Five Drills to Improve Your Touch Inspired by Marty Reisman
Table tennis is as much about feel as it is about rapid reflexes. Marty Reisman showed us that a player can win with precision, timing, and a touch that makes the ball feel almost alive on the paddle. This article presents five practical drills that channel that spirit. Each drill focuses on control, soft contact, and fine motor decisions that translate to real matches. You’ll build a finer touch without extra gadgetry or complex gear.
Drill 1: Soft Hands Rally for Controlled Contact
Why it helps: A soft feel on the ball lets you place shots with accuracy, even when the tempo is fast. Reisman valued the ability to make a ball sit up or drop away from the opponent with minimal effort. This drill trains that instinct.
What you need: A table, a table tennis paddle, a few practice balls, and a partner or a wall.
Setup: Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Position yourself about one grip length from the table. Keep the paddle low and relaxed. The goal is to produce light, controlled contact rather than power.
How to do it:
- Start a gentle rally with your partner using light topspin or gentle backspin. Focus on contact comfort rather than speed.
- After each shot, check your grip pressure. If the paddle feels tight, loosen your grip and reset.
- Aim to keep the ball close to the net or just over the net while maintaining a soft, quiet sound at contact.
- Increase the rally length, but only as long as you can keep the contact soft and clean.
Progression:
- Add variety by mixing touch serves or short pushes. The aim is to maintain soft contact through different spins.
- If practicing alone, use a wall and aim for a small target on the wall. Concentrate on a smooth transfer of energy from paddle to ball.
Key cues:
- Relax the wrist; let the paddle act like a small, soft brush.
- Keep a shallow, quiet impact with the ball.
- Watch the ball through contact and feel the ball’s return path.
Takeaway: A consistent soft touch is the backbone of many winning rallies. Practicing this drill helps you preserve control when the pace rises.
Drill 2: Wall Contact Drill for Precision Touch
Why it helps: Reisman’s touch was not flashy but precise. The wall drill trains your timing, position, and the instant feedback you get when the ball returns.
What you need: A table tennis wall or any vertical surface. A stopper or bumper is optional for extra feedback.
Setup: Stand close to the wall as you would near a table. Your goal is to touch the ball on the way back with a soft, precise contact that returns toward the wall or toward a small target.
How to do it:
- Start with a light forehand stroke against the wall. Let the ball bounce back toward you and absorb the return with a gentle, controlled contact.
- Move to backhands with the same intent. Keep your elbow loose and your wrist quiet.
- Create a tiny target zone on the wall (a small sticker or painted dot). Try to keep the ball within this zone on each return.
- Alternate forehand and backhand after each return to build symmetry in touch.
Progression:
- Increase the distance to mimic longer rallies and still aim to touch within the target zone.
- Add top or backspin to the ball on the way out and see if you can still control the return.
Key cues:
- Let the ball dictate pace; your aim is placement, not power.
- Keep your body still enough to maintain control, but let your stroke be loose.
- Listen for the ball’s sound at impact; it should be crisp but not hard.
Takeaway: Wall work gives instant feedback. The narrower your target, the sharper your touch becomes.
Drill 3: Depth Control Drill with Multi-Bounce Exchanges
Why it helps: Touch includes depth control. A ball that drops just over the net or lands near the backline forces your opponent to adjust. Reisman showed that reliable depth control wears down nerves and rhythm.
What you need: Two players or a partner who can feed you with different spins.
Setup: Place a marker at the far end of the table. Your objective is to land several shots between the net and the marker, controlling depth.
How to do it:
- Start with a mid speed forehand with light topspin. Focus on getting the ball to land short.
- After a successful short shot, switch to a slightly deeper shot and land it beyond the net but before the marker.
- Alternate between short, mid, and longer balls to keep your partner guessing and to build feel for depth.
Progression:
- Have your partner vary the spin and speed. You adjust contact points to keep the ball within the designated depth range.
- Add a bounce before the table by placing a practice mat or towel on the other side to simulate a true bounce.
Key cues:
- Visualize a shallow landing first, then adjust depth with a lighter touch.
- Keep a consistent rhythm so that your timing stays in sync with the ball’s travel.
- Use small shifts in stance to fine-tune depth without changing your stroke dramatically.
Takeaway: A reliable depth range makes your aggressive shots more threatening and your defensive returns more trustworthy.
Drill 4: Short Serve and Return Flow
Why it helps: The ability to handle short serves is a hallmark of a refined touch. Reisman relied on quick, precise responses to keep opponents off balance. This drill simulates real match pressure on serve exchanges.
What you need: A practice partner and a small table-friendly target zone for serves.
Setup: Practice a short serve that lands close to the net with a controlled backspin or no spin. For the return, your partner feeds a short serve, and you respond with a quick, soft return that lands in a narrow zone.
How to do it:
- Start with a short serve that lands within a few inches of the net. Your goal is a clean, controlled return that stays close to the net.
- The partner then serves short again, challenging you to return with subtle variations in speed and spin.
- Move through several rounds, keeping your returns crisp and soft where needed.
Progression:
- Increase the speed of the feed. Your return should still land in the target zone.
- Add deception by varying spin on the serve and your reply. The focus remains on touch and placement.
Key cues:
- Short serves require quick feet and a calm wrist.
- Your paddle should stay relaxed through contact to avoid a stiff return.
- Keep your eyes on the ball until after contact to sense any spin.
Takeaway: A dependable short game makes you a tougher opponent, especially in close sets.
Drill 5: Progressive Spin Feeding for Fine Control
Why it helps: Spin complicates timing, but touch is about controlling the impact. Reisman demonstrated how consistent control with varying spins can outfox faster shots. This drill trains your ability to adjust contact to spin.
What you need: A feeder or a friend who can supply a range of spins. A notebook to track progress can help.
Setup: The feeder alternates between light topspin, sidespin, backspin, and no spin. You respond with controlled returns focusing on contact quality and placement.
How to do it:
- Start with a light topspin ball. Aim to return with a soft touch that lands within a target box on your side.
- Next, accept a backspin and adjust your stroke to absorb the spin and produce a gentle return.
- Include sidespin deliveries and practice keeping the ball on a flat trajectory after contact.
- Finish with no spin to train a clean contact that travels to your chosen target.
Progression:
- Increase the speed gradually while maintaining control.
- Add a second ball fed quickly after the first to simulate fast rallies.
Key cues:
- Let the paddle meet the ball lightly. The goal is control, not speed.
- Use your legs and torso to influence the shot rather than twisting your arm.
- Watch the ball from contact to flight; feel the spin rather than guess it.
Takeaway: Spin management is a core skill for touch players. This drill builds adaptability and steady, dependable placement.
Putting the Drills to Work
A practical training plan helps you transition from practice to matches. Start with two drills per session that emphasize touch most, then weave in the others as your control improves. Here’s a simple weekly rhythm you can try:
- Day 1: Soft Hands Rally and Wall Contact Drill
- Day 2: Depth Control Drill and Short Serve Flow
- Day 3: Progressive Spin Feeding and a light review of all drills
- Day 4: Mixed practice focusing on placement over pace
- Day 5: Rest or light shadow practice to let your body recover
What to track as you train
- Contact quality: Is the ball sitting up a little or is it pinging off the paddle?
- Placement accuracy: Are you hitting your intended targets consistently?
- Spin handling: Can you adapt to different spins without losing touch?
- Rhythm and balance: Do your movements feel smooth or rushed?
Small adjustments can lead to big gains. If a drill feels off, reduce speed or simplify the target. The goal is to build a reliable feel, not to chase perfection in every rep.
Marty Reisman’s touch in practice
Marty Reisman showed that the most effective players combine patience with precise control. He valued rhythm and feel over sheer aggression. These drills echo that philosophy. They don’t require fancy equipment or a perfect setup; they require focus, patience, and willingness to adjust your touch on the fly.
Tips to make touch improvements stick
- Warm up with gentle touch exchanges before heavier drills.
- Breathe and stay relaxed between points to keep your timing crisp.
- Visualize the ball’s path after contact to sharpen placement.
- Keep a simple routine; consistency beats intensity in touch work.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Gripping too tightly, which stiffens the paddle and ruins contact.
- Pushing through shots instead of guiding the ball with your paddle.
- Forcing speed early in a drill when your touch isn’t ready.
- Ignoring feedback from the ball, which erodes timing over time.
A path to better touch
Touch is a craft built in small, focused sessions. The five drills above offer a practical path to sharper feel and smarter placement. As you practice, you’ll notice your returns becoming softer and more precise. Opponents will feel the pressure not because you overpower them, but because you consistently place the ball where they don’t want it.
Conclusion
Developing a refined touch takes time, discipline, and clear focus. These drills honor the legacy of Marty Reisman by emphasizing calm contact, accurate placement, and adaptive control. Start with a few minutes of soft hands work, then weave in wall contact and depth control as you grow more confident. Short serves, mixed spins, and progressive feeding round out a complete touch-based practice.
If you commit to this approach, you’ll see your touch improve in weeks rather than months. Ready to test these drills with a partner this week? Try a 15 minute session focused on one drill at a time, then mix in the others across the week. Share your progress in the comments or with a training partner, and keep refining your touch until it becomes second nature.