My new table tennis book will be available soon!  This 200-page daily reader will take you on a 100-day journey.  Each day, you will learn new skills needed to take your game to the elite level.  Place your pre-order from June 19-27 and receive FREE shipping!  Preorders will be sent July 2015.  Orders placed after June 27th will be shipped August 2015.  To pre-order, send a $19.99 paypal payment to tt@samsondubina.com.  Ohio customers add $1.35 sales tax.
 
 
 

 
 
By Larry Thoman 
General Manager of Newgy Industries
 
 

 
 
 
As of October 27th, the Nittaku 3-star SHA poly ball is the official ball used at the Samson Dubina Table Tennis Academy. 
 

Throughout the year, many players have been improving through the use of robot practice.  If you purchase a Newgy Robot from me, then you can receive 3 hours of free skype lessons.  Call Roger at 1-800-55-NEWGY and tell him that Samson sent you.  If you are an advanced player, then your lessons will be geared toward very advanced robot drills.  If you are a beginner, then here is an outline for your first 3 skype lessons:
 
 
Robot Skype Lesson #1 (60 minutes)
 
Basic rules of the game
Grip
Stance
Basic robot set-up and take-down

Which racket/rubber combination is the best?  It depends on your skill level and your style.  I’m going to outline several styles and give racket/rubber recommendations.

In this article, Richard McAfee lists 100 steps that every top player need to take to reach perfection in table tennis.  I hope that reading this will be as beneficial to you as it has been to me.
 
Technical development
STAGE 1
1. Athlete will be able to produce and explain a proper grip, including pressure points.
2. Athlete will be able to demonstrate the proper ready position.
3. Athlete will be able to execute the following basic strokes with correct form, directional control, and with an 80% success rate when fed by coach:

The Pongtrac is now available http://samsondubina.com/products
 

 
I have personally been training with the Newgy Robo-Pong 2050 for the last 4 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2l8t3XDuKo   I use the robot a couple hours each day to keep my game sharp.  Here are some of the features that I really appreciate about the 2050:
 
1.  The setup for my robot only takes one minute.  It is always ready for a quick training session at any time of the day or night.
 

 
When playing at a local table tennis club, a player generally needs his racket and shoes.  However, there are some other items that he might want to include when traveling to a tournament.  Below is the list of items that I generally bring:
 
Racket
Shoes
Spare racket – identical and assembled
Extra rubber
Balls
Video camera
Tripod
Hand towel
Floor towel
Glue
Glue sponge applicator
Scissors
Snacks
Drinks
Money
USATT Membership Card
USATT Rule Book

Choosing a Beginner Racket
 
When choosing a beginner racket, there are several key elements to look for.
1. Surface
Choose a racket that has inverted rubber.  It should have sponge that is about 1.5 mm with a pips-in topsheet that is slightly grippy.
 
2. Speed
The speed should be medium-low to allow for best ball control and stroke development.
 
3. Weight
The weight should be fairly light, especially for juniors.
 
4. Approved
For tournament use, the rubber must say “ITTF Approved”. 
 
5. Type