Site Products
How to Make Your Strengths Stronger with Serve and Receive

Coaching Tip of the Week: Don’t “Guide” Your Loop

Posted on

(By Larry Hodges)

Many players, when learning to loop or when under pressure, try to guide the shot consciously. This is a mistake and leads to a weak and erratic loop. Instead, let the shot go, accelerating smoothly through the shot. Don’t try to “muscle” it – that just leads to spastic shots and a loss of control. Watch how the top players do it almost effortlessly, and with enough practice, you’ll be able to do it. When you miss, adjust the shot on your next shot, and again let it go. If you still have trouble, there are two simple remedies: get a coach or copy the top players. And table tennis is a sport where you can absorb by watching – when you do so, your subconscious picks up on it, and can do a surprisingly good job of copying what it sees. One huge key – once you start looping competently, remember the feel of the shot – the entire stroke, from start through contact – and then just repeat. It’s as simple as that!!!

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

Latest News

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

🎥 Episode 10: Ask The Expert Live With Logan Rietz | Blade Materials

June 9, 2026
(by Bowmar Sports) Choosing the right table tennis blade can be challenging, especially with so many technologies available… Read More

Austin Table Tennis Club Elevates 2026 Competitive Season with Butterfly Partnership

June 9, 2026
(By Austin Table Tennis Club) AUSTIN, TX – The Austin Table Tennis Club (ATTC) is proud to announce a… Read More

Do You Hit to the Three Spots?

June 8, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame Table tennis is chess at lightning speed.… Read More

Kou Lei – Forehand Short Serve Return

June 8, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Kou Lei is executing the short serve return using the… Read More

WAB Club Feature: Table Tennis America

June 7, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) With their location in Fremont, California, Table Tennis America is great position to serve the… Read More

Van Emburgh Builds Momentum in Brazil and Slovenia

June 7, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Jenson Van Emburgh continued his international campaign with a pair of strong results at ITTF… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.