Tom Lodziak I’m going to take my usual break from blogging during August. So no new articles for 4 weeks. I’ll be running my local league summer camp next week. And at some point in August, I will have baby number 3 to keep me (and my partner) very busy! I’ll be back again in September with … Keep reading
You have two serves. What serves should you do to put your opponent under maximum pressure? There are so many options. But are there any combinations which work particularly well together? Yes! Most definitely. In this video, top coach and service expert, Craig Bryant, explains how to do effective service combinations. Keep reading
I often get asked whether being a coach helps me improve as a player. There is an assumption that when you start to coach, your own improvement stops. You spend too much time feeding, too much time instructing and too much time talking. You don’t have time to work on your own game. So you don’t improve. But is this true? Yes and no. Let me share my experience so far… Keep reading
If you follow my blog and YouTube channel, you probably know that I really enjoy blocking. I love the feel of the block. Using early timing, soft hands, good ball placement and minimal physical energy to block the ball back. But how much should you block when you play matches? Can it be an effective playing style? How far can a good blocking game take you? At what level does too much blocking stop being effective? Keep reading
![[Video] How to return serves with a touch shot – with Paul Drinkhall](https://www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FHtouch600-350x197.jpg)
In this video, pro player Paul Drinkhall, shows how to return serves with a forehand touch. A ‘touch’ is a very short return of serve, usually when your opponent has served backspin or no-spin. Ideally, a touch shot will stay low over the net and bounce twice or more on you’re opponent’s side of the table. This makes it very difficult for your opponent to attack. Keep reading
![[Video] Easy method for returning serves (beginner / intermediate level)](https://www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Easy-return-of-serves-350x197.jpg)
In this video I share my super easy method for returning serves. This is a method I use when coaching beginner and intermediate players. I show you how to return backspin serves, topspin serves and sidespin serves. I also explain how to read the spin. At the end of the video, I show you some more advanced return of serves too. Keep reading
Over the past few weeks I have been trying out three different JOOLA table tennis balls – JOOLA Flash, JOOLA Prime and JOOLA Magic. In this blog post I compare all three balls, examining hardness, bounce, speed, spin, durability and cost. I’ll let you know which ball is my favourite and where you can buy. Keep reading
![[Video] How to do top quality BACKHAND serves – with Craig Bryant](https://www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/backhand-serves-600-350x197.jpg)
Most players serve with their forehand. But backhand serves can be very tricky to return too. You can generate lots of spin, get different angles and do lots of subtle spin variations. In the video, service expert Craig Bryant explains the basic backhand service motion. He demonstrates how to generate backspin, sidespin and topspin. And he explains how to use backhand serves effectively in matches. Keep reading
There is one skill which I work on with every player I coach. It doesn’t matter what standard or whether the player is an attacker or defender. I give every player the same advice. Focus on ball placement. This is the simplest and quickest way for every player to instantly improve. You don’t need to learn any new shots. You just need to improve where you put the ball. Keep reading
![[Video] Beat your opponent with quick counter topspins – with Paul Drinkhall](https://www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Counter-topspin-350x197.jpg)
In this video, pro player Paul Drinkhall, shows how to do a forehand counter-topspin. This is a shot played close to the table. Your opponent plays a looping attack. Instead of blocking, you play a short counter-topspin attack instead. The result? Usually a clean winner. The ball goes past your opponent before he or she even realises. In the video, Paul explains how to execute the shot, how to practice and when to use the shot in matches. Keep reading