Training doesn’t take place only at the table. There’s also shadow-practice, which you can do anywhere. (There’s also physical training, but that’s another issue.) It’s very difficult to change or develop a new stroke, and learn the timing at the same time (i.e. while hitting at a table). It’s much easier to change or develop a stroke separately with shadow practice, and then learn the timing. For example, when I decided earlier this year that I needed to learn to change my grip for my backhands, I spent way too much time shadow-practicing it until it became automatic to change the grip when I moved to hit a backhand. When I finally tried it at at the table in random drills, the change was automatic and reflexive.

While away from the table is also when you should be thinking about how you can improve. What are the strengths and weaknesses of your game? How can you turn the strengths into overpowering ones (both the shot itself and ways to get it into play) and remove weaknesses? How do you see your game in the future? What drills should you be doing to reach that? Perhaps discuss it with a coach, top player, or your playing partners – they very likely know your game and may have a good perspective on what you should be working on.

Here are two tips: