Training

If you want to improve at table tennis, you have to put the hours in. Table tennis is a complex, fast paced sport. It can take a long time to reach an advanced level. How many hours you should train depends on a few different factors … the level you want to reach, your age, your life circumstances and availability of training opportunities. I’m going to outline a few different scenarios and what type of improvement you are likely to expect. Keep reading

In June 2025, I spent a week training at French club GV Hennebont. The training was intense but it was a great experience. In this review I’m going to tell you more about the club, the facilities, the training, the quality of coaching and the cost. There is also some video footage of my time at GV Hennebont. Keep reading

Having access to a table tennis coach is undoubtedly useful. You will improve quicker and a coach can help you solve any problems you are having with your game. But it’s not absolutely essential. You can still improve a lot without having any personal coaching at all. Here’s a few things you can do… Keep reading

Most table tennis clubs don’t have structured training. The format is usually something like this … You turn up. You find someone to hit with. There’s no coaching. You are free to do whatever you want. In this scenario, some players fall into the trap of training without a purpose. Keep reading

Over the past 10 years, I have done a lot of coaching. Some of my players have improved a lot. Others have only improved a little bit. Ideally I would like every player to make massive improvement, but there is a limit to what any individual coach can do. How much improvement is made is ultimately down to the player. But there is a definite pattern. There are certain things some players do, which allow them to make a big improvement in a short period of time. This is what they do, and you should do too… Keep reading

There is a huge benefit with practising with the most awkward player in the training hall. That player with unorthodox technique, unpredictable shots and disruptive timing. The player who doesn’t look like he can play table tennis – his shots are often weird looking – but is actually really hard to beat. Let’s look at the benefits of training with these awkward players… Keep reading

Table tennis clubs in England can reopen again from 17 May. Hooray! I have been coaching for the past three weeks, so I have a bit of a head start. The players I coach are delighted to be playing again. Yes, we are all a little slower and a little softer around the stomachs, but most players have retained their skills. In this article, I share my 7 top tips to help you return to play and quickly get back into your table tennis groove. Keep reading