In this training camp, we will have a big focus on technique. You will work on the technical aspects of the key shots used in table tennis, including topspins, blocks, loops, pushes, flicks, lobs, smashes, short serves and long serves. You will spend a decent amount of time practising each shot, whilst getting feedback from the coaching team. There will be many drills to help you develop your technique, as well as challenges and match play exercises. This is an ideal training camp for players who really want to focus on improving their technical skills in a structured and positive training environment.
- Date: Tuesday 10 December 2024 to Friday 13 December 2024
- Venue: Cambridge University Sports Centre, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS
- Start / finish time: 10am-4pm each day
- Coaches: Tom Lodziak, Ferenc Horvath, Charlotte Bardsley
- Participants: Maximum of 16 players per day
- Cost: £70 per day
- Flexible booking: Join for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
Programme
Here’s what to expect from the training camp. For each stroke listed below we will look at both basic technique and advanced technique and practise in a variety of drills, challenges and match-play exercises.
Tuesday 10 December
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Forehand topspin vs block … Learn how to play consistent forehand topspins vs block. We will show you the basic technique and then how to progress the shot with more speed and spin. You’ll also learn the technique for the forehand block.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Backhand topspin vs block … Learn how to play fast and spinny backhand topspins vs block. You’ll also learn the technique for the backhand block.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Wednesday 11 December
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Forehand topspin vs backspin … Learn how to attack backspin balls with a forehand topspin. We will show you both a basic technique and an advanced technique. You will also learn the technique for the forehand push.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Backhand topspin vs backspin … Learn how to attack backspin balls with a backshand topspin. We will show you both a basic technique and an advanced technique. You will also learn the technique for the backhand push.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Thursday 12 December
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Short serve vs backhand flick … Learn how to execute a short backspin serve and how to return these serves with a positive backhand flick.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Short serve vs forehand flick … Continue to develop your short backspin serve and learn how to return these serves with an aggressive forehand flick.
- 3.45pm-4pm – Debrief / stretches
Friday 13 December
- 10am-10.15am – Warm-up
- 10.15am-12.30pm – Lob vs smash … Learn how to lob the ball up high with plenty of kicking spin. And learn how to return these high balls with a powerful forehand smash.
- 12.30pm-1.15pm – Lunch
- 1.15pm-3.45pm – Long serves vs returning long serves … Learn how to do damaging long, fast serves. And learn how to return these long serves with a high level of consistency.
- 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 – Ferenc Horvath
Ferenc is head coach of Paragon Table Tennis and has featured in many of my YouTube videos. He has coached in many countries in Europe, plays to a very high standard and is the current 40+ English national champion. Ferenc will be joining the training camp for all four days.
Support coach – Charlotte Bardsley
Charlotte represented England at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and is a former England U21 champion. She has played professionally for SV Böblingen in Germany (1st Division of the Bundesliga) and is currently studying History & Politics at the University of Cambridge. Charlotte will be joining the training camp for all four days.
Who is this training camp suitable for?
This training camp is suitable for players who are already competing (or aspiring to compete) 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. You will be invited to join a WhatsApp group where you can communicate easily with other players.
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
This training camp took place in December 2024. Click here to view the latest list of training camps.