Table Tennis is not perfect. The hall, ball, lighting, wall and floor all have a huge influence on the outcome of the match. If you let all these distractions upset your play then you are in trouble. Some of the most common situations  a player find themselves in are :
1. The light at one end of the table is poor
2. The wall is white and you cannot see the ball very well
3. The umpire appears to have got an edge ball decision wrong against you
4. Your opponent is wasting time or stopping play by saying your serve is illegal
5. The crowd are clapping against you

In the case of a poor decision I would suggest leaving all decisions to the umpire as they are doing their job and you should do yours. Good and Bad decisions even themselves out over the course of a match. I would also recommend ignoring everything as much as you can. Focus on the game and your tactics. The table end with the bad light will also be used by your opponent. If you complain you LOSE. I got more enjoyment from winning when my opponent did all the moaning and I kept quiet and focused.

JB

Multiball training is one of the most effective training methods in table tennis. The feeder will place the ball in various positions on the table or to one exact spot depending on what the player and coach wish to focus on. The feeder can use backspin short or long and topspin and sidespin. It is important to write out a training plan before you start and give it 100%. I have attached a short video of the one of the best multiball feeders, Peter Aranyosi (Hun).

Watch below how Peter varies the speed and spin against former World Champion Jorgen Persson.

For as long as I have been involved in Table Tennis here in Ireland, players and coaches have always dreamed of a table tennis centre where they can go and practice anytime they want. When I was a junior player I remember turning up at my club to practice and being told that the hall was being used for another activity even though it was a club night. Then I remember going again the next week to try and practice before an important competition and being told the hall was being used for indoor bowling. This situation is unacceptable at any stage. When somebody wishes to play their sport when they wish, they should be allowed to.

I am pleased to say that the situation has improved recently in Dublin where I play. Dundrum TTC is available regularly now and open long hours on club nights. This has become the hub for players to practice and the plan for the future is to have the club open everyday. Anything is possible but you have to make it happen. The junior section on the weekends is going marvellously well. Imagine a club open all day and night where you can go and practice anytime you like? Sounds good, right?

If this is to happen we will need the support of all players who play table tennis in Ireland which will mean more members to pay for the facility to open. This would be an incredible opportunity for all and a dream come true.

The future is bright for table tennis in Ireland

JB

About four years ago I had noticed the emergence of a confident and arrogant young Chinese player by the name of Zhang Jike. He seemed different in every respect from his attitude on and off the table. He was the master of his own destiny. Within the space of those four years he became World and Olympic mens singles champion and dispatched all his Chinese counterparts ''Wang Hao'' , ''Ma Lin'' & ''Xu Xin'' with fantastic aplomb.

During the London Olympics some of my colleagues at RTE kept asking me when is Jike playing today and that showed how popular he was amongst other staff members. I always thought the best table tennis players I ever saw were Sweden's Jan Ove Waldner and China's Jiang Jialiang. Well that was until I saw Zhang Jike play. He is Superman and is the table tennis ''Man of Steel''.

A tribute to Zhang Jike is below and includes incredible early footage of how he got to where he is today.

ENJOY:)

JB