(by Larry Hodges) There is no such thing as a weird style, just styles you are not used to. And yet, players are often petrified, or at least mentally too tight, to play effectively against weird styles. (When I say “weird style” I’m referring to any aspect of the opponent’s play that’s “different,” whether it’s […]

(by Larry Hodges) You have three options – as the ball rises, at the top of the bounce, and on the drop. Which should you choose? Ideally, take it on the rise, right after it bounces on your side of the table. This allows you to rush your opponent, go for maximum angle, and because […]

(by Larry Hodges) It’s a simple matter of geometry that if you graze the ball toward the back when serving backspin, you will either hit too much downward and so your serve will be high, or you will have to graze the ball less and so get less spin. What does this mean? It means […]

(by Larry Hodges) Wear appropriate table tennis shoes. They are designed for table tennis movements. Wear relatively tight shoes. If they are loose, your feet will move about inside them as you move, slowing you down. Anyone who’s played me know that just before any match I retie my shoes as tight as I can. […]

(by Larry Hodges) When I started out in 1976, the consensus among coaches that I worked with was that you didn’t have time to grip change between forehand and backhand. And so I learned to use one grip for both. I ended up with a more forehand grip and developed a strong forehand. The victim […]

(by Larry Hodges) You know the ball has heavy backspin. You know you have to either open your racket, hit upward, or both. And yet, players still often attack heavy backspin balls into the net far more often than off the end. In theory, since you are compensating for the heavy backspin, you should go […]

(by Larry Hodges) If you make a habit of closely watching opponents to pick up on little cues that let you know where their next shot will go, your subconscious will get the message and start reacting to it. The subconscious learns by repetition – but only if you actually observe the opponent so that […]

(by Larry Hodges) There are many aspects of a good serve, but one of them – which I’ve written about before – is the importance of serving low. This puts tremendous pressure on the opponent, especially if he wants to attack your serve. Even on passive returns he’s forced to lift the ball a bit, […]

(by Larry Hodges) Some players try to work on the strokes by trying to learn the stroke, contact, timing, footwork, positioning, and reading of spin . . . all at the same time. That’s like trying to teach the alphabet to a kindergartner by asking him to write essays. One thing at a time! You’d […]

(by Larry Hodges) Of course lobbing is good for your game. It wins points that would otherwise be lost. It allows you to practice off-table footwork, which can improve your footwork for counterlooping, fishing, or chopping. It helps you develop topspin touch and control, which can help your counterlooping and fishing. It gives you practice […]