ITTF Rankings: Lin Shidong Jumps into Top 10

September 22, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins) China’s Lin Shidong is the biggest mover this week as he jumped up five spots into the Top 10. Shidong leaped over Lin Gaoyuan (and Tomokazu Harimoto and Lin Yun-Ju and Patrick Franziska and Truls Moregard). Shidong’s jump is based upon the strength of his win in Macao a week ago, and […]

Kanak Jha Among Elite in German League, Team Falters in German Cup

September 22, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins) USA’s Kanak Jha has had an amazing start to the 2024/25 German League. TTC Schwalbe Bergneustadt, Jha’s team, are currently in third position, ahead of many of the perennial favorites including Dusseldorf, Saarbrucken, and Ochsenhausen. FC Bayern Munich is currently in first, a squad that features Kirill Gerasimenko and Mattias Falck. The other […]

Written Coaching Material for Table Tennis

September 16, 2024

(by Larry Hodges) Someone once complained that reading coaching articles was pointless since nobody ever became a champion player by reading. He was absolutely right and absolutely wrong. No, you cannot become a champion by reading about it. Coaching articles and books (including mine!) are not meant to be used in isolation. They are supplements to […]

Lind Wins in Bulgaria

September 15, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Anders Lind dominated the draw at this week’s WTT Feeder Series event in Panagyurishte, Bulgaria. Top seeded Steffen Mengel was upset in his first match, leaving Lind as the highest remaining seed. Lind never looked back. Wins of 3-1, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1, and 3-0 dotted Lind’s path to victory, with his […]

Lin Shidong Surprise Winner in Macao

September 15, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Lin Shidong entered the WTT Champions Macao as the 9th seed, but that did not deter him. Shidong, World No. 13, topped Tomokazu Harimotor (World No. 8), Lin Yun-Ju (World No. 9), Wang Chuqin (World No. 1), and Dang Qiu (World No. 12) on his way to the title. Of […]

Plan Your One-Minute Break

September 9, 2024

(by Larry Hodges) You only get one break that you can call during a match, and it’s only sixty seconds long. How should you use it? Here are four reasons you might consider a time-out, in rough order of how often you should use this reason. (Ideally, you should have more than one of these […]

The Draws are out for WTT Champions Macao

September 8, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins) The tour next turns its attention towards Macao where the WTT Champions Series event will be played this week. The draws have been posted, and action will begin on Monday – there are no easy matches. Top seeded (and World No. 1) Wang Chuqin’s path to the Semifinals could include Patrick Franziska […]

Lin Shidong Wins in Almaty

September 8, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTFWorld) The WTT Contender series event this week was in Almaty, Kazakhstan and the top seeded Shidong (World No. 14) did not disappoint. Shidong swept the titles, winning Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles – three events and three wins. In Men’s Singles, Shidong dropped a game to Aidos Kenzhigulov […]

Seidenfeld Secures Bronze – Solid Para Results for TeamUSA in Paris

September 5, 2024

(by Steve Hopkins) Ian Seidenfeld fell today to Matteo Parenzan of Italy in their Semifinals match in Class 6. Seidenfeld had a great run up until this point, but he fell behind early and never regained the momentum. Parenzan won 11-7, 11-2, and 11-8, leaving Seidenfeld (and TeamUSA) with the Bronze medal. Our other two […]

If Serving Practice is Drudgery Then Perhaps Your Serves Are Too Simple

September 2, 2024

(by Larry Hodges) I’ve watched players, even top players, spend hour after hour practicing the simplest serves imaginable. Yes, you need to practice basic serves so you develop near-perfect control of their height, depth, and direction. But it’s drudgery to practice such serves over and Over and OVER when there’s so much more you can […]