Doubles Signals and Why You Should Use Them

January 22, 2018

(by Larry Hodges) Doubles Signals and Why You Should Use Them When you serve in singles, you know what serve you are about to do, and so can be ready for the possible returns off that serve. Imagine playing where you had no idea what serve you did, and so couldn’t prepare for the follow-up. […]

Tip of the week: Best Way to Learn – Watch, Mimic, Practice

January 16, 2018

(by Larry Hodges) Tip of the week: Best Way to Learn – Watch, Mimic, Practice Often the best way to learn table tennis is to watch a top player and mimic what you see. Pick out someone whose game or strokes you like (or ask a coach to suggest someone to watch), and just watch […]

Systematically Practice Against What You Have Trouble With

January 12, 2018

(by Larry Hodges) Systematically Practice Against What You Have Trouble With Often a player has trouble with something very specific, and yet only practices against it in actual games, where he only sees it now and then. This allows little chance of any type of systematic practice to develop the proper technique. The same player […]

Coaching Tip of the Week: Elbow Drill

January 2, 2018

(By Larry Hodges) Coaching Tip of the Week: Elbow Drill Playing the opponent’s middle – roughly where the playing elbow, the midpoint between forehand and backhand – is one of the more difficult tactics for players below the advanced level. It’s easier with the backhand, where the opponent’s right in front of you. But below […]

Push-Button Matches – Playing the Scary All-Out Attacker

December 12, 2017

(by: Larry Hodges) Push-Button Matches – Playing the Scary All-Out Attacker Ever have one of those matches where you felt like the opponent completely dominated with their attack and controlled everything, and yet you won? I call those “push-button” matches. In matches like that, the opponent basically attacks everything, no matter what you do. If […]

How to Mess Up Your Opponent When Forced to Make a Weak Shot

December 4, 2017

(By Larry Hodges) How to Mess Up Your Opponent When Forced to Make a Weak Shot No matter how much you train you will sometimes find yourself out of position and having to reach or lunge for a shot. It’s not something you want to do; it’s something you have to do in those hopefully not-too-often situations. Most players […]