Coping with random play in table tennis

Table tennis is a game of randomness. You don't know what shot your opponent will play or where your opponent will hit the ball.
How can we cope with this randomness? How can we better anticipate what shot our opponent will play and where the ball will go?
In this video, we give some good tips on how to cope better with random play. You will hear both from me and also coach Martin, who plays British League and is very good at reading his opponents.
If you struggle with random play, this video should really help.
For more information about my table tennis training camps, go to: www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/tr...
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[@TomLodziak]

For more information about my training camps, go to: www.tabletenniscoach.me.uk/training-camps/

[@Franky_1974]

I always use this technique. Sometimes the opponent can't believe the balls that come back because I see where he wants to put the ball. This gives you plenty of time to prepare and assess where the ball will hit the table, depending on your opponent's skill level. Of course that doesn't always work. But relatively often. Thanks for sharing your tips.

[@enterback8057]

Hell yeah, best channel for anything table tennis related

[@edl9125]

Nice video Tom, Thanks for making it. Can you also expand on this video by showing how you can influence where your opponent will likely return the ball by you putting right or left sidespin on it!!!

[@MattCM89]

Another fantastic video thank you so much. This is something so important i find in games.

[@JAYDEV402]

Excellent...!!

[@Uncle-Basil]

This is an excellent video that can really improve my game. It's a technique that requires a lot of focus, movement and positioning...I will give it a try...thanks for sharing!

[@Martydogable]

Brilliant Tom

[@Wideopen69]

Grande Tom ✊🏻

[@xxx0ox0]

Good information jokes on him though i dont even know where im going to hit my next shot

[@hasanurrahman4386]

Good coaching.

[@_bananan]

Great video, thank you, Tom! But the recommendation to watch the opponent's bat is opposite to what Alois Rosario and Jeff Plumb from Pingskills repeatedly propose: watch the ball, that's the only thing that matters starting from the point of serve toss. They even suggest a number of drills in their 52 Week Training Plan that promote watching the ball.

[@martingray4515]

Hi Oleg, Thanks and very good advice from Alois and Jeff on keeping an eye on the ball. I started off talking in the course about being aware of the racket angle, body and head as the ball is hit. Trying to get the players at the camp to watch how Tom's bat angle, body and head could give clues and impact placement. It's more about match awareness and getting as much information as you can about the likely ball position. This is an extra, which will assist in match play. It moves on to lines and angles of attack and defense.. Which is a further subject and then to breaking the balance of an opponent which is another topic again!. Its little bits of the jigsaw, that can and will help when you are fighting hard in a match. Hope that helps and give it a try and see if it helps and works for you!.

[@MarcelSM01]

Thanks Tom. I know this but for some reason, I don't do it most of the time.

[@halter777]

gracias amigo

[@milsiknuff]

Thanks....and it's the reason robots are great tools, but can't help you in this case. For me starting at 45 it took me to learn the different strokes now reading the game is hard to do, I still follow the ball too much like....uhhh, yes the was a good one...no, it's coming back again...

[@vinexylee]

Can you please make a video about fixing a retractable table tennis net!!!. Because i broke mine😢 and it would be amazing if you make a video on how to fix it because me and my friends cannot play table tennis anymore😢

[@skedtm]

I tried this tip and in my first game it sort of helped but in the second the opponents bat and chest was literally facing my forehand side, but the ball went straight to my backhand corner. There was no sidespin on the ball either. I lost this 4 times and ended up losing the game. I think it's a good tip but in reality it doesn't always work.

[@martingray4515]

Great news it was some help first go trying!. It's like any skill/tool it does take a time to improve and keep sharp but will improve awareness overall of lines of play. It'll hopefully buy you a little extra time to position and deploy your strokes. You are 100% correct as well on what you said. Some tells and visual clues are quite hard to pick up until they are tuned into. It's an ongoing skill. Hope you get time to improve it and play strong! Cheers

[@TomLodziak]

So for this particular opponent there should be a clue with the bat angle that the ball will go down the line. It may be very subtle, but the clue will be there. The more you play this opponent and the more you look out for it, then you will start to see.