Playing as the Underdog by Han Xiao Every player I’ve met, including myself, has stories about matches they almost won against superior opponents. They all sound pretty similar. Some are closer matches than others, and you can see certain patterns emerge in people’s stories. Most of the time a number of different factors combined to […]
Using Your Fingers Effectively
One of the more subtle skills that some players master yet other players never practice is using fingers to apply pressure on the racket during certain strokes for both control and power. This is a more advanced technique that requires practice to achieve the right feeling, but mastering it can help greatly increase the consistency […]
Ball Placement Tips
Ball Placement Tips by Han Xiao I was watching some intermediate players play last week and among the points there were some very long and exciting rallies where both players were keeping the ball on the table quite well but nobody was gaining any sort of advantage. The reason was because nobody was using ball […]
Winning Without Speed and Power
Winning Without Speed and Power by Han Xiao Many of us watch the best players in the world and are extremely envious. It’s easy to get caught up in the amazing points that they play and try to emulate the shots that we see. As a result we go back to our clubs and try […]
Having a First Game Game Plan
by Han Xiao Whenever I’m coaching intermediate or junior players, they’ll often ask me before the match, “what do I do against [insert opponent’s name]?” My response is usually to turn the question back on them, which is to ask them what their initial game plan is. No matter if it’s someone they’ve played twenty […]
Serve Return Tips
Serve Return Tips by Han Xiao Serve return is one of the most challenging aspects of table tennis. Many players have a very difficult time returning high quality serves, and as a result lack confidence in their decision making and execution. Today, we’re going to go over some tips that will hopefully help you improve […]
Serving Tips
Serving Tips by Han Xiao Most players understand that a good serve is one of the best ways to give themselves an advantage in points. However, many players don’t have a clear idea of how to improve their serves, and mostly go by trial and error. If a serve doesn’t work in a match, they […]
Blocking
Blocking by Han Xiao Blocking is a very underrated and undervalued skill in table tennis. One of my biggest regrets is not having more practice partners as a young player and not practicing blocking more. As a result, I had a poor understanding of blocking technique that took a long time to correct. It’s important […]
Watching the Ball
Watching the Ball by Han Xiao Today we’re going to discuss something extremely basic: watching the ball. It’s so basic, in fact, that it sounds like it should be obvious that everyone who plays table tennis already knows how to do it. Yet, almost every player I’ve coached from beginners all the way up to […]
Playing Against Penholders
Playing Against Penholders by Han Xiao Last week, we examined some basic strengths and weaknesses of players who play with unorthodox rubber and went over some of the common tactics used against these players. This week, we’re going to take a look at penhold players. Most people have some idea of the strengths and weaknesses […]
You Might Be a Little Late
December 1, 2025
Basic exercises: Pushing and powerful first ball attack – Robot plays heavy backspin to long Backhand, Jhon plays… Read More
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(by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC) In the 1990s, psychologist Anders Ericsson revolutionized our understanding of expertise. Through… Read More
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(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, www.tabletenniscoaching.com/blog) Training doesn’t take place only… Read More
Fan On Top of the World: China National Games Review
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(by Steve Hopkins) China’s championship event was expected to highlight the world’s top two ranked players, and China… Read More
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(By Steve Hopkins, photo ITTF) Today was the final day of action at the ITTF World Youth Championships in… Read More
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(by Steve Hopkins) Mega Pickle & Pong is a premier indoor pickleball and ping pong club located in… Read More
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(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Highlights, Arantxa Cossio Aceves is in action at the WTT in… Read More
Swing Forward…Toward the Net
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Basic exercises: Pushing and powerful first ball attack – Robot plays heavy backspin to long Backhand, Jhon plays… Read More
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