Ping Pong Equipment

So, you have purchased new ping-pong equipment, you have watched several videos for help with your technique, and you have attended competitions to learn as much as you can from watching better players.  What happens when you play your first competition?  Does everything fall into place, or does it just fall apart?

No matter how many table tennis tips you get as a beginner, you may find that everything just flies out the window when you are facing your first serious opponent.  It is actually quite normal and natural, even when you have all of your swing techniques down.  The problem is that you have played table tennis in a controlled environment, and now you are facing the skills and techniques of someone entirely new.

Of course, nerves can also have a lot to do with it.  During your warm up time, you should be sure to take plenty of cleansing breaths to keep your head clear and focused.  Nerves can wreak havoc on any game, no matter how experienced the player.  Keep in mind that your opponent is probably nervous, too, but he or she may have more experience with working through those nerves.  

When you’re standing at the ready and waiting for the serve, call up all of your table tennis tips, including the swings and returns that you have learned, and run through everything one more time.  Keeping all of your attacks and returns in mind just before beginning will make it easier to call upon them when you need them during the game.  Shake things up a bit, and use different combinations of your hits during the game.  

Just remember, too, that everyone must start somewhere.  You have to decide if you are going to play it safe or be aggressive, and you should practice that way at all times.  Your playing style shouldn’t change once you are in front of your opponent, so be sure that you are comfortable with the techniques that you have chosen.  You can change your tactics according to who is in control, but trying to change your style can be detrimental.

No matter how many tournaments you have played, it is important to always return to basics.  Keep an eye out for new table tennis tips at all times, and even order training videos and books to keep on top of your game.  If you are serious about playing table tennis, then you should never stop learning.

Are you wondering how to play table tennis?  You know it involves a ball and a table, but from there you may be clueless.  Let us start with the basics of the game.

Table tennis, which is also often referred to as ping-pong, is a sport enjoyed by many people of all skill levels.  In fact, it is the most popular sport using rackets in the world.  To begin, you will need some supplies: a table that is divided by a net, two small rackets or paddles, and a hollow lightweight ball.  You will also need at least two players.

For serious players, regulation sizes matter when learning how to play table tennis.  Balls must be 40 mm in diameter and the paddles must be made up of at least 85% real wood.  When the game first started out in Britain, it was played with champagne corks as balls, and books as paddles.  What you will use depends on how serious of a player you are and what your goals happen to be.

The game itself is very similar to regular tennis though it is on a much smaller scale and some of the rules differ.  Both sports require two to four players to hit a ball back and forth to one another over a dividing net.  The rules can be complex, but if you are a beginner then start with the basics and incorporate more as you learn how to play table tennis.

Most matches are played in a best out of three or best out of five setting.  Whoever reaches eleven points first and is ahead by at least a two-point difference is the winner of that game.  A point is scored every time the ball is put into play.  The player who serves (which is usually decided by a coin toss) tosses the ball into the air and hits it making it bounce at least once on his own side before it crosses the net.  If you hit a ball twice in a row, you lose a point.  If your shot hits anything other than the table (wall, ceiling, opponent) your opponent gets the point.

You want a nice steady back and forth flow to your game; whoever misses returning the ball loses the point.  There are many more in-depth rules you can study and learn about when it comes to knowing how to play table tennis.  Be sure both opponents agree upon the rules before starting a game.

Remember to shake hands and be a good sport after all matches, no matter the outcome.  No one likes a mean loser, or a gloating winner.  Now go have some fun, as you now know some of the basics on how to play table tennis.

Starting ping pong or table tennis-depending on your level of play-is like beginning anything new: it takes time, mistakes, and a whole lot of practice. There are; however, a number of common mistakes that first time ping pong players typically make, and here is how to best avoid them.

1. Grip

Many new ping pong players make the mistake of gripping their paddle incorrectly. Gripping the ping pong paddle incorrectly can affect the range of strokes that you can effectively use, cause undue wear on your wrist, and affect your overall ability to play the game correctly. It is typically recommended that beginners use either the shakehand grip or the penhold grip.

Shakehand Grip: Wrap three bottom fingers around bottom of handle, extend index finger along bottom of the racket, and join the thumb loosely with bottom three fingers at the base of the blade.

Penhold Grip: The penhold grip is just like holding a pen to write: wrap index finger and thumb loosely at the base of the blade, while the three remaining fingers curl and rest around the back of the racket.

2. Stroke

Stroke is one of the most common issues that beginners face. Instead of trying to guide the ball over the net, learn how to stroke the ball so that you have more control.

3. Speed

Though your first instinct when beginning ping pong, may be to whack the ball as hard as possible; this will only land your ball across the room instead on the other side of the table where it should be. Finding the right amount of hit for the ball will give you the control of the ball that you need to play ping pong correctly.

4. Equipment

Though quality is always key in any new equipment for a sport; choosing the right paddle, balls, and table for your playing level is just as important. Basically, do not go out when you are first learning and purchase the same equipment that the Olympic Table Tennis champions use…Instead go to your local sports store or even a specialty table tennis group or school, and ask them what they suggest. Typically, based on what your original strengths and weaknesses are, they can point you to a very basic paddle, ball, and table.

5. Stance

If you’re a beginner at ping pong, chances are you stand in one place more or less when you play; and strain to reach the ball. Movement, however, is absolutely necessary to playing ping pong correctly. It gives you a much wider range of motion and strokes, meanwhile giving your game a better performance.

6. Rules

Even if you are content just to play at home with family or friends, casually; it’s always helpful to know the basic rules of ping pong. Invest in book or simple manual that will tell you how to score, count points, troubleshoot, etc. It will give you a better idea of what you are doing, and make you that much closer to playing the game the right way.

7. Get Advice

Even if you have a book and practice often, you may not be playing correctly, though the rules are a great guideline. Try out a session or class with a table tennis group or school. It certainly will not hurt to get the best foot forward, when beginning to play. This way, you can be shown exactly the right stance and stroke and other maneuvers, instead of just reading them and looking at pictures.

8. Consistency

Beginners, once they have mastered a few strokes and have begun to feel more comfortable with the game, have a tendency to want to change or upgrade equipment. It is always best to practice for a good solid amount of time with the paddle and table, etc that you began with; and then move on should you choose to later on. This will make you more practiced and polished as a ping pong player.

9. Practice

Though it typically goes without saying, practicing ping pong-or anything else for that matter-makes perfect. It is the single most crucial tip to remember if you have any desire in getting better at the sport. It will bring confidence, better form, and a higher level of performance; as well as heightened comfort level with the game.

10. Patience

Second to practice, it that unnerving but significant virtue: patience. It is always overlooked, but the more patient you are in learning something new, the more chance you give yourself to learn the rules, strokes, performance correctly. The same applies to ping pong. Know that if you want to learn how to play as a sport, that it will take some time, practice, and patience.

Ping Pong is a simple game that everyone can play. Because of the fact that it doesn’t demand as much as other sports do, ping pong is very popular. You can play it in any weather, indoors, and you can also play it with minimal space.

Playing ping pong doesn’t require you to be very fast on your feet or strong, you just need to have a good stamina, good reflexes and the ability to think fast.

To start playing ping pong, the first things that you need to have are the equipment. You need to have a ping pong table with a net, a ping pong ball, and two paddles. To keep score, simple pen and paper will do the trick. Or, you can try hanging a white board with a marker on the wall near the ping pong table.

Aside from the basics, you will see that ping pong is an inexpensive game. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on accessories as you will just need clothes and pants that can let you move freely and shoes that are comfortable to wear. You can simply pick out anything that is inside your closet that is comfortable to wear and can let you move freely.

When it comes to your physical fitness, you don’t have to be a star athlete in order to play ping pong. If you can climb a flight of stairs without wheezing when you reach the top, then you will have no problems playing ping pong.

To play ping pong effectively, you will need to have quick reflexes, good balance and agile wrists.

You need to have fast reflexes because ping pong will require you to hit the ball with your paddle back and forth between you and your opponent at a very fast rate until one of you misses the ball or makes a mistake. The wrists are also a factor as it will be the one that you will move to adjust the angle of the paddle. This is what controls where the ball will go.

Also, balance is important as ping pong is a fast paced game. Although you don’t need to run fast to catch the ball, you need to know how to shift your body’s weight and balance quickly in order to adjust to your next shot.

Lastly, ping pong is like playing chess but at a very fast rate. You need to know what strategy you should do on your next shot in order for you to win. Placing shots where you want them to be will trap your opponent and let you prepare for the big finish.

These are the basics things that you need to know about ping pong as a beginner. By remembering these things, you will have everything that you need to start paddling away.

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