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Hi , and welcome to the latest edition of Planet Table Tennis News.
I hope you enjoy this edition and if you have any comments or suggestions for future editions we would love to hear from you.🏓
You can let me know what your thoughts are about this edition by using the poll at the bottom of the edition.
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Phil , Founder, Planet Table Tennis
Table of Contents
Improvement in table tennis is rarely dramatic. It usually comes from repeating the right habits thousands of times.
A player once asked a coach how long it takes to master a skill.
The coach replied:
“It depends. Ten thousand correct repetitions will get you there. Ten thousand careless repetitions will get you nowhere.”
Consistency in training creates confidence in matches
World News
Results and Events around the world
We will in future editions be featuring different events and table tennis associations across the planet.
If you would like to have your country , association or event featured in this section please email [email protected]
Training & Coaching
1.Why Balance is the Foundation of Every Good Shot
When players talk about improving their technique, they often focus on the racket movement. In reality, the quality of any stroke depends first on balance.
If your body is balanced at the moment of contact, almost any stroke becomes easier. If your balance is poor, even simple shots feel difficult.
What Good Balance Looks Like
Stable stance
Your weight should be evenly distributed between both feet.Slight forward lean
The upper body should be slightly forward, allowing quick movement.Active legs
The legs should remain engaged so you can adjust your position quickly.
Common Problems
Many club players lose balance because they:
Reach too far for the ball
Stand too upright
Use their upper body instead of their legs
Training Drill: Controlled Topspin Rally
Rally forehand to forehand with moderate speed.
Focus on maintaining balance after every shot.
Reset your stance before the next ball arrives.
Coaching points
Keep your centre of gravity low.
Recover quickly after each shot.
Avoid over-swinging.
Why Balance Matters
Players who maintain good balance recover faster and make better decisions. This allows them to control rallies rather than reacting to them.
Balance may not be the most exciting aspect of training, but it is one of the most important.
2.The Art of Placement: Winning Points Without Hitting Harder
Many players believe that improving their attacking power is the key to winning more points. However, experienced players know that placement often beats power.
The ability to move an opponent around the table creates opportunities that raw speed cannot.
Three Key Placement Targets
1. Wide forehand corner
This forces your opponent to move laterally and often creates space on the opposite side of the table.
2. Wide backhand corner
Many players are less comfortable attacking from this position.
3. The elbow
The crossover point between forehand and backhand can create hesitation.
Training Drill: Placement Pattern
Player A attacks crosscourt.
Player B blocks crosscourt.
On the third ball, Player A changes direction down the line.
Coaching points
Prioritise accuracy over speed.
Watch your opponent’s movement.
Recover quickly after changing direction.
Match Application
Instead of trying to hit winners, focus on moving your opponent into uncomfortable positions. Once they are off balance, finishing the point becomes much easier.
Placement is one of the most reliable ways to improve your match results.
Player Profile
Timo Boll — Europe’s Most Enduring Table Tennis Champion
Few players outside China have managed to remain competitive at the very highest level of table tennis for as long as Timo Boll. Born in 1981 in Erbach, Germany, Boll has been the leading figure of European table tennis for more than two decades.
Major Achievements
Multiple European Champion titles
World Cup champion (2005)
Olympic medalist in team competition
Reached World No.1 ranking in 2003 and again in 2011
Throughout his career, Boll has consistently challenged the dominance of the Chinese national team — an achievement that has earned him immense respect across the table tennis world.
Technical Identity
Boll’s playing style is built on timing, spin, and precision.
Forehand topspin
His forehand is known for its heavy spin and smooth acceleration, allowing him to control rallies even against powerful opponents.
Backhand control
Boll’s backhand is exceptionally stable, making it difficult for opponents to attack that side of the table.
Close-to-table play
He prefers to stay close to the table, taking the ball early and using angles to move opponents.
Mental Strength and Longevity
One of Boll’s most remarkable qualities is his longevity. Remaining competitive for so many years requires not only technical skill but also adaptability.
He has successfully adjusted his game to different eras of equipment, rule changes, and playing styles.
Something Less Known
Despite his global success, Boll has always emphasised enjoyment of the sport. He has often spoken about the importance of maintaining passion and curiosity, which has helped him sustain a long career.
Coaching Takeaway
Timo Boll shows that success does not depend solely on physical power.
“Timing, precision, and intelligent placement can compete with even the strongest opponents.”
Your Personal 12 Week Transformation Plan
Have you always wanted a clear path to follow to improve your game based on your personal needs and ambitions. Well now you can get just that!
If you’re serious about improving your table tennis, this 12-week personalized transformation plan gives you a clear, structured path to follow — removing guesswork and replacing it with proven training methods.
You won’t just practise more, you’ll practise better, with focused sessions designed to build your technique, sharpen your decision-making, and improve your match results.
With step-by-step guidance, you’ll develop stronger habits, greater confidence, and a clearer understanding of how to win points — so you can finally turn your training level into real performance when it matters most.
Click the link or image below to find out more
Equipment
Review of the PongBot Nova S Pro Table Tennis Robot
🧠 Overall Verdict (Coach’s Perspective)
The PongBot Nova S Pro is one of the most interesting robots to hit the market in recent years — not because it’s the most powerful, but because it delivers excellent training value at a very accessible price point.
If you’re a club player training at home, this robot can absolutely help you improve — particularly with consistency, repetition, and structured drills.
👍 What It Does Really Well
1. Realistic, Structured Training
The standout feature is the 264+ pre-programmed drills, designed by coaches.
This is huge — most players don’t know what to train, so having ready-made sessions removes that barrier completely.
You can work on:
Rally consistency
Footwork patterns
First attack sequences
Match-style repetition
👉 This aligns perfectly with how I would structure sessions for improvement.
2. Excellent Customisation (App Control)
The robot allows full control over:
Spin (9 variations)
Speed (2–15 m/s)
Frequency (30–90 balls/min)
Placement & oscillation
The app interface is a big advantage — you can literally design drills visually, which is far more intuitive than traditional remote-based robots.
3. Unique Placement Flexibility
One of the most underrated features:
👉 You can place it near the net or different areas on the table
This allows you to simulate:
Short serves
Push exchanges
Flick scenarios
Short game situations
Most robots struggle with this — and it’s a genuine advantage for improving match play.
4. Portability & Convenience
Only 4kg
Holds 150 balls
Fits in a bag
This makes it ideal if:
You train at different venues
You don’t want a permanent bulky setup
⚠️ Where It Falls Short
1. Spin Quality vs Premium Robots
Compared to high-end machines (Power Pong / Butterfly Amicus), it:
Doesn’t generate extreme spin levels
Lacks more advanced spin combinations
👉 For most club players this won’t matter — but advanced players will notice it.
2. No Ball Recycling System (Standard Setup)
Unlike more expensive robots:
You’ll need to manually collect balls (unless you buy add-ons)
This slightly interrupts training flow.
3. Limited Complexity in Drill Programming
You can create structured drills, but:
Typically limited to shorter sequences
Not as advanced as premium coaching robots
4. Reliability & Support (Mixed Feedback)
Some users report:
Occasional double-ball feeds
Slower customer support experiences
👉 Not a deal-breaker — but worth knowing.
🎯 Who This Robot Is BEST For
✔ Ideal for:
Club players (beginner → strong intermediate)
Players training alone regularly
Players who want structure + repetition
Coaches who want a portable training tool
❌ Not ideal for:
Elite players needing very high spin realism
Full-time coaching setups replacing multiball
Players expecting a “perfect match simulation”
🏓 Coaching Takeaway
This is the key point — and where most reviews miss the mark:
The Nova S Pro is not trying to replace a training partner.
It’s designed to bridge the gap between no practice and structured practice.
And for that job — it’s very good.
⭐ Final Rating (From a Coaching Perspective)
Category | Rating |
|---|---|
Training Value | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
Ease of Use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Features for Price | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Realism vs Human Play | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ |
Overall | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ |
🔥 Final Thought
If you are serious about improving but don’t always have access to a training partner, this robot gives you something incredibly valuable:
👉 Consistent, repeatable, structured training — on demand
And that alone can massively accelerate improvement.
If you want to find out more about the Nova S Pro and check out the other robots in the Pongbot range click the link or image below
You can also get an additional 5% discount on their entire range using this exclusive Planet Table Tennis News discount code : PTT5PBX
Video Of The Week
Click the image or link below for a video about the legend Timo Boll!
If you would like to share a great video or picture with everyone via Planet Table Tennis News please send to [email protected]
If you have an inspiring , entertaining or informative story you would like to share then please send this to [email protected]
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I hope you have enjoyed this edition
Have a great fortnight of table tennis!
See you in 2 weeks for the next edition
To your continuous improvement
All the best
Phil
