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

Push with Purpose and Placement

April 20, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame So often players push just to keep… Read More

Simeon Martin – 1 Forehand Loop, 1 Backhand Loop

April 20, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Simeon Martin is executing a numbered based Forehand and Backhand… Read More

Great News: Texas Table Tennis Upcoming Head Coach Koji Itagaki

April 20, 2026
(By Texas Table Tennis Club) Koji Itagaki coached TSV Bad Königshofen of Table Tennis Bundesliga since 2016. Under… Read More

Portland Paddlers Win MLTT Season 3

April 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Why is there a Golden Game?  For Moments Like These. With the entire season hanging… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Seattle Pacific Table Tennis Club

April 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) Seattle Pacific Table Tennis Club (SPTTC) is located in Bellevue, Washington, off of highway SR-520… Read More

Angel Naranjo is Central American & Caribbean Champion

April 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) After anchoring Team Puerto Rico to a win earlier in the week, Angel… Read More

Anav Gupta Among Surprise Winners at US Junior National Ranking II

April 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The 2026 US Junior National Ranking Tournament II wrapped up last week at HITTA in… Read More

World Team Championships: Preview

April 19, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) One hundred years after the inaugural World Championships were held in London (1926),… 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.