Product Description
Step up to table tennis success! Table Tennis: Steps to Success combines the knowledge and experience of master instructor Richard McAfee with essential table tennis techniques and strategies for today's player.

With a unique 11-step approach designed to maximize table tennis instruction, you'll learn the proper grip for your style of play, execution of the basic strokes, and the correct way to apply spin to the ball. Then, build on these core techniques with masterful footwork, serves, returns, and stroke combinations.

Best of all, learn how and when to apply those skills in match play. With competitive strategies--adapted for both you and your opponent's playing style--you'll raise your game to a new level. And with clear instruction, comprehensive coverage, detailed photo sequences, and drills to ensure mastery of every technique, you'll be playing--and winning--in no time.

As part of the Steps to Success Sports Series--with more than 1.5 million copies sold--rest assured that Table Tennis: Steps to Success is the #1 resource for learning, and loving, the game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Some helpful tips make this book worthwhile
I have been playing pingpong for years but never had lessons, read any instructions, or had anyone teach me.I decided to get this book.It Explains footwork, strokes, understanding and imparting spin, and returning serves.I wasnt too interested in the history of ping-pong but the step by step lessons were good.I came to realize that I had developed some bad habbits and skipped over some important developmental steps since my goal was to improve my game at work where it is friendly but competitive.

Best reading on table tennis I have found
I am a member of a small table tennis club (15 or less members), and everyone who has read this (we have shared it) has learned something from the book.It is a well organized, practical, and as much as is possible to write about a visual sport, helpful.The guy obviously knows how to coach; if I could live in Denver, I would definitely try to get some coaching time in from him.But I digress, back to the book, he has numerous useful photos showing various skills and how to practice certain drills to make you more proficient.All of our group loves his picture on serves (it shows a wheel and the angle of the paddle coming up from the wheel to give the proper angle for the paddle to come up to make contact with the ball.You have to see it to understand it.Anyway, it's a good book, well worth the money if you are in the lower or middle range of table tennis skills.

Very Pleased!
Haven't finished book yet but based upon what I have read, the book gives great technique on playing table tennis.Illustrations are well done and concepts are easy to grasp.Drills are effective and specific to skill sets trained for.

Learn the Modern Attacking Style
An excellent book for beginning and novice players wanting to learn the modern attacking style of play.Also has some information that can be of value to more experienced players.Explains footwork, strokes, understanding and imparting spin, and returning serves.Gives training drills for developing basic table tennis skills.Gives history of the sport not included in many other table tennis books.

Great resource for beginners and intermediate players
Richard McAfee's new instructional guide, Table Tennis Steps to Success provides straightforward advice for beginning and intermediate players and their coaches. Coach McAfee covers basic technique and strategy, and provides detailed drills. Each stroke is illustrated with photos and diagrams that highlight correct technique. Common technique mistakes and corrections for each are highlighted. Each new stroke introduction is followed by a drill that helps the player use it in a game situation.A key feature of the book is that each drill includes scoring criteria that help the player track their progress and find their own relative strengths and weaknesses.

The chapter titled Using the Five-Ball Training System presents a well-rounded set of drills designed to mirror common game situations. Each drill includes a diagram, and points out key elements for success at the drill. Any player below the 2000 level who is armed with a table, a practice partner, willingness to work and a desire to improve can use this section of the book to become a better player.

Along with the instructional material, McAfee includes some information that other books have left out: a concise history of the sport, a section on unwritten rules and etiquette, basic stretching instruction and injury treatment. Coach McAfee also describes common styles of play, including the traditional strengths and weaknesses of each. A section on serve tactics includes suggestions on which serves to use against each style. The book concludes with an excellent section on how to get the most out of tournament play. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you’re a competitive tournament player or a serious recreational player, Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies will help you improve your game.

Dan Seemiller, 5-time U.S. singles and 11-time doubles champion, shows you all the shots and strategies for top-level play. The book features 29 drills for better shot-making, plus Seemiller’s own grip and shot innovations that will give you an edge over the competition.

Featuring the most effective table tennis techniques and strategies, Winning Table Tennis shows you how to

• choose the right equipment,

• serve and return serves,

• use proper footwork and get into position,

• practice more efficiently,

• prepare for competitions,

• make effective strategy decisions in singles and doubles play, and

• condition your body for optimal performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not what I was looking for
There is nothing wrong with this book, it was just not what I was looking for. I was looking for a book that might aid in the development of my table tennis game.I was looking for specific drills to improve my play and consistency.I would not recommend this book if this is what you are looking for.

Okay, as far as it goes
This is the best table tennis instructional book I ever read.But this isn't saying much considering this is just the second book I've read and the first was completely useless.

I can't remember the title of the first book but it used drawings to demonstrate strokes.The good thing about Winning Table Tennis is that it uses sequences of photographs which is much clearer in demonstrating how to hit a shot.

My biggest disappointment was that only about the first third of the book is about teaching table tennis techniques (strokes, footwork etc...).The rest of the book includes segments on warmups, losing weight, carbohydrates, proteins and workouts, which was not entirely relevant for most readers I would have thought...and certainly not the reason I bought the book.

Also, in illustrating strokes, any book has to realise that verbal descriptions are not that helpful.Instead, the heart and soul needs to be clear, comprehensive and sequential photographs.You can have a few words but these should not try to be comprehensive but rather just cover a few key points.This book only had photographs for some of the strokes, and the rest were completely written accounts - which wasn't good enough for me.

Last gripe.I know that the author Danny Seemiller is a very accomplished table tennis player, and I like his spunk in championing his own grip etc...but I thought the following sentence
"some elite playes, like J.O.Waldner and the author (Danny Seemiller), use sidespin bocks" was too self-serving and arrogant.I mean, sure he was no.17 in the world, but he was no Waldner.

I still gave it 3/5 because there really aren't enough table tennis books out there...and this was the best I've seen.

Helpful for Intermediate even Advanced Players
If you're looking for a "Teach yourself Table Tennis 101" type of book, this is not the one. In fact, this book is targetting to most intermediate and advanced table tennis players, although it covers some basic materials and standard strokes in a couple of chapters.

Most players focus on improving their looping and attacking skills. However, the author kept emphasizing the effectiviness of enhancing the match results by practicing serves and improving footwork. He did a good job on the chapter about the serves. He explained all the key important placements of the serves for various siturations and effects. For the footwork techniques, the lateral two-step, the up-and-back two-step, the backhand-corner two-step, and the lateral crossover are all covered in pictorial step-by-step details. Readers can easily follow and practice. The author also gave out some tips on tournament tactics, like ball placement, the short game, and varying the spin. Overall the book is good except the chapters on conditioning drills are a bit basic and weak.

(Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 14-Jan-2006)

Indispensable for TT players who really want to win.
This book is for players who already know how to play TT. It doesn't include the TT rules. Ideal for intermediate-level players who want to progress up to "professional" level. This book describes all the major strokes and footwork. It's the only book that describes the various services both forehand and backhand. (Table Tennis from A to Z by Messinis contains only a cursory and theoritical examination of the services.). But the best part about this book is the one about how to shape up yourself for the tournament. The warm-up/warm-down exercises are great. The chapter on nutrition is excellent. The chapter on strategy is brilliant. Furthermore, the "tone" of this book is quite reader-friendly: it's like hearing the author speaking by your ears. In short, buy this book and I guarantee you'll never regret it.

Great book to improve skills
As a new player this is the book to get. It does a great job describing the various skills of table tennis. It also tells you how to improve. Great book I am sure you will like if your serious about the game. ... Read more

Product Description
You have taken your first step to success in learning table tennis with the purchase of this book. Table Tennis: Steps to Success combines the knowledge and experience of master teacher Larry Hodges with the latest developments in learning how to become a proficient player.

Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a unique guide designed to maximize your table tennis progress. It is a breakthrough in sport skill instruction through its development of complete learning progressions—the steps to success. You will climb 15 steps on your way to table tennis success. Each step (chapter)

• explains why the concept or skill is important,

• identifies the keys to correct technique,

• helps you correct common errors,

• explains how to practice each skill in realistic ways,

• lists specific performance goals for each drill,

• gives you a summary checklist for evaluating proper technique, and

• lets you proceed at your own pace.

Each of the steps you will take is an easy transition from the one before. Your first few steps provide a solid foundation of basic skills and concepts. As you progress you will learn how to choose the proper stroke to match your various table tennis needs—whether for quickness, power, deception, or just fun.As you approach the top of your climb to success you will have gained confidence in your table tennis ability and experienced the satisfaction of becoming an accomplished player. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

good beginning tt book
good beginners book covering basic forward hand, backhand, ect.but, does not cover some needed pointers. however, i haven't seen any book that covers all the aspects of each of the strokes adequately.therefore, highly recommended.

EXCELLENT TABLE TENNIS BOOK
This book will tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about how to improve your table tennis game. Easy to read, and has many helpful drawings to illustrate the point being made. Covers the basics as well as advanced concepts. Each chapter contains many drills to help the reader master the different types of strokes and strategies.

OK, but better elseware
I could see that this could be a good book if you were brand new to table tennis and had a coach. Good drills for practicing with similarly leveled players. However, I feel book does not accurately describe how to truely improve your stroke. Descriptions tend to be vague and leave it to the player to experiment to get the result they are looking for. The danger for the player without a coach is that common early bad habits that are effective for begginers will become engrained. Also, the strategy section is not as good as in other TT books.

Excellent Book
I found the book to be very helpful and informative.I have just begun playing competitively for the past year and found that the graphics/steps really have helped my game. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is just developing their game.I have bought other table tennis books, but they lacked the graphics this book has, so I am very happy with this purchase.

The Best Table Tennis Book For Beginners-Intermediates
This book is one of the best book on table tennis that I have ever read.The clear and concise text makes this book very readable.While you may not turn into a table tennis champion overnight, following the instructions by Mr. Hodges by disciplined practice, a newcomer to the sport can learn the game, but it can also be used as a reference for intermediate players to correct their stroke or to improve it.
This book is useful not only because it explains the different strokes but it also contains sections on physical training and tactics against different style of play.
Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a must-have in any table tennis player's library. ... Read more

Product Description
There are some twenty million table tennis players of varying degrees of proficiency in the United States. For them, and for the thousands of others who will soon discover the pleasures of the game, Dick Miles has written a book that takes table tennis apart stroke by stroke, analyzing the form and techniques of championship play so precisely that anyone reading it will come away with a new understanding of what he should do to improve his game. ... Read more

Product Description

A highly illustrated, beautifully designed tribute to ping pong, the world's most popular yet least appreciated sport—with tales from the table by Nick Hornby, Will Shortz, Davy Rothbart, Harold Evans, Jonathan Safran Foer, and others.

Product Description
Who needs a basement to play ping-pong? Now you can play the world's most popular game any time, anywhere, with the exciting new mini ping-pong travel set. The Desktop Table Tennis boxed set features the following.

• As the first-ever ping-pong travel set, this comes with everything you need to set up a rollicking rally anywhere you go. Each set includes two mini paddles, 1 ball, 1 mini net, and a rule book..

• With wonderful illustrations and clever writing, the set-up is a snap — in seconds you'll be playing like a real ace.

• This is the perfect antidote to boredom on the road. You can set up your mini ping-pong set wherever you go: hotel rooms, airport lounges, your office, or wherever your imagination takes you. ... Read more

Product Description
Well, could he? What about an Iguanodon? Could he ice skate? Could a Wannanosaurus lift weights? In this book, you ll find all sorts of dinosaurs from nearly the biggest to just about the smallest, all drawn to scale in relation to the things around them, whether it s a golf club, a table tennis table, or a basketball court. There s also some extra information what period the dinosaur lived in, where its fossils were found, how big it was, and what it ate. So now, what do you think? Could he? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect for the Dinosaur Lover
My grandson is 3 and a half and obsessed with dinosaurs! Because it's also the time to learn his alphabet, this book does the job. Large, colorful illustrations keep his interest.

Could an Iguanadon go Ice Skating?
This books has it all. Dinosaurs doing daring feats. Your little one will hardly know that he's learning something with this alphabet book. From A to Z, dinosaurs of all sizes (shown in relation to everyday objects) fill these pages along with a pronunciation guide. How else would my two-year old know how to say Wannanosaurus? A fun book that can be read on many different levels to children of any age. ... Read more

Product Description
Providing the key rules and regulations about table tennis, this book also explains the core skills, drills and tactics, scoring, umpiring and the latest in new equipment. It includes modified rules for young and developing players. ... Read more

Product Description
This book contains a collection of all aspects of table tennis tactics for young players. It helps you to read your opponent's game and to decide how to play against forehand or backhand dominant players. It contains numerous photos and illustrations, a self-test questionnaire, portraits of the best table tennis players, the official rules and tactical know-how. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

(dis)pleased
I brackited..."dis", because as far as the products content and condition go, I am very pleased, however(as I,ve previously written), having additional handling charges(particularly, where they're greater than the cost of the product) whereas the only mention of other costs, was that of a low shipping freight - have got me having second thoughts as to whether I'll do it again. A means of establishing a true cost,including currency exchange rates,I'm sure would be appreciated by all - as a student,I certainly have to budget carefully,['wayup'(excuse the pun),my options]
Regards ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

amazing
this is a revolutionary book in the world of tabel tennis.Steve Bruecker is taking the sport to new levels, integrating it into the lives of our youth much like Tiger Woods brought about a youth movement in the world ofgolf ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jill Hammersley
Alot of nice pictures in her book here.
We're going back to the 70's!!
Surbek, etc...........
She puts in alot of good info.
I saw her play at a US OPEN one year, maybe 1976.
Love to see the chopper (her) vs. attacker (me) match!
These books are getting very rare!
I will find them before you! ... Read more

Product Description
This guide describes all the techniques needed to learn to play table tennis, from the basic know-how needed to the advanced skills necessary to participate at a competitve level. ... Read more

Product Description
Describes the ball games of the Olympic Games and previews the athletic competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. ... Read more

Product Description
Want to become a table tennis pro, or just have fun with your friends on the weekend?

Ping-pong is the nickname and it's no wonder this sport is taking everyone by storm. It's got a little of everything for everyone!

Whether you're brand new to the game, or you've been playing for a couple of years...

No matter if you consider yourself a sharp shooter or wouldn't stake anyone's life on your reflexes I'll show all of you how you can jump to "MASTER Player" status and impress the daylights out of your friends and challengers.

Armed with table tennis tips like the ones found in this book, you'll have a strategy to win games every time you play.



... Read more

Product Description
This is the Ultimate and most defining book about table tennis!You can learn to play "ping-pong" elsewhere and then use this book to advance your game to DOMINATE your opponents!Learn how NOT TO FEAR any other player... including the world champion!A "MUST-HAVE" for hard-working players and coaches who want to elevate their personal or team's performances.Recommended for intermediate, advanced, expert, and international-class players. (See also www.SportDominance.com) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Too Expensive
I recently saw this book and, because it seemed different from the books out there, I thought it was worth a try. When I first opened the book, I almost had a seizure. The author really uses a lot of variety (different fonts, colors, etc.) to try to get his points across. He emphasizes several points over and over again.

In essence, the book is a bunch of notes, thoughts and ideas that the author has made to himself as he has learned table tennis over time. Many of these points are quite obvious, but they may be worth reiterating for some players.

I am also an avid regular tennis player. In the tennis world, the strategies and tactics described in this book (ie., the ones that can be used in table tennis) are common. It is true, however, based on what I have seen, that discussions of strategies and tactics are relatively less common in table tennis books and this is where the author is trying to make inroads.

The bottom line, however, in my opinion, is that the book is too expensive for what it tells you. Note that I didn't say, "teaches you." There are a lot of suggestions but only rarely are the ideas reduced to practice where there is a step by step description of how to do it. For example, the author keeps telling you to play offensively and keep the opponent under pressure. Over and over again you are told not to hit defensive shots. Well, yes, we'd all like to do that but it's easier said than done. There is no detail as to how, for example, to be able to consistently turn a defensive situation into an offensive one. There's just constant repetition that you should not play defensive shots no matter what. Well, everyone would love to do that if they could.

The book does pull together a lot of thoughts and ideas that you would get from a good coach or experienced player, but it is likely that you would get this information over time from tournament play or studying other books, both of which are probably more cost effective approaches.Again, the main challenge is that the book presents a bunch of "rules" to follow or things to do without telling you how to do them. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is written for middle school, high school, college and university table tennis courses at beginning and intermediate levels in the United States. The 2nd of this book has been designed to provide students a comprehensive view of table tennis - from Preface. ... Read more