The Expert Table Tennis Blog

We’ve all seen those crazy lob rallies. A player is defending for their life, far away from the table, popping the ball up high in the air, only to have it smashed back at them.

It sure does look impressive and although it might appear a little ridiculous and counter-intuitive to the untrained eye, lobbing is a great form of defence when you are forced away from the table. And it is much easier to learn than you would think!

[Read more…] about How to Lob Like a Pro (in 4 Steps)

It is no secret that effective serving can be what makes or breaks a match. It is quite literally the only time in a match that you have complete control of the ball – so you’d better make it count! Table tennis serves matter!

Whilst having unorthodox serves certainly places you in a more advantageous position, it is often the bread and butter (the simple serves) that you revert to when things aren’t going your way. It is for this reason, today, I will be discussing three core table tennis serves every player should master.

[Read more…] about 3 Table Tennis Serves Every Player Should Master

Today’s post will teach you how to beat a chopper (in just four simple steps). Choppers are extremely defensive players. They chop in order to keep the ball on the table, create long rallies, and to limit your attacking options. This is why choppers are so hard to outmuscle!

Chopping isn’t as popular today as it was – the attacking style is largely dominant – but don’t neglect training against the chopping style. If you haven’t honed your game to face choppers, you may find yourself in a world of trouble when you finally face one. 

[Read more…] about How to Beat a Chopper (in 4 Simple Steps)

This month’s post is all about hooks and fades. I am sure a lot of you will have heard of them, but just how good are they and how do you perform them effectively? 

[Read more…] about Hooks and Fades (Elevate Your Loop Game)

When I think of rare shots in table tennis, the chop block is the first shot that comes to mind. How many of you can say that you use it even just once per training session? Very few I imagine.

The chop block is a slick, potent shot that is very difficult to perform consistently. It’s the epitome of ‘high risk, high reward’. But remember, fortune favours the bold. Chop blocks can wreak havoc on your opponent’s timing and given how rare they are, they work effectively against most players.

[Read more…] about The Chop Block (The Most Neglected Shot in Table Tennis)