Today, Stanmore Table Tennis Club once again had the pleasure of welcoming former England international and top UK coach Craig Bryant to our club for a high-level training session. Following on from the success of his previous visit in January, Craig returned to work with a selected group of our players in an engaging and educational session focused on service skills, tactical play, and how to handle long pimpled rubbers.
 
The session opened with a deep dive into one of Craig's signature skills: his deceptive and powerful kicker serve. Each player had the opportunity to face a series of his kicker serves, and as expected, many found it incredibly difficult to read and return. This hands-on challenge was not only a fun test for the players, but also an invaluable lesson in how important subtle service variation can be at all levels of the game.
 
Craig also took time to share tactical insights, guiding players through practical scenarios to help improve decision-making and game understanding. He then introduced the group to the complexities of playing both with and against long pimpled rubbers, offering useful guidance on how to neutralise spin, create openings, and maintain control during rallies. This was a standout moment for many of our players, who were eager to learn about this often-misunderstood area of the sport.
 
Throughout the session, Craig was full of praise for the players. He commented on the high level of engagement, discipline, and willingness to learn from every participant. This positive feedback is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of our members, and it reinforces our commitment to providing high-quality training opportunities at the club.
 
Craig also shared his thoughts on the importance of physical conditioning as part of a well-rounded table tennis routine. He encouraged players to incorporate regular fitness and strength-building exercises into their weekly habits to complement their technical training. This valuable advice was well received by our group, who understand the role that overall athleticism plays in performance and injury prevention.
 
As a club, we’re proud to host sessions like these and offer our members access to expert coaching from leading professionals. The players left the hall inspired, motivated, and armed with new knowledge to help take their game to the next level. We’d like to extend our thanks to Craig Bryant for another brilliant session, and we look forward to welcoming him back to Stanmore Table Tennis Club again in the near future.