(by Larry Hodges) Once you have reached a certain level, it’s easy to rest on your laurels. That doesn’t mean you don’t work hard to improve your game. It means that you work hard only to improve the parts of your game that you have already developed. Instead, be a learning player. You should experiment […]

(by Larry Hodges) When you practice your spin serves – and you do, right? – after a few minutes, your arm and wrist are tired and you’re sweating right? No? Then you aren’t putting in full effort and therefore not getting full spin. When I say “tired” and “sweating,” there’s some literary license, but the […]

(by Larry Hodges) As a player, I’m old-school – my backhand flip against a short ball is light topspin, basically a standard backhand drive against most spins. Against short, heavy underspin, I just open the racket and drive up and forward, and focus on medium speed and spin, depth, and placement. But these days top […]

(by Larry Hodges) Why do so many players continue to pound the ball out at an opponent who is a step off the table, ready and waiting for that shot? They are not only ready for a hard-hit ball, but it lowers your own consistency as you continue to hit the ball hard against an […]

(by Larry Hodges) As is often the case, the real reason many players have trouble looping against a heavy backspin is they simply aren’t used to doing so. They are used to less backspin, and so the stroke and racket angle used for that is ingrained into them. When facing heavy backspin, it’s a strain […]

(by Larry Hodges) What is a three-point attack? It means attacking all three spots on the table – wide forehand, wide backhand, and opponent’s middle, roughly the playing elbow (midway between the forehand and backhand). It often takes several attacking shots to win the point. Many players can perhaps do one strong attack, then struggle […]

(by Larry Hodges) As is often the case, the real reason many players have trouble looping against a heavy backspin is they simply aren’t used to doing so. They are used to less backspin, and so the stroke and racket angle used for that is ingrained into them. When facing heavy backspin, it’s a strain […]

(by Larry Hodges) For this, I’m assuming you know how to flip, either forehand or backhand, preferably both. (If not, YouTube is your friend! Or work on it with a coach.) But many players have trouble flipping against heavy backspin, and so just push those balls back. But that makes you predictable, a serious weakness. […]

(by Larry Hodges) There are really only two things you have to do tactically in a match, sort of a one-two punch. You must figure out: How to force your game on them How to nullify what your opponent does that threatens you. What is the strongest part of your game and how can you […]

(by Larry Hodges) Picture two up-and-coming players. One has really tricky serves, often going long, and wins many points when opponents miss the serve or give him easy pop-ups – but when opponents read the serve, they often attack them, putting the server on the defensive. The other has simple serves that don’t directly threaten […]