Making Peace with the Edge

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by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2023-09-15 00:46

Learn to deal with half-long balls...

The score was 9-9 in the final game, your opponent served a half-long serve to your backhand, you thought that the serve was long enough to loop, but it wasn’t. With a full backswing, you looped right into the table! Ouch! As blood began to gush from the back of your hand, you wondered to yourself how this could have been prevented. In this article, I’m going to give you ten tips on how to make peace with the edge of the table.

1. Move both feet properly into position
2. Keep your hand in-front of your body and slightly above the table so that you can properly decide whether to push, loop, or flip
3. Read the bounce on your side to see if the first bounce is deep toward your end-line or short near the net
4. Take a short backswing when looping the half-long ball
5. Swing over the table if the serve is topspin, sidespin, or no spin making sure your strongest acceleration is after you have passed the edge realizing that the table will not come up and bit you
6. Allow the ball to come off the end of the table if it is backspin
7. Take a very controlled swing when pushing the half-long ball focusing on spin and placement rather than speed
8. Keep a relaxed grip on the racket in case you decide to change your mind at the last second
9. Step back after looping to properly prepare for the rally
10. Look to follow-up strong on the next ball

Many serves go long enough to loop. Looking to loop those serves is the most neglected aspect of looping half-long serves. Expect half-long serve, look for half-long serves, and try to loop half-long serves during each practice session, club match, and tournament. Also, realize that it is merely the first step in the process of winning the point. Expect the rally to continue and always be thinking about the next ball; and continually think to yourself “what is coming next… what is coming next… what is coming next…”

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ITTF Coach Samson Dubina

Learn Table Tennis - ONLINE

During the last 15 years, I have been blessed with the opportunity to coach many players - recreational to national champions. Some are kids, some teens, some adults, and some seniors. After closing the Samson Dubina TT Academy, I have now shifted to sharing my table tennis knowledge to players worldwide with live, personalized, online coaching.

Yes, I now have openings.
Yes, I'm available to give you an online lesson.

Everything that we work on together will be accumulative.
Here is the adventure that we will go on together...

Step 1
Your goals. Yes, we will have an interactive discussion about your short term, medium term, and long term goals.

Step 2
Your commitment. We will talk about your weekly schedule and your opportunities to improve.

Step 3
Your progress. We will discuss ways of measuring your progress, overcoming obstacles, developing a playing system, strengthening your strong points, and reaching your peak potential.

Step 4
The Sessions. I highly suggest 1 or 2 online lessons per week. Between lessons, you will have assigned training sessions to maximize your improvement and test your skills.

Pitfalls
Yes, there are several pitfalls to avoid. The first pitfall is to think that you cannot improve with online lessons. You truly can improve. I have given over 700 online lessons to people around the world and these students have seen results - measured results! The second pitfall is thinking that just one lesson will do it. It won't. Everything that you are learning is accumulative. I'm personally looking for major improvement over the course of weeks and months, not minutes. This is the reason that I have the price structure designed to give you excellent discounts with long-term commitments. Why? Because I'm interested in seeing major progress. This will only happen with a long-term plan. The final pitfall to avoid is thinking that Samson will do everything for you. I won't. It will take much effort on your part with weekly notes, weekly discipline to follow a structured training program, and the mental focus to remember and apply what you are learning.

Rates
$225/hour for 1 hour  Pay Now
$85/hour for 10 hours  Pay Now
$75/hour for 20 hours  Pay Now
$65/hour for 30 hours  Pay Now

Once you have made the online payment via PayPal, then take a look at my online calendar. Next, e-mail me the lesson time slots that you want. I'll confirm, add it to the calendar, and see you at your upcoming lesson!

FAQs About Online Coaching

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Have a question? I love questions!
E-Mail me today tt@SamsonDubina.com

See You Soon!
Coach Samson Dubina

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