Table tennis drills with a partner: 8 ping pong drills for two players

With a partner on the other side, table tennis practice gets a lot more done. But playing points all session teaches less than you think: rallies are short and you almost never hit the same stroke twice in a row. Agreed drills fix that. You both know where the ball is going, and each of you repeats what you need to improve.

Here are 8 table tennis drills with a partner, from the simplest to the most game-like, with sets, goals and a 60-minute session you can copy.

How to practice well with a partner

Before the drills, three ground rules that make a big difference:

• One trains, one helps. In most drills one player is "working" and the other keeps the ball in play. Switch roles every set.
• Rhythm first, power later. The goal is to keep the ball on the table. If either of you misses a lot, slow down.
• Count your balls. Goals like "20 in a row" keep you focused far better than just hitting.

If you are both new, the beginner training plan shows which strokes to learn first.

Basic ping pong drills for two

1. Forehand crosscourt

The classic. Both players hit forehands corner to corner, crosscourt. The diagonal is the longest line on the table, so it is the easiest one to keep the ball in play.

• Sets: 3 to 5 minutes.
• Goal: 30 in a row, then 50.

2. Backhand crosscourt

Same thing on the other side of the table. The backhand is usually more compact and quicker; keep your elbow in front of your body.

3. Down the line

One player hits forehands and the other backhands, along the same side line. The ball travels a shorter distance, so it takes more control. Great for training direction, not just the stroke.

4. One to two

Your partner stays in one spot and alternates the ball to your backhand and your forehand. You move and send everything back to the same place. Once it is solid, move on to the Falkenberg drill, which adds the pivot.

• Sets: 1 minute on, 1 minute rest.
• Goal: get your body behind the ball instead of reaching with your arm.

Spin drills

5. Push against push

Both players trade backspin balls (the push) on the backhand diagonal. Keep the ball low and short. Later, one player starts mixing short and long pushes.

6. Loop against block

One player loops, the other blocks. This is the drill that builds attacking strokes the most, because the block comes back with a steady rhythm. Start with forehand crosscourt, then switch sides.

• Sets: 45 to 60 seconds.
• Goal: 10 loops in a row with the same arc and depth.

Drills that feel like a match

7. Serve and return

One player serves 10 balls mixing spin and height, the other only returns and tries to place the ball. Then swap. Hardly anyone practices returns, and they decide a lot of points. Tips in how to return a serve.

8. Serve, return and third ball

Player A serves short, B pushes long, A attacks with a loop and the point is live. This is the serve and third ball pattern at the heart of the modern game. Play sets of 5 serves and keep score.

A 60-minute session with a partner

If you have a box of balls, several of these drills work even better as multiball training, with one player feeding and the other hitting.

Common mistakes when drilling with a partner

• Turning it into a match too early. Once a rally becomes a contest, the drill is over. Save the competition for the end.
• Always drilling the same thing. Take turns: one day the focus is one player's forehand, next time the other's backhand.
• Skipping rest. Short sets with breaks beat 20 straight minutes of fading technique.

Frequently asked questions