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

Positioning Part 1 of 4: After Your Serve

February 2, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, www.tabletenniscoaching.com/blog)   Where should you position yourself… Read More

Chirag Pradhan WTT Youth Contenter San Francisco

February 2, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Highlights, Chirag Pradhan is action at the WTT Youth Contender in San… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Pleasanton Table Tennis Center

February 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Pleasanton Table Tennis Center is located at the center of Pleasanton, California to the East of… Read More

US Open Teams Championships – Save The Date (Sept 5-7, 2026)

February 1, 2026
(By Steve Hopkins) During the holidays, USATT announced that the US Open Teams Table Tennis Championships is slated to… Read More

Calderano over Jha in Americas Cup Final

February 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTF) The top four seeds reached the Semifinals of Men's Singles at the ITTF-Americas… Read More

Amy Wang On Fire in San Francisco

February 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The top four seeds reached the Semifinals of Women's Singles at the ITTF-Americas… Read More

Another Week, Another Promising Young Chinese Player

February 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo USATT) The last two WTT events saw the rise of Wen Ruibo, a talented… Read More

Marcos Madrid – One or Two Forehands, One or Two Backhands

February 1, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Marcos Madrid is executing One or Two Forehand Loops, and… 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.