Let’s distinguish 2 table tennis practices: the one that is played at home, on vacation, or even at the office, which is called free ping pong, and the academic practice that is played in a club, according to official rules. Free ping pong is accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical condition, age, time or space available to play. It is an ideal practice for getting into or getting back into sport, which will naturally evolve towards more physical, more sporty, more engaging, more academic practice. And its benefits, then?
Table of Contents
Sport Of Sensation
Listen to table tennis lovers when they tell you about their sport: their eyes shine when they express their pleasure in feeling the ball bouncing on the racket and the satisfaction of having made the desired stroke.
When you begin, you will be satisfied with having exchanged your first balls. Then you’ll be proud to have placed it in this corner of the table. Your first effect will be a victory that deserves a dab! And what full of confidence when you send back (on the table!) this powerful smatch of your opponent.
Focus
A sport of speed and precision, table tennis requires a strong concentration from the player which will often be decisive in the outcome of the match, whatever their level of practice. You will learn to ignore all the surrounding distractions, to focus your attention on the game.
This ability will be useful even outside table tennis rooms: at work, in class, to manage stress.
Physical Expenditure
Sweating at ping pong? Impossible ! And yet! We have already said: in table tennis, you choose the intensity with which you play. In simple rallies, you will not wet the shirt much but over the course of the games, the desire to beat your opponent will raise the temperature. Do you want to work on cardio and your buttock? Join a club!
Strategy And Analyse
After the first imprecise rallies, the table missing and the balls in the net, you start to control your strokes, but you still undergo the game. It is now that a new objective is taking shape: take control and lead the game ! Your weapons: analysis and strategy. Observe your opponent and put him in difficulty, destabilize him: play his backhand if he is not comfortable, play at the bottom of the table if he is too close, use your blocks against his topspins …
Yes, you will learn to analyze and decide, but above all, you will learn to do it quickly!
Conclusion
Over your games, then your training, you will move to different levels:
– Level 1: the first imprecise exchanges, missing the ping pong table and balls in the net will be frequent but you will enjoy in each ball returned.
– Level 2: the balls will be more precise but your game still suffered against a better opponent. You will be in defense mode a lot.
– Level 3: you will start placing your ball, alternating shots to put your opponent in trouble.
– Level 4: not only will you be able to analyze your opponent’s game and set up strategies to win the game, but you will have found your own style of play: attack, counter or all-round.
To get started, remember to send the ball back before trying to score. This is how you will most often win, especially when you are just starting out.