has been proven true in the Quarterfinals of the United… Read More
United States Smash: A Pair of Upsets as China is Out
July 4, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The last two matches on Thursday both ended in upsets at the United… Read More
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