A strong service game is vital. Not only do you need good serves, you need a good service strategy. During this training camp, you will learn how to use your serves more effectively. You will learn service combinations that have a high success rate. You will learn when to serve short or long and when to serve topspin or backspin. You will learn how to select a winning service strategy for different opponents and the importance of having a service routine. This is an essential training camp for any player wanting to win more points on their service game.
- Date: Tuesday 24 March to Friday 27 March 2026
- Venue: Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS
- Start / finish time: 10am-4pm each day
- Coaches: Tom Lodziak + guest coaches
- Participants: Maximum of 16 players per day
- Cost: £75 per day
- Flexible booking: Join for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
- BOOKING FORM – Sign up to this training camp
Programme
Here’s what to expect from the training camp…
Tuesday 24 March
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Improve your serves … Learn how to make your existing serves even stronger with more spin, better placement and clever variations.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Service actions … Learn some high quality serves to bamboozle your opponents, get weak returns or win cheap points.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Wednesday 25 March
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Short serves … Learn how to keep your serve short, low over the net and set up opportunities for you to attack.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Long serves … Learn how to win cheap points, force weak returns and set up attacking opportunities with long, fast serves.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Thursday 26 March
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Service combinations … Learn which service pairs you should use together to force your opponent to make weak returns and errors.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – More serve tactics … Test out a variety of different service tactics to use against your opponents
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Friday 27 March
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Selecting a service strategy … Learn how to use your serves effectively in matches – when to serve short, when to serve long, when to serve backspin and when to serve topspin.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Serving routine … Learn how to control your nerves, keep focused and develop a winning service game, by using your own bespoke service routine.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
The coaching team
The coaching team for this training camp will be:
Lead coach – Tom Lodziak
Tom is a full-time table tennis coach, based in Cambridge. In addition to coaching, he also competes in the top division of the Cambridge league and veteran tournaments around the country.
Support coach – TBC
Support coach – TBC
Who is this training camp suitable for?
This training camp is suitable for players who are already competing at a local league level or in amateur tournaments. At a minimum you should be able to serve confidently and be competent playing a forehand push, backhand push, forehand drive and backhand drive.
This training camp is not suitable for complete beginners. Instead, I recommend 1-to-1 coaching. If you are unsure whether this training camp is suitable for you, please email me with more information about your playing standard and I will advise.
You can also read testimonials of players who have previously attended my training camps.
Training camp format
There will be a maximum of 16 players per day on this training camp. The big benefit of attending a smaller sized training camp is that you get lots of feedback from the coaching team.
There will be a mixture of demonstrations, drills and match-play exercises. There will also be opportunities for you to set your own exercises and work on the skills which are really important to you. The coaching team will observe you play and give technical and tactical feedback.
You will get the opportunity to play with different people throughout the training camp – usually a mixture of players from around the UK and also players from other countries. You will experience a positive coaching environment, joined by like-minded table tennis enthusiasts.
In the evenings, there might be opportunities to play table tennis at nearby clubs. There may also be opportunities for 1-to-1 sessions. More details will be given nearer the time. Alternatively other players may wish to meet up together for food and drink.
Venue + accommodation
This training camp will take place at Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS.
There will be eight good quality tables and high quality training balls.
The sports centre has a small car park (free of charge) and modern changing facilities. The sports centre sells basic refreshments and also has free water dispensers to fill up water bottles.
If you require accommodation, please take a look at this accommodation guide, which gives lots of affordable options.
Visit Cambridge
If you live in another part of the UK (or another country), you could combine this training camp with some sightseeing of Cambridge in the evenings. There is always plenty to do in the picturesque university city. Find out what’s on in Cambridge on the Visit Cambridge website.
How to book
you would like to join this training camp, please complete this online booking form.
Flexible booking – Many players like to attend for all days of the training camp. But it is possible to attend for one or two days only. Just select the days you would like to attend on the booking form.
The cost is £75 per day. Please note that lunch is not provided. You will need to bring food and drink with you.
When I receive your booking form, I will then confirm your place by email and give you information on how to pay.
In the event that you register and then need to cancel, my cancellation and refund policy will apply.
If you want any more information before you book, then please email me – tom@tabletenniscoach.me.uk
Can’t make this date?
If you can’t make this particular training camp, there are other training camps available. Take a look at the full list here.
If you would like to be notified of future training camps, then please complete this very short expression of interest form.
You may also be interested in 1-to-1 coaching sessions or intensive coaching days.