Training Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Tom Lodziak Table Tennis Coaching

Training in uncertain times

01/10/202018/09/2020 by Tom Lodziak

In the UK, table tennis is slowly spluttering back to life. Some clubs and sport centres have reopened giving us some opportunities to practice. But competitive table tennis – leagues and tournaments – is still very limited. So what should our focus be during these uncertain times? Well if you do have the opportunity to play table tennis, I would suggest now is the ideal time to be focusing on improving your technique and sorting out any weak areas of your game. Keep reading

How to replicate training form in league matches

31/03/202119/09/2019 by Tom Lodziak

Why do some people play great in training and terrible in league matches? I have given this topic a lot of thought over the years. And I believe there is one thing you can do which can drastically change your match form. So if you want to replicate your training form in league matches, then read on… Keep reading

How to prevent injuries when playing table tennis

02/01/202430/01/2019 by Tom Lodziak

Almost every table tennis player I know has experienced injury at some point. Common complaints are back injuries, twisted knees and ankles, and repetitive strain injuries in the wrist, elbow, shoulder or hip. However, we can take positive steps to reduce the chances of getting injured. In this blog post, I explain a few different ways you can minimise the risk of injury when playing table tennis. Keep reading

Step-by-step process to improve a weakness

31/03/202117/01/2019 by Tom Lodziak

Weaknesses. We all have them in our table tennis game. Even the no.1 player in the world – has a weakness of some sort. So how do you go about fixing a weakness? What steps do you need to take? In this blog post I explain a process you can go through to turn your weakness into a strength. Keep reading

Training drills or matches?

31/03/202108/11/2018 by Tom Lodziak

In your training sessions, you have a choice about what type of training you do. You could do regular training drills, where you know where the ball is going. You could do irregular training drills, where you don’t know where the ball is going. Or you could just play matches. Whilst all three training methods are very useful in different ways, in this blog post I’m going to make the case for playing more matches… Keep reading

Gain an advantage over your clubmates this summer

03/09/201819/07/2018 by Tom Lodziak

It’s summer time! My favourite time of the year. It’s also the time of the year when a lot of people have a break from playing table tennis. This is completely understandable. The weather is good. People want to be outdoors and do other activities. Often people are away for holidays. So if you really want to get an advantage over your clubmates and your opponents, now is the time to keep practising! Keep reading

Review: Table Tennis Daily Academy

31/03/202120/06/2018 by Tom Lodziak

This week, I want to share with you a very, very, very good coaching website, which is still relatively unknown. (Shhhh, let’s keep this as our secret!). A few months ago I noticed that Dan Ives – the mastermind behind the Table Tennis Daily website – had launched a new coaching website with professional player Tom Maynard. Interesting, I thought to myself. This could be good. Dan very kindly gave me access to Table Tennis Daily Academy. I’ve now been using the site for a few weeks and I want to share my views on whether it’s any good and if you should sign up… Keep reading

30 day challenge to improve your weakest stroke

01/04/202112/01/2018 by Tom Lodziak

To kick off 2018, I thought I’d give you a challenge. For a 30 day period, your challenge is to work on, and improve, your weakest stroke. And I mean really work on it. During any table tennis training session you do over the 30 days, you have to spend a good chunk of time practising this weak stroke. The whole purpose of this is to use focused, deliberate practise in a condensed time period (30 days) to transform your weakest stroke into something which works in a competitive match. Keep reading

How long does it take to get really good at table tennis?

02/01/202416/06/2017 by Tom Lodziak

Table tennis is a very complex sport, with lots of different shots, spins and playing styles, played at a frighteningly fast pace. There is a lot to learn and master. It does takes time to get really good at table tennis. But how long? Can you become a really good table tennis player very quickly or will it take years and years? And what’s the best way to improve quickly? Let’s explore these questions… Keep reading

Small steps training drill

30/03/201707/03/2017 by Tom Lodziak

Some players are guilty of not moving their feet when they play. Instead, they reach or lean when trying to hit the ball. This is not good. When you reach or lean, you have far less control over the ball and are far more likely to make mistakes. To help improve a player’s footwork, I often get them doing a small steps training drill. The aim of the drill is to make small steps, left or right, to get into the ideal position to play shots as best as you possibly can. In this blog post, I show you how to do the training drill. The post includes both a video demonstration and a written explanation. Keep reading