After discovering table tennis at a friend’s birthday gathering, entrepreneur and filmmaker Franck Raharinosy formed a regularly occurring ping-pong party that attracted many of entertainment’s most celebrated names such as Owen Wilson and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. If your familiarity with table tennis does not extend beyond knowing how to hit the ball with a paddle, start with these basic tips to get a handle on the world’s most popular racket sport.
Dress comfortably:
You will not be running back and forth across a full court while playing table tennis, but the close proximity of both players coupled with the energy required to serve and return the ball usually results in a good deal of perspiration. Wear socks with comfortable sneakers, shorts, and a loose-fitting shirt.
Learn the rules:
Familiarize yourself with the rules in order to understand the basic types of serves and returns, the different ways to score points, as well as how to contest mishaps caused by yourself or your opponent.
Learn techniques:
Ask a friend who is knowledgeable in the sport about techniques such as the smash, block, chop, drive, and spin. Choose one and learn it well, then move on to another. If no one is around to help you practice, scoot your table against a wall and bat the ball back and forth using a single technique until you can perform it without thinking.
Mix up techniques:
Rarely does a single tactic carry a ping-pong player to victory. After you have spent time learning the game’s many techniques, practice mixing them up during play. It will expand your versatility, as well as keep your opponent guessing as to what you will do next.
Concentrate:
Ping-pong action is typically fast and furious, so never divert your attention from the game. When playing ping-pong, it is important to watch the ball as well as your opponent’s racket: the set of your opponent’s racket is often an indicator as to which serve or return he or she will use.
Practice:
If you want to become proficient at anything, you must practice. Table tennis is no exception.
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