Are you new to table tennis, playing casually with friends, or struggling to grasp the basics? You've come to the right place!
V3 Table Tennis Academy in Noida has been transforming table tennis enthusiasts for over 15 years. We've turned our love for the game into a passion shared by hundreds.
This blog post is your ultimate guide to taking your table tennis skills to the next level. Learn everything from the origins of the sport to advanced techniques that will enhance your game.
And if you are interested in starting table tennis coaching in Noida, you can get in touch with us today.
What is Table Tennis? And is it “table tennis” or “ping pong”?
Table tennis is a fast-paced sport played globally with rackets and a small ball. Officially, the sport is called table tennis, although many people still refer to it as the game of ping pong.
In this game, players aim to hit the ball so their opponents can't return it. It's commonly played as Singles or Doubles.
The game started in the 1880s, and has been improved since then. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was established in 1926, setting rules and shaping modern table tennis.
The Top Table Tennis Rules You Must Know
Playing a Match
Winning a Point - To win a point, you need to hit the ball so it lands only on your opponent's side, and such that they can't hit it back.
Winning a Game - A game in modern table tennis goes up to 11 points. You take turns serving twice until the score is tied at 10-10, then you only serve once, and the first to get 2 points ahead wins.
Winning a Match - To win a match, you need to agree with your opponent on how many games to play. Make sure it's an odd number (like 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) to avoid ending in a tie.
Serving
Toss the Ball - When serving, you must toss the ball straight up at least 6 inches above the table's edge and behind it. Hit the ball only after it starts dropping.
Serve Anywhere - In singles, you can serve anywhere on the table. In doubles, you must serve diagonally.
You Can(‘t) Touch The Table
There's a lot of confusion about touching the table in table tennis. To be more precise,
You CAN touch the table with your racket-holding hand or arm.
You CAN stand on the table, or brush against it with your leg. (Not recommended though)
You CAN’T touch the table with your free hand (for balance or otherwise)
You CAN’T cause the table to move in any way.
The 3 Pieces of Table Tennis Equipment
At its core, table tennis is a simple game. All you need is a table, a paddle, a ball, and someone ready to play.
Table & Net
Your table and net are usually separate. The standard table is made of wood, 274cm long and 152.5cm wide. But you can play table tennis on any flat surface. Tables are typically two separate halves that can be joined or attached to the same undercarriage.
Whereas, the net is designed to be 6 inches tall and slightly flexible so that the ball can graze the top without pinging off.
Racket/Paddle
Your table tennis racket is like a personalised tool, an extension of your arm that lets you play a wide range of shots. It consists of three parts: the Blade, Forehand Rubber, and Backhand Rubber. Experienced players usually purchase these components separately and then put them together to customise their racket for optimal performance.
Ping Pong Ball
The modern ping pong ball is a 40mm wide plastic sphere weighing about 2.7 grams. It's typically white but also available in orange, useful for playing against a white wall. Quality matters; so it is best to avoid thin, flexible balls from low-quality sellers.
Grip
Mastering your racket grip is important. As you improve your strokes and movements, the power you generate while hitting the ball depends on how tightly you hold the racket. Your grip impacts your power output, even though it may not be immediately obvious.
The shakehand grip and penhold grip are the most popular types, with the former being more widely used. While there are no strict rules for holding the racket, understanding the conventional method can be beneficial.
Your thumb should be on the forehand side of the area between the rubber and the handle.
Your index finger should be on the backhand side landing on the bottom part of the rubber.
The remaining three fingers should wrap around the handle.
The webbing between your thumb and index finger should be as close to the edge of the racket as possible.
The grip should be firm but slightly loose. Never hold the racket too tight because it will restrain the muscles in your entire arm and this could affect your play.
Don't get used to holding the racket wrong—it can cause problems later. Once you decide to play, learn the correct grip, follow the tips, and adjust until it feels right for you.
Starting Position
The ready position is key in table tennis—it's where every stroke and move begin. Getting this right helps you stay balanced, move fast, and hit better shots. Another thing to consider as you start with table tennis are the starting position and the stance. The ‘starting position' is where you stand at your end of the table, while 'stance' is how you stand in that position.
So here are the points that you have to remember when doing the ready position:
For the starting position, stand on your backhand side of the table.
If you're right-handed, be on the left; if left-handed, be on the right.
Spread your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
Right-handers, keep your right foot a bit behind the left; left-handers, left foot behind the right for balance.
Raise your ankles and distribute weight evenly on the balls of your feet to move quickly.
Bend your knees slightly and lean forward to enable rapid movements.
Keep your playing hand in front and parallel to the ground for quicker ball reach, while the non-playing hand aids balance.
Your grip and stance are key in laying a strong foundation. They boost power and performance. While there are no strict rules, there are standard techniques. Adhering to these can lead to better outcomes.
Furthermore, now that you have an idea about your grip and stances, it is then important to focus on mastering the four fundamental strokes: forehand drive, backhand drive, forehand chop, and backhand chop. These lay the foundation for learning other strokes.
Shadow Exercises
Beginners can improve stroke execution through shadow practice, where they mimic strokes without a ball to focus on movement and muscle memory. This is done at the start of training, focusing on basic strokes with 50-100 repetitions each.
The quality of movement matters more than quantity, so more emphasis is drawn on correct form over sheer repetition.
Three key aspects to focus on are the backswing, contact point, and follow-through for effective stroke execution.
Forehand Drive
Backswing: Start by assuming the ready position we described earlier. Twist your upper body (right for right-handers, left for left-handers) from the hips, shifting weight to your back foot. Keep your playing arm parallel to the ground.
Contact Point: After the backswing, move towards the ball. The contact point is where your racket hits it. Twist your upper body back to the ready position, lifting your arms and shifting weight to your front foot.
Follow-Through: Complete the stroke by following through. Move your arm forward and upward upon contact, ending near your forehead.
For practice, repeat these steps until they're memorised. In a game, return to your starting position after each shot to prepare for the next one.
Backhand Drive
The Backhand Drive is used when the ball approaches your body or non-dominant side. It's less powerful than the Forehand Drive, often used to pressure opponents into weaker shots. Beginners often struggle with this shot, leading to easy points for opponents. Improving your backhand can prevent point losses.
Forehand Push
The Forehand Push is a defensive shot used less often than other basic shots. It helps block your opponent's attack and keep them from gaining an advantage. Keep it low and short to prevent them from countering. For your forehand side, focus on driving or attacking, reserving the push for shorter balls on that side.
Backhand Push
Beginners must master the Backhand Push—a common defensive shot. It's crucial to contact under the ball and keep it low over the net to prevent your opponent's attack. Use this shot to move your opponent around the table, making the point uncomfortable and revealing weaknesses.
Conclusion
Building a strong foundation is important for success in table tennis. All the complex strokes and movements, including footwork, rely on how solid and precise your basics are. As a beginner, concentrate on perfecting your grip, ready position, and mastering the four fundamental strokes initially. That's all you need to kickstart your table tennis journey.
If you're in or near Noida, reach out to us today to begin your table tennis training in Noida and become a table tennis ace.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1.What skills do beginners need for table tennis?
The beginners need to work on their grip, serve, forehand and backhand drive, spin, blocking, counter-driving, and footwork. Once they are equipped with these foundational skills, they can work on developing complex movements and finding their advantages and disadvantages.
2. What are the 4 basic strokes in table tennis?
The Four Basic Table Tennis Strokes are Forehand drive, Backhand drive, Backhand push, and Forehand push.
3. What is the minimum age to learn table tennis?
Table tennis can be played by anyone aged 4 and up; there is no right or wrong time to learn the sport. If you are interested, and if you are looking for table tennis coaching near me in Noice, then get in touch with V3 Table Tennis Academy today.