Table Tennis Tips

One of the best table tennis tactics you can employ is simply to be consistent and keep the ball in play for longer than your opponent.

By becoming more consistent you can often win points by default, benefiting from your opponents unforced errors.

However, achieving consistency requires practice, practice, practice.

Therefore you'll need to practice your strokes using a good selection of routines and practice drills in order to achieve consistency.

Consistency of strokes will only be achieved by continued practice. Spend at least 15 minutes on each of the following drills.

And don't forget to do your warm up exercises first!

1. Backhand to backhand

The first drill is backhand to backhand crosscourt.

Both players will use a backhand stroke, returning the ball to the backhand corner only.

Start by using a backhand push and then both players progress to a backhand drive.

2. Forehand to forehand

Next, switch sides and play forehand to forehand crosscourt.

Both players will use a forehand stroke, returning the ball to the forehand corner only.

Start by using a forehand push and then both players progress to a forehand drive.

3. Backhand to forehand

The next basic practice drill is playing backhand to forehand down the line.

One player uses only backhand strokes, whilst the other player uses only forehand strokes.

Start by both players using a push stroke, then progress to one player using a backhand drive whilst the other uses a forehand block.

Then, the two players switch ends and each plays the strokes just used by the other player.

4. Forehand to backhand

The last basic practice drill is playing forehand to backhand down the line.

One player uses only forehand strokes, whilst the other player uses only backhand strokes.

Start by both players using a push stroke, then progress to one player using a forehand drive whilst the other uses a backhand block.

Then, the two players switch over and each plays the strokes just used by the other player.

All of the above table tennis tips and practice drills will help you to become more consistent. And this in itself will win you more games.

But, whilst consistency of strokes is important, the above practice drills don't involve much movement, particularly the side to side movement which usually occurs during a table tennis game.

As it's a good table tennis tactic to move your opponent around the table, you'll therefore need to practice your footwork and your placement skills with some advanced practice drills.

These practice drills involves one player practising his placement skills whilst the other player practices his movement skills.

Remember ... consistency will only be achieved by continued practice, so spend at least 15 minutes on each of the following drills.

And don't forget to do your warm up exercises first!

1. Backhand and forehand to backhand

One player will use his backhand and forehand to practice his movement skills, whilst the other player will use his backhand only to practice his placement skills.

Start with one player playing alternate backhand and forehand push strokes to the backhand corner, whilst the other player plays backhand push strokes alternately to the backhand and forehand corners.

Then, one player plays alternate backhand and forehand drives to the backhand corner, whilst the other plays a backhand block alternately to the backhand and forehand corners.

Finally, the two players switch ends and each plays the strokes just used by the other player.

2. Backhand and forehand to forehand

One player will use his backhand and forehand to practice his movement skills, whilst the other player will use his forehand only to practice his placement skills.

Start with one player playing alternate forehand and backhand push strokes to the forehand corner, whilst the other player plays forehand push strokes alternately to the backhand and forehand corners.

Then, one player plays alternate backhand and forehand drives to the forehand corner, whilst the other plays a forehand block alternately to the backhand and forehand corners.

Finally, the two players switch ends and each plays the strokes just used by the other player.

3. Forehand / forehand / backhand to backhand

And finally, here's a routine that I used to use a lot.

One player will play two forehand drives followed by one backhand drive to practice his movement skills, whilst the other player will use a backhand block to practice his placement skills.

The first shot is played by the player using just his backhand.

He plays a topspin serve to the other players forehand corner, who then plays a forehand drive back to the backhand corner.

The server then plays a backhand block to the middle of the table and the other player plays a forehand drive back to the backhand corner.

The server then plays another backhand block to the backhand corner and the other player plays a backhand drive back to the backhand corner.

The server continues the sequence by playing his next shot to the forehand corner and continuing as above.

By the way ... this drill can get very tiring!!!

For more information on how to play table tennis and improve your game, take a look at my other tips and techniques articles ...