Table Tennis Tactics for Thinkers

Very important book for understand the tactical concepts of TT

This book is the missing link between technical expertise and match outcome. Usually, you perfect all the strokes without knowing why. This book puts those strokes into cohesive pattern. You will learn the distinction between strategic (for long-termed result) and tactical (for immediate result) thinking along the way. After reading this book, you'll see tabletennis matches in different light. You'll appreciate the nuances of shot selection and the most important thing is you know "why" they use them. A lot of examples in this book. Larry puts questions in between the narrative to make you "think". Thanks, Larry, for writing this book. I'm an intermediate player without proper coach. Previously, I blindly practice strokes and drills without clear goal. In matches, I played blindly, instinctively. Most of the time, I didn't know why I won. And more importantly, I didn't know why I lost. So I had no way to improve my game. Your book gives meaning to my training. I'll train with strategic mind and compete with tactical thinking. Finally, to answer your question, YES, Larry, you made me THINK. Thank you.

I've been playing seriously for about two years so I am still learning the many important aspects of competitive Table Tennis. While searching the internet and other places I found a lot of information on technique but not much on tactics. This book is a fantastic resource that covers a wide variety of topics. I feel like it focused my thinking onto a number of important aspects that apply to each of the different shots and situations that you can face against each opponent. My only small issue is I have been following Mr. Hodges' blog and I have read a number of his articles and tips of the day. Since much of the information in those online sources was also included in the book, I had seen a lot of it before. But having it all in one place was well worth the price of the book.

Lots of useful tips for players and coaches at every level..learned a few new tactics to use in matches that are already winning me points. And even if I knew some of these things it's a good validation that I've been doing it right.

I am a low rated player and read this book easily, as it is written very clearly and easy for anyone to understand. I have put some of the information into action already and it has helped. My husband is a much better player than me as well as a USATT & ITTF Coach and he also read this book. He has suggested his students read this book and even carry it with them to a tournament fo a quick refresher before their matches. Much of the information is known by the better players already, but Larry puts it all together so it is easy to find and all in one book. It is really a super reference tool. Including a chapter on hard bat and "funny" rubber surfaces adds to the value as most current players really need to better understand the way these surfaces play. I suggest every table tennis player have this book in their library. Bravo Larry. Aloha!

As with most, mid to lower level table tennis players, I am always looking for resources. Sure the Internet forums and YouTube have some great content... But for me there are a couple of problems utilizing online content. First, are they someone worth listening to? Hard to know with most forums and YouTube channels. Second, and most important to me...Can they make the information they are putting out understandable? Sure they can play... But are they good teachers? I have a copy of this book on my nightstand and after I play someone who totally baffles me with a style or rubber or whatever thing that I have no idea how to deal with... This book tells me what it was... And what to do about it. My copy is bookmarked and highlighted to the extent of nearly requiring a fresh copy. It is simply the best book on table tennis. The title might give some the impression that it's only for high IQ table tennis masterminds... My suggestioned alternative title would be "Table Tennis for People Who are Tired of Getting Beat".

The title says it accurately and more. If you think about it, a lot of concept can be applied to life. It talks about the concept of strategies and tactics. Strategies are what you want to achieve in life and tactics are steps you take to get there. The author gave an example of who a player concentrated on improving he weaker skill but ended up neglecting the other skill he was naturally good at and subsequently suffered more loses. How many people do the same thing in their lives? He also emphasized this game is a life long learning path. There are always new playing styles and tactics out there I never saw. Do I need to show more examples? This book is a must have for every table tennis player.

The pages are stuck at the bottom. The top edge look white and pages are separated but the bottom look black and pages need to be manually cut and separated. Printing does not look very professional. Table of contents is too brief. There is no information on any page that would tell you where you are in the overall contents.

I love it. I am actually reading it for a second time and underlining the best parts so that I can review them just before competition.

A concise treatise on the art and craft of playing table tennis. Mental game, as well as game tactics, strategy, choice of equipment, adapting to diverse styles of game playing from the adversary, and many other issues, are discussed in a clever and knowledgeable way. An highly reccommended read for any table tennis player: a thorough overview of the sport.

The book has a lot of useful information and tips to improve your game, no matter what level do you have. One of the main ideas is that you have to distinguish between tactical thinking and strategical thinking. The former is related with the plan that you develop for an specific match, it is about winning with the tools that you already have. In the other hand, strategical thinking consists in developing your game style, for example if your want to be a looper you must go a practice short backspin serve and then loop. This kind of thinking is very important not only during a match, but during training. Other ideas which I liked are that you have to know your game, even you should be able to write a book about it. And despite the fact that its a book about thinking, the author says that when you start a point, you shoud stop thinking and let your subconscious act, he is your friend and partner, but you should tell him in any other moment what to do, so you should think about tactics and strategy always! (sorry for the sure mistakes, english is not my native language)

It's a good read, focused mostly on USA table tennis ecosystem but ideas and information mentioned in it can be applicable in rest of world too.

This book was recommended to me by a TT coach, at first I was a bit skeptical about it, but now although I haven't finished it, can say that it's a wealth of knowledge.