Textbook Table Tennis DVD Review

Textbook Table Tennis is a 2 hour series of exercises designed by USATT Certified National Coach Brian Pace for beginner to intermediate level players. Whether you are looking to finally break yourself out of that basement stroke, gain an edge for league night this week, or if you are just simply hoping to somehow justify that ridiculous $150+ blade purchase you made, then this video series is for you.

What is unique and innovative about Textbook Table Tennis is that you can purchase it for immediate download in MP4 or WMV format to watch on your iPod or computer for US$39.99. Or if you prefer the traditional DVD you can get that too for a few more dollars. So instead of ordering a video and clicking refresh on the tracking number page every 15 minutes for a week, you can simply pay using Paypal and begin watching the series after you download it.

The basis for the exercises is a framework called Dynamic Harmony. The Dynamic Table Tennis framework consists of 3 components: Proper stroke, Body Movement, and Top of the bounce. From exercise to exercise Brian tells you which component to modify in order to achieve the best possible stroke.

Once you understand the framework, his explanations of the exercises become easier to understand. All of the exercise series cover the Forehand (FH) Loop, FH and BH Counter, Combining shots, FH and BH Push against underspin, Attacking underspin(FH Loop, FH Hit), and Serve & Serve Return. Each series is separated into segments which explains each stroke to assist in understanding the exercises.

Unlike other coaching videos where the “Stroke Explanation to Annoying Repetitive Music” ratio is unbearable, Brian’s coaching commentary will benefit beginner and intermediate level players who want to up their game a notch. Intermediate level players looking for new exercises or drills to try out with a partner will enjoy the variety Brian covers. His system of exercises not only concentrate on stroke production but also footwork, body and arm movement, force-to-friction ratio and even fitness level.

The music that is throughout the series is a variety of electronic music that ranges from downtempo, to high energy techno. Even if you don’t care for electronic music (aka, “that crazy techno stuff”) that much, you will appreciate how Brian uses each song to pace and even time various points of study while you are analyzing his strokes. Other video series will often concentrate so much on the technical explanations that they forget you have to listen to the same 3 minute tune on repeat for an hour or two.

If you are beginner to intermediate level player who is serious about improving but don’t have the time or the money for a full-time coach, there is no video series better for your development (and your bank account) than Textbook Table Tennis. Even if you are an advanced player, learning Brian Pace’s methods and the DTT framework for Dynamic Harmony will help you to explain a stroke or technique to other players you might give advice to or even coach. And if you currently coach, this video series can definitely assist in creating a comprehensive training system for your students.

Tags: Brian Pace, Textbook Table Tennis, video