Coach Samson Dubina US National Team Coach 4x USATT Coach of the Year
 

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Elite Tournament Press Release

by Samson Dubina on Mon, 2014-03-17 21:54
The Fight for $3000 in Cash and Prizes!

Come watch elite table tennis here in Akron!!!
 
On Saturday, March 22 Wang Zhen will lead the pack of 95 players striving to take home a portion of the $3000 cash and prizes.  Wang is currently the #1 player in North America who is ranked #60 in the world and a former member of the Chinese Super League.  His tough competition includes:
 

Mental Strategies - Part 14

by Samson Dubina on Sat, 2014-03-15 08:39
Read 2 FAQs

 
There are 2 frequently asked questions that I would like to answer in this blog posting…
 
Question #1
Bob, “Samson, why do I often play much better in tournaments against players would are rated 200 points higher that I am.  It seems like I play better against better players.”
 
Question #2
Betty, “Samson, why do I often play very poorly against better players.  I just can’t seem to get into my normal routine.”
 
Hi Bob!

The Best Serve

by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2014-03-14 23:48
Explanation and Video

The best serves in table tennis are low with good placement as well as good variation in the type of spin and degree of spin.
So how can your read the spin on a good serve?
 
There are 4 ways:
1. Watch the direction of the racket
2. Watch the bounce of the ball
3. Listen for the sound at contact
4. Look for the logo on the ball
 
In this short video, I give some tips about how to read the racket on a forehand tomahawk serve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqLxc6mxj6I
 

Bible Chapter of the Week

by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2014-03-14 23:38
John 6

John 6

Sponsorship Opportunity for National-Level Event

by Samson Dubina on Wed, 2014-03-12 11:11
Three Options Available

 
Dear Table Tennis Players,
 
We are looking for sponsorships for our September 26-27 tournament.  One top player from China (Ma Lin's former teamate) has already committed to coming.  It will be a very exciting event.  If you are willing to partner with us, please send me an e-mail asap tt@samsondubina.com.  Thanks in advance!
 
 
Sponsorship Packages
September Table Tennis Championship Tournament
Akron, Ohio
 

Mastering Blocks

by Samson Dubina on Tue, 2014-03-11 12:10
By Richard McAfee

While not as flashy as topspin attacks and kills, few strokes are more important to your success as a player than the often under-appreciated block stroke.  The basic “control” block is one of the very first strokes that all players learn and then unfortunately, many players stop developing and improving this core technique. 

The Details of SPIN

by Samson Dubina on Mon, 2014-03-10 11:33
By Coach Richard McAfee

The defining element of the sport of Table Tennis is spin.  Understanding the types of spin that can be applied to a table tennis ball for any given stroke is imperative for any table tennis athlete wishing to play at a high level. 
How many spins can you name?

My Hope

by Samson Dubina on Sun, 2014-03-09 19:15
Philippians 3:20-21

I just finished playing the US National Team Trials in Fort Worth, TX.  I gave 100% effort on every match and suffered a devastating loss to Jim Butler on the final day with ended my chances of making the US Team.  I gave it my best to win, and I'm not discouraged from the loss.  I love life and love playing tt but I also have the hope of eternal life in heaven.  This afternoon, I was encouraged by a Bible verse in Philippians...
 

What to Do When You Are Losing

by Samson Dubina on Mon, 2014-03-03 08:33
Samson offers some advice on what to do when you find yourself losing a big game

I am playing a very important match in a tournament; I am losing 2-0 in games and now losing 5-0 in the third game. What should I do?
 
The first thing is… Never give up! I have won many matches because of a third-game comeback. My opponent starts crying to himself that he should have finished the match and the momentum swings to me.
 
The second thing is… Call time out. A friend or coach might be able to give me tips, insights, or encouragement which could really help.
 

Best 1-Liners

by Samson Dubina on Fri, 2014-02-28 14:01
Read some quick "thoughts of the day"

When learning a new serve, focus exclusively on developing maximum spin with your wrist.
 
When smashing topspin, step back away from the table, while smashing forward and slightly down.  When smashing backspin, step close to the table, which smashing forward and slightly up.
 
Remember to anticipate with your feet, while keeping your racket in-front for last second adjustments.
 
When blocking, remember to think about ball control, placement, and extending the rally as long as possible.
 

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