Top 12 Tips
Idan Levi
11/8/2006

1. One of the most common upsets happens when a player wins the first game very easily and then loses the match. When you win the first easily, you may have difficulty playing hard in the second game. If you win the first game, be very careful. Your opponent will now start to play more carefully and probably will start to make some adjustments! The best way of dealing with this is to start the second game with a strong focus just as if it were the first game. Be ready to try a few new things while not forgetting what worked in game one.
2. As a table tennis player, another common mistake happens when your opponent is lobbing, and you just stand there and relax. Lobbed balls can be very hard to deal with if you don’t treat them seriously. Be very, very careful with them and make sure that you don’t overhit or you may lose the point!
3. Improving your strokes. In order to make your stroke sounder and more efficient, try playing in front of a mirror and see exactly how you look, or just videotape your practice, and watch it afterward with your coach. I promise it will help your game.
4. Eleven-point games are not over until one of the players gets the eleven points. Often I see a player leading 8–4 or 9–5, and then a minute later the player has lost at 8–11 or 9–11. You can’t let anything change. You should keep the pressure on all the way to the end. If you take a short break mentally, you might lose!
5. Mix up your serves. The best servers serve all types of balls: medium, long, deep, short, down-the-line, pure spin, combination spin, no spin, etc. Serves to the elbow tend to be very effective, since the receiver must quickly decide to use a forehand or backhand. Also, when you play against a lefty, you have to make the adjustment with the spin change so you don’t hit the ball off the wrong side of the table due to the sidespin!
6. Make a game plan. Don’t just go to the table to play mindlessly. Think about your third-ball attack, your serve, and your serve return. These are very important things to think about when you practice so you will build a solid game plan for your next tournament. When you think about them in practice, they will become automatic in tournaments.
7. Receiving Service. Very often we get into a pattern in a match where we do the same returns over and over. At first, it works great, but then our opponent gets used to it. Don’t be afraid to mix up your serve returns to keep your opponent wondering at all times.
8. Food. Some players don’t understand how important it is to eat the right foods and to drink the right drinks, even days before the start of a competition. Doing that will help you play at your optimum level and reduce the chances of you feeling lethargic. Table tennis is a very fast-paced sport, and being alert is a must.
9. Negative thoughts. Sometimes before a match, we look at the draw and our opponent looks much stronger on paper, and we might think there is no chance to win. You should never think that you will lose. Go play, and try your best. The most important thing is to believe in yourself!
10. Placements. Don’t play like a robot and go to the same direction over and over. Always look at the body position of your opponent so that you can hit the ball to get off balance.
11. Use your head at all times. Try to write down what worked for you when you played your best and also what areas of your game you need to improve, especially after a tournament. This will help you save time when you practice and help you improve at the fastest rate.
12. Opponent in the zone. If your opponent is in the zone, take a few extra seconds to pick up the ball or tie your shoes to gain some time and to let them cool down. Don’t try to stall, but use the time allotted to you to your advantage. Never let your opponent control both the timing during and after the point.

[Playing Tips.]