Site Products
Larry Hodges

Study Opponents’ Serves

(by Larry Hodges)

The single most important thing you have to adjust to with any given opponent is usually their serve. Many players take a game or so to do so. But there’s a shortcut, and a secret of mine and many top coaches and players.

If you have a match coming up, it’s great to study his game, either live or on video. When I coach at tournaments, at the start I always put together a list of opponents my students – or me, if I’m playing – will play. Then I find videos of them – Youtube is your friend. (Put in the name of the player followed by “Table Tennis.”) But the single most important thing to watch is the serve. Don’t just watch it; you or your student should imagine receiving it as they watch it. Even stand up and go through the motions of doing so. I often assign players to watch upcoming opponents with the focus on their serve. If they are watching the upcoming opponent live, then I have them stand and watch from directly behind the opponent’s opponent, so they can imagine seeing and returning the serve. By the time the match starts, they should be somewhat comfortable against them – which often may save them from losing that first game, which they otherwise would have spent adjusting to the serve.

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

Product Validation – Beginner Set up

July 1, 2025
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Product Validation, Brian Pace explain a fantastic Beginner Set-up is you are… Read More

Counter-Attack WITH Control – Harimoto Innerforce Super ALC + Dignics 05 + Dignics 05

June 30, 2025
(by Bowmar Sports) In the dynamic world of table tennis, power often takes the spotlight — but control… Read More

Center of Gravity in Your Stomach

June 30, 2025
WAIT FUNCTION: Serve short backspin or side backspin to Forehand, Robot plays long backspin push to Forehand, Forehand… Read More

Celebrating Excellence: Honored As Canada’s Table Tennis Coach Of The Year

June 30, 2025
(by Coach Raymond/Butterfly Americas) It is with immense pride and gratitude that I reflect on being named *Canada’s… Read More

WTTC 2025 (Part 3): A Gathering of Global Table Tennis Passion – Report from the Butterfly Booth in Doha

June 30, 2025
(by Buterfly Global) In the final installment of our WTTC 2025 series, we share a report from the… Read More

WTTC 2025 (Part 2): Expanding the Circle of Social Contribution Through Table Tennis – Messages Embodied in T-Shirts for the ITTF Foundation

June 30, 2025
(By Butterfly Global) In the second installment of our WTTC 2025 series, we highlight the initiatives carried out… Read More

Smarter Now Doesn’t Mean You Were Dumb Before

June 30, 2025
(By Larry Hodges) This is one of those tips where the title, by itself, should give you a… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Broward Table Tennis Club

June 29, 2025
(by Steve Hopkins) The Broward Table Tennis Club offers regular tournaments, camps, and coaching opportunities.  They have been… 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.