Table tennis tips: The 10 best tips for beginners

 

The 10 best tips for beginners

1. Don't play too fast and too hard

When two beginners train, it is important that they train with each other and not against each other. I often see beginners who cannot get a rally because they are playing the balls too fast and too hard. It is much better to play the ball slowly first so that the training partner has enough time to play the ball back and so a rally can take place.

2. Try not to be too precise

As a beginner, it is usually  sufficient to play ball safely back onto the record. For this it is important not to try to aim at the corners straight away, but rather to aim at a point in the middle of the plate. This tip is especially important for beginners as they often make mistakes when trying to play too closely. In addition, there is a higher probability that the training partner can play the ball back if it hits the center of the plate. This can lead to a longer rally.


3. Know the spin in the ball

Most beginners, but also many more advanced players, often have problems "reading" the rotation that the opponent or training partner gives the ball. The key to acquiring this important skill in table tennis is to carefully watch your opponent's racket as it touches the ball.

When your opponent's stick moves from low to high and hits the ball on the top half, there is topspin in the ball.
When your opponent's stick moves from high to low and hits the ball on the bottom half, there is undercut (Backspin) in the ball.
If your opponent's stick moves from left to right, right side cut is in the ball.
If your opponent's stick moves from right to left, left side cut is in the ball.

However, the ball can also have several types of cuts (e.g. side undercut or side overcut).

4. Compensate for spin with your club angle

Depending on the rotation of the incoming ball, you will need to adjust your club angle in order to respond properly to the cut.

If the incoming ball has overcut (topspin), you should close your club angle a little or more, depending on the strength of the rotation, otherwise the ball will jump up on the club and fly over the base line of the plate. So the racket times towards the plate and you hit the ball on its upper half.

If the incoming ball has an undercut, you should open your club angle a little or more depending on the strength of the rotation, otherwise the ball will jump off the club and fall into the net. The racket points towards the ceiling and you hit the ball on its lower half.

If there is a right side cut in the ball, you should angle your club face more or less to the right depending on the strength of the rotation, as otherwise the ball would fly over the left sideline of the table. Here you touch the ball to the left of its center line.

If there is a left side cut in the ball, you should angle your club face more or less to the left depending on the strength of the rotation, otherwise the ball would fly over the right sideline of the table. You touch the ball to the right of its center line.

Again, you shouldn't play the ball too fast or too hard at first. It is more important to first develop a feel for the spin in the ball.



5. Return to the basic position after each stroke

Many players often stand too upright at the table without any body tension. The position in relation to the ball is extremely important in order to play a good ball and so that the body is prepared to move instantly in any direction.

The basic position in table tennis can be imagined as similar to the stand-by position of a football goalkeeper. The following points must be observed:

The legs are bent and the weight is mostly on the balls of the feet.
The feet are parallel to each other a little more than shoulder width apart, with the tips of the feet pointing towards the table.
The hips are slightly bent and the upper body bent a little forward.
The forearm and upper arm form approximately a right angle and you should stand approximately an forearm length from the table.
The racket is held in front of the body a little above table height and the tip of the racket points towards the net.

The basic position is very important and should be resumed before every service and if possible after every stroke.

6. Practice your footwork

In order to learn a new stroke, it is important to stand correctly towards the ball. However, since the ball is not always returned to exactly the same point by the training partner or opponent, good footwork is necessary. It doesn't always have to be big movements, especially the "small" footwork is often neglected by many players, but is at least as important as the "big" footwork.

In order to correctly perform all footwork techniques, there are a few principles to keep in mind:

The weight is on the balls of the feet and the heels do not touch the ground.
The line of sight is always forward in the direction of the sprinkler or ball.
The body's center of gravity is as close to the center of the body as possible and always remains on the same level during movement. So avoid moving your body up and down during movement.

The most important footwork technique in table tennis is the sidestep. With the classic sidesteps you first move the leg in whose direction you want to move. As soon as the ball of the foot touches the ground, pull the other leg. Other footwork techniques include the lunge, side jump, jump, and cross step, with the cross step being more suitable for advanced players.

The footwork techniques should be practiced regularly. You can do this without a bat and ball, but it is also important to practice the footwork techniques in conjunction with the strokes. In doing so, it is important to ensure that the stroke is carried out from the movement and that the movement is not carried out first and then the stroke. Since table tennis is the fastest setback sport in the world, there is not enough time for it.

7. Use your own table tennis bat

It is important to get your own club and use it exclusively. Each racket has its own feel and characteristics, and you will benefit greatly from using just one racket so that you don't always try to adapt to another. You should also take good care of your bat and treat it with respect. The racket should be cleaned regularly and should be kept in a racket case or case after use.

8. Don't play too high

In general, the deeper you place your punches above the net, the fewer angles your opponent can use and the more difficult it is for them to hit them with power. So try not to return the ball too high and also to keep serves flat. But it is also important for beginners not to want to play too flat. Then the ball will very likely go into the net often

Tip: If the ball bounces off too high, the club should be closed a little more. If the ball goes into the net, it is often helpful to open the club a little.

9. Use your whole body when striking with the forehand

Make sure that, especially with your forehand strokes, you do not only perform the movement from your arm, but also twist your hips and shoulders backwards during the backswing and then walk forward into the ball.

This movement is coordinated with a shift in your body weight from the back foot to the front foot. The harder you hit your forehand, the more forceful the weight shift needs to be. A common mistake made by the forehand is to hit the ball with only your arm, which greatly limits your strength and consistency.

10. Training, training, training!

As with any sport, one thing is essential in table tennis: training. If possible, find a training partner with whom you can train regularly and who best has similar goals and a similar level of play. It is of course best to join a table tennis club. The advantage is that most clubs have a table tennis trainer who can help you improve your game a lot.

Whenever you learn a new punching technique, keep repeating it until you can do it automatically without thinking. If your goal is to compete and win, you should do a lot of game-like exercises and training games where you can use the newly learned techniques. The focus in these practice games is still on development, not winning. And when you are in competition, even if your main goal is to win, you can still learn a lot about your skills and tactics by analyzing your games after the end.

If there is no training partner available, you can practice the punching techniques with a table tennis robot. Many table tennis clubs have robots that you can practice and train with, or you can get one for home and practice and train anytime and for as long as you want! Another option is a table tennis return board. We Give Best Tips And Tricks About Table Tennis For Beginners You Can Always Visit The Website Ping Pong Table to know more .

To see your progress, try to play regularly with better, more advanced players.

Conclusion

To get better, you need to invest a lot of time and effort in training. But that now sounds worse than it actually is, because if you train with a lot of passion and fun, and also go to training regularly, you will soon make the first progress. If you follow these 10 steps and keep them in mind, you should be able to make progress quickly! However, do not try to implement each tip at the same time during the next training session, instead concentrate on 1-2 tips and implement them first. Only when you have internalized the 1-2 tips can you implement the next 1-2 tips. So you can improve your game step by step and raise it to a new level. Better take it slow. Bruce Lee once said: "I am not afraid of the man who did 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who did 10,000 kicks"





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