Video Description
In this video, I share a consistency exercise I do with kids (and beginner players of all ages). We play a game. But to win a point, the player has to hit a certain number of shots, e.g. 3 shots, 4 shots, 5 shots, 6 shots or 7 shots. The purpose is to develop rallying consistency. Keep reading
In this video, top coach Craig Bryant, explains the secrets of his brilliant kicker serve. This is a serve which looks like backspin, but it actually loaded with lots of topspin. The ball literally kicks up off the table. If you read it wrong, the ball flies high up into the air. Keep reading
In this video, I explain how to fix a very common error where a player loops a backspin ball and then overhits the next attacking shot. This usually happens because a player drops his/her bat too low and keeps the bat angle to open. The result? The player lifts the ball too much and it goes off the end of the table. But fortunately the fix is pretty straight forward… Keep reading
In this video, I share a training drill to help you improve your rallying skills. You play 3 backhands, 3 forehands, 2 backhands, 2 forehands, 1 backhand, 1 forehand, 2 backhands, 2 forehands, 3 backhands, 3 forehands and then you work back down to 1 and back up to 3 again. Keep reading
In this video I explain how to do chops with lots and lots of backspin. A chop is a defensive stroke which you usually play further back from the table. The aim is to gets lots of backspin on the ball to make it hard for your opponent to attack again. The demonstration from this video comes from Ferenc Horvath from Paragon Table Tennis. Keep reading
In this video, I explain how you can progress from playing a forehand drive to a more advanced forehand topspin. The video features Stephen, a player in his 80s. Stephen has been playing for a few years but wants to improve his forehand. Up to now, he has mostly been using drives, but recently I have been teaching Stephen how to topspin.
Fast, long serves are quite common in amateur table tennis and can cause all kinds of problems. To return these serves, you should give yourself a bit more space back from the table and shorten your strokes. This gives you more time and makes it easier to time your shot. In the video I show how to return fast, long backspin serves and fast, long topspin serves. Keep reading
In this video, I share three classic tactics which defensive players can use to beat attacking players. These tactics are timeless and should form the general tactical approach of any defender. If you get good at using all three tactics, you can really disrupt the attacking rhythm of your opponent and win lots of cheap points. Keep reading
In this video, I explain how to reach balls which are played to the wide forehand position. This is something I actually find difficult to do. I often find myself unable to reach these balls or if I do, I struggle to make a strong shot. So to help me improve I got some help from fellow coach Ferenc Horvath, who gave me some very good tips on how to reach these wide balls. Keep reading
In this video I explain how to dominate with 3rd ball attacks. This is where you serve, your opponent returns and you strongly attack the next ball, aiming to finish the point or become the dominant player in the rally. There are two main categories of 3rd ball attack I discuss in the video – ‘power’ 3rd ball attacks and ‘spin’ 3rd ball attacks. Both are useful, but require a slightly different approach. Keep reading