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Using Misdirection

August 10, 2015

Using Misdirection by Han Xiao At all levels of play, misdirection is a good way to win points, especially when you don’t want to play an extremely risky shot. It can be effective on the attack, on the counterattack, as well as on the serve and service receive. Here are some tips to make using […]

Backhand to Backhand Exchanges

August 2, 2015

Backhand to Backhand Exchanges by Han Xiao Backhand to backhand exchanges are a very common occurrence in the modern game, especially at the beginning of points. By this I do not mean that players are exchanging backhands for five or ten shots, but rather a quicker exchange of two or three backhands each before one […]

Playing a Quick Attacking Game

July 25, 2015

Playing a Quick Attacking Game by Han Xiao Playing a fast attacking game is one of the best ways to apply a high degree of pressure to an opponent. This style requires some very specific skills in order to be successful, and can also be risky and inconsistent when executed poorly. To give an example […]

Control vs. Leverage

July 19, 2015

Control vs. Leverage by Han Xiao A lot of times coaches cannot mold every last detail of our strokes, since different people move differently, have different body types, have vastly different playing styles, etc. Furthermore, many of us do not receive consistent coaching and are left to our own devices. Therefore, when it comes to […]

Adjusting to Unfamiliar Playing Conditions

July 13, 2015

Adjusting to Unfamiliar Playing Conditions by Han Xiao This week, many players assembled in Las Vegas, Nevada to play the 2015 US Open. Many players had trouble adapting to the playing conditions there, and indeed a great number of players often have difficulty adapting to new playing conditions in an unfamiliar venue. Here are some […]

Playing as the Underdog

July 4, 2015

Playing as the Underdog by Han Xiao Every player I’ve met, including myself, has stories about matches they almost won against superior opponents. They all sound pretty similar. Some are closer matches than others, and you can see certain patterns emerge in people’s stories. Most of the time a number of different factors combined to […]

Using Your Fingers Effectively

June 29, 2015

One of the more subtle skills that some players master yet other players never practice is using fingers to apply pressure on the racket during certain strokes for both control and power. This is a more advanced technique that requires practice to achieve the right feeling, but mastering it can help greatly increase the consistency […]

Ball Placement Tips

June 20, 2015

Ball Placement Tips by Han Xiao I was watching some intermediate players play last week and among the points there were some very long and exciting rallies where both players were keeping the ball on the table quite well but nobody was gaining any sort of advantage. The reason was because nobody was using ball […]

Coaching Tip of the Week: Good Receive is What Works

June 15, 2015

Good Receive is What Works by Larry Hodges What is a good receive? It’s whatever maximizes your chances of winning the point. End of story. But let’s elaborate. Many players fall into one of two bad habits when receiving: too passive or too aggressive. The ideal receiver can do both, depending on the situation. Plus, […]

Winning Without Speed and Power

June 13, 2015

Winning Without Speed and Power by Han Xiao Many of us watch the best players in the world and are extremely envious. It’s easy to get caught up in the amazing points that they play and try to emulate the shots that we see. As a result we go back to our clubs and try […]