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Posts Tagged ‘ping pong’

Table tennis has pretty much the same rules as regular tennis. If you spent a lot of time watching sports on TV, then it is quite probable that you have watched at least a couple of table tennis games.

Table tennis, which is normally played on a wooden table that is green in color, and is most often referred to as ping-pong, gets its name from the sound of the ball makes when it goes back and forth. Unlike real tennis, which makes use of large rackets to knock a green bouncy ball back and forth over the net, ping-pong is a smaller version of the game which utilizes small wooden paddles with rubber surfaces to knock a small plastic ball back and forth across the net.

Over the years table tennis is becoming increasingly more and more popular. This is because the game is very easy to learn how to play,  it is very fun, and it doesn’t take very much room to hold a table. Unlike regular tennis, you can set up a ping-pong table in a garage and have plenty of room for entertainment.

Another added benefit is that you don’t have to buy a bunch of expensive equipment just to play table tennis. The only thing that requires some investment capital per se, is the cost of the table. This is a lot though when you compare it to the cost of other sports. After you have the table all you need is a set of paddles and some balls and you’re ready to go.

Some Events in the History of Table Tennis

The origins of table tennis began in the late 1800s when some well off men in England were trying to find a sport which they could do indoors. After watching game of tennis, these affluent Englanders then utilized a table, some cigarette box lids for paddles, and a cork for a ball.

As soon as the 1900s hit, the game was growing in popularity, and they were soon manufacturers of table tennis tables making really large improvements on the original table design, and started making them for sale. The tables weren’t the only things that showed improvements as they improve the paddles and balls as well. The paddles were integrated with rubber faces so it would slow the game down some and they started making the balls out of a material that gave them a rounder shape and allowed them to bounce better.

Over time with the increase of manufacturing and commerciality of the equipment, more people became introduced to it and were able to enjoy it. The first ever table tennis tournament was in the year 1902, and by the year 1921, the Association for table tennis was started in England. It wasn’t long after that before there was a world championship tournament which was played in a great country and in England as well.

Through the years, the game has acquired a life of it’s own and become a phenomenon that the entire human race enjoys. Many families throughout the world enjoy the availability of having a table in their own house.~With the test of time, the game has become a worldwide craze that has lasted generations. It has become a permanent pasttime for friends and family to love and enjoy as well a burning fad for those who love to compete.} With this comes the enjoyment of having friends and family over to compete and play with which adds a lot of fun to the fellowship of family.

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American Table Tennis

After a period of successful table tennis tournaments and high-level play, you sometimes expect to be able to play at that level any time. This expectation can eventually become your downfall. With this added expectation comes the pressure of performing at the level you’re accustomed to. Poor decision-making, a lack of relaxation, and even your playing well below your newly attained level come from the added personal pressure. Once you start playing poorly, you will get frustrated that you are not playing your usual game. This leads to more bad losses and results and the downward spiral continues.

The only way to get out of the cycle is to take a step back and analyze how and why you are playing so poorly. What training methods do you use? If you have experienced a steady gain in your level over time and your results up to this point have been good, then it probably isn’t how you’re training. Most of the time the cause for a sudden period of poor results can be summarized in one word: expectations.

Before your winning streak began you were table tennis training and working hard to improve your weaknesses. You went to a tournament hoping that your training would pay off, but you weren’t really sure if it would. In other words, your expectations for yourself and your game were relatively low, and so you were relaxed and focused on just playing the best table tennis that you could. There was no pressure and no fear, which is the exact reason you played so well. As soon as you began to have expectations, you started feeling the added pressure, and playing table tennis with too much pressure will almost always lead to poor results. So, instead of playing with the expectation of winning, play to improve your game, and you will consistently play at your best.

Just like any other sport, you need to be mentally prepared for every ping-pong match that you intend to play. It is a big help if you start out early and watch your opponent play so that you know what their strengths and their weaknesses are. It is not entirely necessary to prepare like that though, as you can determine what their strength and weaknesses are simply by being the “Explorer”.
Your main tactic as the Explorer, is to get a feel for your opponent by sending them at many different types of shots. By being an effective explorer, you must use all kinds of shots once the game starts, such as blocks, loops, drives, counter-drives, spins, pushes, and other shots. By doing this, you will be able to adjust quickly and determine what shots are your opponent’s weakness. Try varying the different speeds at which you get the ball, and used many different types of serves as well.
As mentioned before, you will be able to find out what your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses are with this method. By doing this, you will be able to avoid giving them balls that they are strong at and concentrate more on their weaknesses. For instance, if you notice that your opponent can’t ever hit the ball from your backhand, try to send them more hits from the backhand.
Another strategy is by forcing your game to your opponent right at the start of the game and adjust your plays or tactics as you go. This is the traits of a “Dominator”.

A dominator won’t show any mercy and they will come to the table throwing their best shots straightaway from the beginning of the game. You control the gameplay this way by forcing your opponent to make the adjustments to your style instead of the other way around. As you can see this can be a really good position to be in, but you also need to know how to adjust to your opponent as well. Not being able to adjust will mean losing the game and many errors.

My being in a dominator, you are going to need to bring your best shots out first and be able to make adjustments according to how your opponent responds to your shots.

Now, try to figure out whether you are an explorer or a dominator. Really good ping-pong players are able to combine both methods and are able to make adjustments to their opponents shots very quickly. So whichever type of ping-pong player you are, you need to take the time and learn how to make adjustments to your opponents play so you can defeat them at their own game.

These are great tactics you can practice, and if you need an ping pong table to practice on you can find some really great deals at http://outdoortabletennisables.com

You should be prepared to play ping-pong just like you are mentally prepared for any other sport. It is a big help if you start out early and watch your opponent play so that you know what their strengths and their weaknesses are. It is not entirely necessary to prepare like that though, as you can determine what their strength and weaknesses are simply by being the “Explorer”.
By playing the Explorer, your tactic is to feel out your opponents by sending him or her many different types of shots. If you wish to be an effective explorer, you are going to have to use many different types of shots, such as loops, counter drives, drives, blocks, pushes, spins, and other types of shots. If you do this and do this well, it won’t take you long before you figure out exactly which shot is your opponents weak point. Always varied the speed of your hits as well, and use several different types of serves.
As I said a second ago, you’re going to be able find out your opponents weakness very quickly by doing this. When you figure out your opponent by using this method, you’re going to be able to concentrate on sending your opponent also shots  that they are weakest against. For instance, if you notice that your opponent can’t ever hit the ball from your backhand, try to send them more hits from the backhand.
There is another strategy you could use, and it entails bringing your game to the table right from the start and adjusting your tactics as you go. This is the traits of a “Dominator”.

A dominator won’t show any mercy and they will come to the table throwing their best shots straightaway from the beginning of the game. This method will force your opponent to make adjustments to how you play and not vice versa. As you can see this can be a really good position to be in, but you also need to know how to adjust to your opponent as well. If you aren’t able to adjust to your opponent’s shots, then this will probably mean the loss of the game for you.

Being a dominator means that you need to start the game with your best shots and adjust according to the response of your opponent to your shots.

Now, try to figure out whether you are an explorer or a dominator. Really good ping-pong players are able to combine both methods and are able to make adjustments to their opponents shots very quickly. So it really doesn’t matter which type of player you are, in the end that you need to learn how to adjust your opponent so that you can come out the victor at the end.

These are great tactics you can practice, and if you need an outdoor ping pong table to practice on you can find some really great deals at http://outdoortabletennisables.com

When first picking up the sport of ping pong, some years of practice will be required before sufficient competency is achieved in the game. The whole process will require making mistakes and then learning from them. Many might be put off by such problems, but it is the same situation in every other sport.

Mistakes will always be part of the journey in becoming better at ping pong. This does not mean that one must repeat everything that others have experienced in a negative way. Learning from others’ missteps is just as important in achieving the results one hopes for when trying to become a good table tennis player. As many have said before, learning from history’s failure will teach us to prevent mistakes of our forefathers in today’s generation.

Some might not agree, and try everything within their power to avoid errors due to fear of embarrassment. But most people are not born with a paddle in their hands.

The most important qualities that are neccessary for doing well in table tennis is regular application of hard work and determination. Many players do not reach their maximum potential because of laziness or complacency. Learn from the error of their ways and apply effort to your training, following the outlined program religiously.

It is also important to ensure discipline during this process. Avoid being lazy, as it is easy to relax, but difficult to pick up the pace again. Everyone can practice discipline, but most do not and suffer as a consequence.

Good table tennis equipment is also crucial for any beginner in the sport. While high quality might mean more money spent, they often provide long run rewards. Do not try to save on quality shoes or paddles, as they can help prevent injuries. A table tennis table might be priced out of your budget, but save up and invest in one. It will provide an immediate training facility at your doorstep. If you are serious about increasing the depth of knowledge of the game, seek out a good ping pong DVD and study it as part of a training program.

Beginners’ enthusiam might lead them to want to fly before understanding how to walk, as a famous Chinese proverb might suggest. This normally manifests itself in beginners hoping to emulate top players' styles. Stick to the basics and master them first, before attempting technically demanding routines. Without sound fundamentals, one is more likely to fail, which is responsible for many giving up at an early stage.

Long term excellence in ping pong is usually grounded in sound fundamentals. A few will result from errors we make, and the rest can be created through education resulting from past common mistakes. The end result is the same – everyone will become a better player and enjoy table tennis throughout life.