(by Larry Hodges) Many players enter tournaments with the primary goal of beating stronger (i.e. higher-rated) players. And that’s an admirable goal. But thinking that way is also a way of making sure you don’t improve as quickly and beat more and more of these stronger players. Why? Central to beating anyone is having a […]
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The Laziness of Simple Serves
(by Larry Hodges) When coaching or rooting for a player, why does is sometimes seem like every opponent has nasty serves that your player struggles to return, while your player just serves to keep the ball in play? It’s even worse if you are the player with simple serves, while the opponent is throwing all […]
Learn From Your Easy Wins and Bad Losses
(by Larry Hodges) Players often learn from close matches, knowing that with just a little more, a close loss becomes a win, and a close win becomes a somewhat easier win. And this is good. However, many players don’t learn from blowout matches – but they should. You can learn from either end of a […]
Types of Topspin Contact
(by Larry Hodges) These five tips won’t generally help you win, at least not directly. They won’t score points for you. But they will make certain non-playing aspects more efficient and more fun – and indirectly, may subconsciously intimidate an opponent when faced with these displays of “professionalism”! Picking up ball with feet. If the […]
Start With Your Trickiest Serve
(by Larry Hodges) Many players hold back on their trickiest serve until it’s close. This is usually a mistake. If you have such a tricky serve, you should use it early – probably with your first serve. (This is especially true for deep, spinny serves.) Here’s why. You don’t really know if the serve will […]
Court Tricks
(by Larry Hodges) These five tips won’t generally help you win, at least not directly. They won’t score points for you. But they will make certain non-playing aspects more efficient and more fun – and indirectly, may subconsciously intimidate an opponent when faced with these displays of “professionalism”! Picking up ball with feet. If the […]
Make a Habit of Finding the SS – the Opponent’s Weak Shots and Spots
(by Larry Hodges) Every opponent has a weakness relative to their level. Even Ma Long, often considered the greatest of all time, was “weak” to his wide forehand – but only relative to the rest of his game. I’ve written many tips about how to find and go after these weaknesses. But one common issue […]
Move the Extra Inch
(by Larry Hodges) It’s not enough to move to the general vicinity of the ball. Table tennis is a game of precision, and almost moving into position is the same as almost making the shot. Instead, focus on that last couple of inches. Don’t lean and make a slightly off-balanced or awkward shot. Those last […]
Player’s Choice at the Ping Pong World Cup
Sponsored by Mecano Sports, presented by Caliente.mx, sanctioned by ICTTF (by Larry Hodges, photo by Larry Hodges: “Player’s Choice Champion Alexander “Flash” Flemming”) There were 48 players in the event, played single elimination, with $2,500 for first, $1,500 for second. For this event, players had their choice of hardbat, sandpaper, or wood. The conventional wisdom is that nearly everyone […]
Sandpaper Singles at the Ping Pong World Cup
Sponsored by Mecano Sports, presented by Caliente.mx, sanctioned by ICTTF (by Larry Hodges, photo by Larry Hodges: “Sandpaper Champion Hunag Jungang”) Sandpaper Singles had the most entries among the ten events at the Ping Pong World Cup. As I learned here, there are pockets of sandpaper aficionados all over the world, probably more than hardbat, […]
Kevin Doyle – Counterloop Variation
July 21, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kevin Doyle https://youtu.be/wBDNHVdu33w Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis… Read More
Major League Table Tennis: New Rules for a New Season
July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) As Major League Table Tennis (MLTT) prepares to launch its third season this September, the league… Read More
WAB CLUB FEATURE: Canadian Elite Table Tennis Training Centre
July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The Canadian Elite Table Tennis Training Centre (“the Centre” or “Elite”) is a table tennis club… Read More
Latest Rankings
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(by Steve Hopkins) Despite some surprises at the United States Smash, the World Rankings saw very little changes… Read More
European Youth Championships
July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) Ostrava, Czech Republic is host to this year’s European Youth Championships. In the… Read More
Top Americans Among Those Competing at FISU World University Games
July 20, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo FISU) Germany is the host of the 2025 FISU World University Games this Summer… Read More
Chirag Pradhan – US Nationals Highlights
July 20, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights, Chirag Pradhan is in action at the US Nationals… Read More
US Smash Para Showcase: More Champions Rise in Las Vegas
July 19, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) As all eyes were on the bright lights of Las Vegas for the… Read More
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