MIX UP YOUR SERVES
Mix up serves of different length and spin. Some examples of advanced serves include medium-long, deep, short, down-the-line, pure spin, pure speed, etc. Serves to the elbow tend to be very effective, since the receiver must quickly decide (and often does not in time) to use a forehand or backhand.

DEVELOP A THIRD BALL ATTACK
Develop a third-ball attack. This is where you serve, the receiver receives, and you nail one in for a winner. An example is a short backspin serve, followed by a long push, then a powerful loop. If you haven't mastered the loop, then be position to attempt to win the point on the third time the ball is struck. This is called the third-ball attack. It takes practice, but it is effective.

ATTACK WHEN YOU CAN
Attack whenever you can, primarily on a long serve. It has been proven that the player to open the offense most often usually wins point, set, and match. In today's game of table tennis, a defensive player cannot effectively defend the high speed and spin attacks of their opponents. This is why you MUST learn to attack, attack, attack!

WATCH YOUR OPPONENT'S RACKET WHEN THE BALL IS STRUCK
When receiving a serve, keep your eyes mostly on the opponent's racket. If you have ever seen World Champion Jan-Ove Waldner play, you can see that he makes a quick glimpse at how high the ball is tossed, then watches back down to the racket. If you keep your eyes on the ball, the server will baffle you with his deceptions. By watching the racket, you can better determine what sort of spin is being imparted on the ball. Be sure to watch the exact movement of the racket as it makes contact with the ball. Watch which way the blade of the racket is moving when contact is made and the angle of the impact. This takes practice, but it will improve your game, especially against players who put a great amount of spin on the ball during serves and volleys.

MIX UP YOUR RETURNS
When receiving, mix up your returns. Most players too often tend to push, allowing their opponents to start the offense. Mixing up loops, drives, pushes, chops, etc. provides for excellent variation and a bewildered opponent. Don't keep hitting the same return to the same place on the table. If you do, your opponent will be waiting with racket in hand, to take advantage of you. Practice returning serves and volleys in many different directions, speeds, and spins. This is a good strategy and you will learn how important it is as you improve your game.


ACQUIRE A SENSIBLE TABLE TENNIS RACKET & RUBBER
If you are ready for professional equipment, begin with a medium-fast blade (rather than fast). A medium-fast blade allows you to rely more on technique than on equipment to get the ball over the net. It will also provide optimum control. The most important consideration for a blade, however, is that it provides good "feeling." As for rubber try to get the "beginner" kinds for the beginning. The reason for this is because beginner rubbers are designed with less spin and speed, and this translates into easier returns of spinny balls. Trying to return a sidespin serve will be a hair-pulling experience for a beginner if he/she uses an overly spinny rubber.


FOREHANDS & BACKHANDS--YOU NEED BOTH
Forehands are the way to go. To hit forehands wherever you are on the table, you will need to develop good side-to-side footwork. But it never hurts to work extra on your backhand so that your opponent won't know what hit him/her when you blast that down the line backhand smash! The best players are always two-winged, or being able to attack almost equally well on both hands.
Practice your forehand and your backhand. Most players win with their forehand shots, but a weak backhand can cost a player many games. Get a partner to practice backhand strokes until you feel comfortable. Keep practicing, it is worth the effort.

DON'T GIVE UP IF YOU ARE LOSING A MATCH
When you are losing in a match, or have missed several shots in a row, don't get mad, get even. Ask yourself what needs to be done in order to beat the problem that is plaguing your game. Then try the solution. If it doesn't work, do it again. Until the match is over, you should never give up. If it is your turn to serve, then you are allotted a reasonable amount of time per serve to wait and think things over before you toss the ball. Take advantage of it.