Using Misdirection by Han Xiao At all levels of play, misdirection is a good way to win points, especially when you don’t want to play an extremely risky shot. It can be effective on the attack, on the counterattack, as well as on the serve and service receive. Here are some tips to make using […]
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Backhand to Backhand Exchanges
Posted onBackhand to Backhand Exchanges by Han Xiao Backhand to backhand exchanges are a very common occurrence in the modern game, especially at the beginning of points. By this I do not mean that players are exchanging backhands for five or ten shots, but rather a quicker exchange of two or three backhands each before one […]
Playing a Quick Attacking Game
Posted onPlaying a Quick Attacking Game by Han Xiao Playing a fast attacking game is one of the best ways to apply a high degree of pressure to an opponent. This style requires some very specific skills in order to be successful, and can also be risky and inconsistent when executed poorly. To give an example […]
Control vs. Leverage
Posted onControl vs. Leverage by Han Xiao A lot of times coaches cannot mold every last detail of our strokes, since different people move differently, have different body types, have vastly different playing styles, etc. Furthermore, many of us do not receive consistent coaching and are left to our own devices. Therefore, when it comes to […]
Adjusting to Unfamiliar Playing Conditions
Posted onAdjusting to Unfamiliar Playing Conditions by Han Xiao This week, many players assembled in Las Vegas, Nevada to play the 2015 US Open. Many players had trouble adapting to the playing conditions there, and indeed a great number of players often have difficulty adapting to new playing conditions in an unfamiliar venue. Here are some […]
Playing as the Underdog
Posted onPlaying 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 […]
Coaching Tip of the Week: Good Receive is What Works
Posted onGood Receive is What Works by Larry Hodges What is a good receive? It’s whatever maximizes your chances of winning the point. End of story. But let’s elaborate. Many players fall into one of two bad habits when receiving: too passive or too aggressive. The ideal receiver can do both, depending on the situation. Plus, […]
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 […]
Why You MUST Attack the Deep Serve
June 15, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame Against a short serve, you can take… Read More
Anqi – Forehand Short & Long Push
June 15, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Anqi Lou is working with a student on the short… Read More
WAB CLUB FEATURE: Table Tennis Minnesota
June 14, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Table Tennis Minnesota has three locations in the greater Minneapolis-St.Paul area. The Training Center location… Read More
Latest Rankings: Chuqin and Harimoto Top 2, Jha Jumps to 24
June 14, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The top of the ITTF Rankings were stable this week with Chuqin, Harimoto, Moregard, Lebrun,… Read More
Lim Jonghoon and Miwa Harimoto Each Win Twice in Zagreb
June 14, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Zagreb was host to this week's tour stop as the WTT Contender series visited Croatia. … Read More
Coach Shashin Shodhan Claims U2200 Title at the Meiklejohn North American Seniors Open
June 11, 2026
(by Bowmar Sports) Congratulations to Shashin Shodhan from Fremont Table Tennis Academy for an outstanding performance at the… Read More
The ITTF Pan American Para Championships: Pressure, Planning, and a Breakthrough Performance By Jeff Yamada
June 9, 2026
(By Coach Jeff Yamada) Just two days after the ITTF World Para Elite concluded, we returned to the… Read More
The Messy Middle: Harnessing Mid-Year Reflection by Dr. Alan Chu
June 9, 2026
(by Alan Chu, Ph.D., CMPC, ISSP-R) 2026 Mental Training Tip It's that time of year again. The excitement… Read More
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