Many of my previous articles have been geared toward beating loopers.  In this article, I would like to give advice to you (the looper) and talk about improvements that you need to make in order to reach the next level in your looping game.
 
 
 
If you are a beginner looper (0-1400 rated) and looking to make good progress this year.  I recommend taking the following steps:

 
 
 
 
 
Most top players agree that you must watch the approaching ball.  Then as you contact the ball, you must focus your attention on your opponent’s racket.  By watching the incoming ball, you will be able to make the last second adjustments.   Then, by watching your opponent’s racket, you will have a good idea of what stroke he will be using and where he generally intends to hit (even prior to him hitting the ball).  These concepts are very basic.
 

 
 
 
 
 
From the moment that you first walk-in the table tennis club, it is a good idea to be friendly and known as “Mr. Nice Guy.”  There are several reasons that I recommend that you take this approach.  First, you must realize that the club members are your training partners, not your enemies.  Don’t be so nit-picky complaining about Ron tossing the ball only five inches on his serve and Joe taking too long between points. 
 

 
 
 
 
When copying top athletes, it is very important to understand the elements that make a champion successful.  For example, Ma Long is the 2015 World champion BECAUSE OF his fast footwork and other strong aspects of his game.  Fang Bo is better than many top players BECAUSE OF his powerful forehand.  Zhang Jike won the last Olympics BECAUSE OF his strong mental game.  These are some of the elements that make champions great.
 

 
 
 
 
 
Your game should be structured around many different types of shots (serve, return, loop, push, smash, block) and many different variations of each shot (speed, spin, depth, placement, height).  Most players are very irregular in the types of shots that they use throughout the match, and so these players think that they are being “tricky” or “irregular” throughout their matches.
 
When closely inspected through video analysis, many of these players are truly good at different types of shots BUT very bad at variations for each shot.

 
 
 
After reading hundreds of coaching articles, taking lessons, practicing at home, playing at the club, and competing in tournament, you are probably wondering…  “When will I improve?”  You will improve your game when you begin making the right decisions and are consistently able to execute your shots.  So what kind of right decisions are necessary for improvement?  This is the exact topic that I will be talking about in this article - Decisions.  I will be talking about two game styles to illustrate my point – the looper and the chopper.
 

 
 
 
 
From my very first appointment with Physical Therapist Rick Zimmerman, I knew that he was truly there to help me.  He wasn’t busy reading my chart or ordering me around.  He was there letting me explain my issues and was genuinely concerned with helping me.
 

 
 
 
 
Many aspiring coaches talk to me about improving their coaching skills.  I feel that the most important aspect is developing early credibility.  So how do you establish credibility when you were never a good player, never a good coach, and never had any elite students?
 
You quote.
 

   
 
 
 
 Here is an article that I wrote last year, and decided to re-post.  
 
 
 
Kids love table tennis.  Even starting as young as five years old, kids love the excitement.  Many parents don’t see the benefit.  They must realize that table tennis training develops character.