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
Posted onOne 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
Posted onBall 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
Posted onWinning 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
Posted onby 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
Posted onServe 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
Posted onServing 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
Posted onBlocking 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
Posted onWatching 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
Posted onPlaying 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 […]
How to Perform a ‘Hack’ or ‘Swipe’
January 14, 2026
Robot plays one topspin ball to long Backhand, Logan Backhand chop block (HACK) close to the table off… Read More
When Champions Fall: Mental Strategies for Preventing and Managing Injuries
January 14, 2026
by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC The table tennis world watched in dismay last when both World #1… Read More
Smell the Ball?!?
January 12, 2026
Robot plays one long backspin ball to Backhand, Logan Backhand push to Backhand, robot plays one long backspin… Read More
Every Shot Sets Up the Next Shot By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame,
January 12, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, www.tabletenniscoaching.com/blog) Unless it’s a put-away shot,… Read More
WAB CLUB FEATURE: North Texas Table Tennis
January 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) North Texas Table Tennis is a premier table tennis club operating three locations in Plano,… Read More
Amy Wang Chooses Butterfly
January 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Butterfly America would like to announce the signing of elite American table tennis star, Amy… Read More
A Final Day of Surprises in Doha
January 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The first WTT Champions series event of the year ended in a flurry Sunday in… Read More
Final Four in Doha
January 10, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The first WTT Champions series event of 2026 is down to its final day in… Read More
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