| It's had to say exactly what makes a "best" | | | | series dedicates itself to a single technique of table |
| instructional video, but from my standpoint it's simply | | | | tennis, then goes on to expound on that technique. It's |
| this: the video has to be able to get it's point across | | | | extremely detailed, including many exercises for a |
| and teach it's viewers in a simple fashion that can be | | | | given move, how to develop that move, ways and |
| easily understood. If a video gets too technical and | | | | times to use it, and how to apply it singly or in |
| elaborate, often I find that it's just a "master" seeking to | | | | combination with other techniques. If you already play |
| impress people with his "skill". The best instructors don't | | | | table tennis and want to develop a weak point, or turn |
| necessarily need to be the best players; they DO need | | | | your strongest technique into a "killer" move, this DVD |
| to be the best teachers, able to impart knowledge and | | | | series might offer the solution you're looking for. |
| make sure that it sticks. To that end, here is a brief list | | | | Carl Hardin Table Tennis Training Shortcuts - this is |
| of my 3 favorite table tennis DVDs that I'd | | | | something that any table tennis player can benefit |
| recommend for any aspiring table tennis player. | | | | from. It's focus is NOT on teaching you how to play |
| Killerspin Success in Table Tennis Series - this set of | | | | effectively, but on how to TRAIN effectively. Instead |
| DVDs comes as a package deal and is a keeper for | | | | of focusing on demonstrating techniques, the video |
| anyone's video library. The chapters are seperated | | | | shows a lot of simple but effective training methods |
| across beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels of | | | | that improve your game. Techniques are covered |
| play so that you can find references for whatever | | | | briefly in an "application" fashion, showing you HOW |
| degree of skill you've got. The videos get straight to | | | | the improvements you get from the demonstrated |
| the point with very little unnecessary elaboration. It's | | | | training method help your different game-moves. This |
| approach generally takes three steps: demonstrating a | | | | video works for players of any level, helping |
| move, showing WHY it works and HOW to use it, and | | | | experienced players by sharpening their game and |
| ending with a drill that helps you develop it. The video | | | | giving beginners a solid foundation from which they can |
| series is very holistic, and even includes sections about | | | | build their own arsenals. |
| how to determine good equipment, taking care of and | | | | The reason these three form my "favorites" list is |
| repairing your gear, and general body drills for any level | | | | because their varied approaches to teaching table |
| to improve reflexes, timing, and footwork. | | | | tennis mesh wonderfully with each other. The first set |
| Table Tennis Master DVDs - this series of DVDs take | | | | is complete in and of itself and works for any level of |
| a completely different approach to instruction, and is a | | | | skill, teaching all the necessary moves for any level. |
| poor choice for beginners but a great buy for | | | | The second focuses on polishing and mastering |
| intermediate to advanced players seeking to improve | | | | individual moves. The third, on the other hand, focuses |
| their game. The main reason why it's a poor choice for | | | | on training techniques that, taken with the knowledge |
| beginners is that the Master Series DVDs don't focus | | | | about move execution from the other two videos, can |
| on HOW to play effectively. Instead, each video in their | | | | boost any player's performance immensely. |