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

Lin Yun-Ju vs Sora Matsushima | MS Final | 2026 ChinaSmash

October 12, 2026
(By Butterfly Americas) A Final You Can't Miss! Sora Matsushima vs. Lin Yun-Ju at China Smash 2026 What… Read More

Where to Place Your Putaways

October 12, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame) Where should you put your putaway shots?… Read More

Di Liu – Random Play & Footwork

October 12, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Di Liu is working Random Play with a focus on… Read More

MLTT Week 3 Recap: Crocs Perfect in Westchester

October 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) Major League Table Tennis moved to the Westchester Table Tennis Center in Pleasantville,… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association

October 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Established in 2002, Calgary United Sports Table Tennis Association (CUSTTA) is Alberta’s largest Table Tennis… Read More

Europe’s Best Converge on Ljubljana

October 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The 2026 European Championships are underway today at Arena Stožice in Ljubljana, Slovenia.  Over the… Read More

China Smash: Matsushima’s Perfect Week

October 11, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Early in the week it was announced that Sora Matsushima was the new World No.… Read More

Carlos Hernandez – Miami Open Finals

October 11, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Carlos Hernandez is in action taking the victory at the… 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.

/* Constant Contact Universal Code */