All serious table tennis players should have a long term goal. This requires hard work over an extended period of time. To make each practice session more effective, it is important to write out an exact game plan. In this article, I’m going to ask you many questions about your game. Get a notebook and write out answers to each of the following questions. Once you have answered these questions, it will be easy for you to write detailed strategies on how to progress your game.

During the next year, look to improve one level; this is a great starting point. If your rating is under 1000, then a level is about 300 points. From 1000-2000 rated, a level is about 200 points. From 2000-2600, a level is about 100 points. Over 2600, a level is about 50 points. Your goal should be to improve your game, not your rating. Your USATT rating just gives a starting point to make your goal.

Start out by watching many players who are one level above yours and ask yourself the following questions listed below. Once you have answered these questions, you should have a good idea of what your weaknesses are. It is very important to continue practicing your strengths as well as improving your weaknesses.

How are their serves better than mine?

Do they have more spin?

Do they have better placement?

Do they have more spin/placement variation?

Do they keep with bounce lower?

Do they disguise the backswing, contact point, and follow through better than I do?

Serving practice is one of the fastest ways to improve. You just need a table and a bucket of balls. Focus on keeping your short serves spinny and low with good variation. Focus on keeping your long serves fast as a surprise with good placement.

How are their serve returns better than mine?

Are they able to attack the long serves?

Are they able to control the short serves with a variety of returns – flip, drop, and long push?

Are they able to adjust to different spins?

Are they able to keep the ball low enough?

The best way to progress your serve return game is to play against many different opponents by playing at different table tennis clubs and tournaments. Instead of merely trying to touch the ball back onto the table, learn how to stroke the ball onto the table using spin. Your opponent’s spin will affect you less and you will be making it more difficult for your opponent on the next ball.

How are their attacks better than mine?

Are they able to attack with more power?

Are they able to attack with better placement?

Are they able to attack more consistently?

Are they able to attack with both forehand and backhand?

Are they able to counterattack against an attack?

Are they able to consistently attack both backspin and topspin?

Most likely, power is not the main problem. The main difference is usually ball placement and consistency. If you attempt ten opening loops in the first game and miss five of them, it’s like spotting your opponent five points before the game even begins.

How is their defense better than mine?

Are they able to return many different loops?

Are they able to combine both offense and defense?

Are they able to vary their defense?

Are they able to adjust to different kinds of attacks coming at them?

Many attackers only focus on attacking. In tournaments, you cannot always attack first. In this case, you will need to learn how to block, chop, or counterloop. If you have no defense at all, you probably won’t move to the next level.

How is their footwork better than mine?

Are they able to make small steps and adjust for every ball?

Are they able to make long dives to save a wide ball?

Are they able to move forward and adjust in for the slow block?

Are they able to move in-and-out faster for the short ball?

Footwork is one of the main reasons that top players are very consistent. This takes time to develop. If you improve your balance and footwork, you will see long-term benefits.

How are their game patterns?

Most players have very common patterns that they consistently play again and again. Some players have very fast serves followed by hard smashes. Some have well-placed opening loops followed by killer forehand loops. Some have heavy pushes followed by a wide block. If you have several patterns that you can force onto your opponent, it becomes much easier to win a few cheap points each game.

How are they able to adjust to the playing conditions?

Are they able to quickly adjust to strange tables, balls, floor, and lighting?

Do they have a pre-game warm-up and stretching routine?

Most top players will arrive at a tournament venue three days in advance to adjust to the conditions and prepare well. Even if you can’t arrive three days early, I suggest that you arrive at least two hours early to do some light jogging, stretching, basic warm-up, footwork, points, rest, and then another brief warm-up just prior to your match.

After you have answered these questions, highlight the areas that you feel are keeping you from that level. Each month, take up the task of improving two of your biggest weaknesses. Every month, review these questions and update your answers based on how your game is progressing. Hire a professional coach to give you guidance on how to improve long term. Changes take time, so be persistent in practice and look to have great results within one year.

Remember to also keep practicing your strengths! By keeping your strengths strong and improving your weaknesses, you will be on your way to the next level.

Samson Dubina

In table tennis, footwork is important for all levels. Using the Newgy Robo-Pong 2050 is one of the best ways to improve footwork. Most players try to improve their side-to-side footwork, which is important. However, only a few players try to improve their in-and-out footwork.

In-and-out footwork is vitally important for the slow block, especially when you are away from the table. Watch how Joo Se Hyuk demonstrates the stepping in on this video.

Using the Newgy Robo-Pong 2050, I go to:

1. Normal Mode
2. Topspin
3. Head Angle 8
4. Speed 12
5. L Position 10
6. R Position 20
7. Wait 1.40
8. Oscillator ON
9. Speed Random 5

This drill will give me varied depths of balls to my forehand. I focus on staying away from the table, then stepping forward for the slow ball. I suggest adding this drill to your daily training routine; you will be seeing major improvements in just a couple weeks.

Samson Dubina

I have been to the Newgy Table Tennis Center several times but I would like to tell you about my first training there. The Training Center (which is also Newgy’s headquarters) is located in Gallatin, Tennessee just outside of Nashville.

When I went in the front door, I saw the pro shop on my right that sells various table tennis items and equipment, and their offices just past that. Next, I went past their lounge area and then on to the main playing arena. The next room is called their “Robot Room” where there were five Robo-Pong table tennis robots set up. The Center has the Olympic red mat flooring and was very nice.

Now on to my training. I was introduced to Coach Barney Reed, Sr., who was very nice and hands on with his teaching. We started off slow with just a warm-up drill while Coach watched. We then went into more detailed things. He saw one of my problems was with my footwork and where my feet were actually going on the ground. He got some tape and taped it on the ground where he wanted my feet to go. This was helpful seeing each time where he specifically wanted me.

As this part of the session was coming to an end, we moved towards the end of the room where there was a ping-pong® table set up that can be lowered for little kids. Part of the training at the Newgy Table Tennis Center includes filming different aspects of the training so the Coach can analyze it, point out certain things to the student later and then improve on them.

When we came back from lunch it was now time to actually hit with the Coach. We warmed up and did some drills. He corrected me throughout the drills and really helped me apply what I learned on the robot to the real game. We closed it out with a match. The area where you play matches is very spacious, closed and individual courts and also had the same Olympic red mat flooring. Overall I would give my experience an A+ at the Newgy Table Tennis Training Center.

Pierce Scott

The Olympic Trials are just a couple days away. This is what I’ve been training for since I began playing table tennis and can honestly say that I don’t have any regrets up to this day about the lifestyle that I’ve chosen to live for the past few years.

While I was in California for a month training, I stuck to a strict schedule. All I did during the day was go to the gym, eat, play table tennis and sleep. Being away from my family and friends helped me focus on what I went there to do and that helped me enormously. I’m happy to say that I will be going in to the trials knowing that I’ve prepared as much as possible and will be at my best. I’m heading down to North Carolina today to warm up. I will begin playing the trials on Friday. Hopefully, I’ll make the team. But If I don’t, I am glad that I will be able to say that I gave it my best.

Wish me luck!

Michael Landers

One of the main things that I’ve been working on during my training in California is my opening loop off of a half-long ball. In table tennis, there are three main types of balls that can be served or received (in terms of depth). The ball can either come short (the ball will bounce twice on your side if you don’t touch it), long (the ball will only bounce once on your side and will come off the end of the table), and half-long (the ball’s second bounce is very close to the edge of the table).

Many times when a match is tight the opposing player cannot control how short they serve the ball and the ball ends up coming half-long, giving you the opportunity to attack the ball. However, these types of balls take much practice to master. They require a much shorter stroke and much greater use of the wrist.

Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when attacking a half-long ball:

1. Make sure that you keep your stroke compact

2. Use a lot of wrist to spin the ball and make up for your short stroke

3. Stay as low as possible

By doing these three things, you could easily control the match and dictate each point.

Michael Landers