Ping pong or table tennis is the most popular game in the world, especially in Asia. Whereas it is very well famous in the USA and the UK. How to play ping pong can be the question to the people who heard about it first and what are the rules of this game and how one can improve his skill of the game.
Before that, you should know about the beginning of the game. How it was started and where it first took place.
So the answer is, it was in England in the late 19th century. At the beginning of the game, it was commonly named ping pong, but with the tied of time, it is now called table tennis in different countries.
Objects of Ping Pong Game
Before playing a game, you should know the basic rules and the regulations of that game. So the most popular ping pong game is straightforward in the basic rules.
In each game, there is an ending. So for ping pong, it is 11 points for a side to win the set of the match as per the rules of 2001. Although it was 21 points previously.
There is another outdoor game you can play besides ping pong, that is baseball. Nowadays, baseball has become the most popular game throughout the world.
To play baseball, you need baseball bats, gloves, balls, and cleats as well.
How To Play Ping Pong To Improve Your Skills
What are the basic things you should do in ping pong?
It varies based on where do you learn from and who are you learn from. But the necessary things are quite the same. So what is going to give you practice on that, and undoubtedly you will get benefited.
- Knees
- Holdings the paddle
- Eyes
- Face paddle downward for topspin
- Swing low to high for topspin
- Face paddle upward for backspin
- Swing high to low for backspin
- Repeat swings with the forehead
- Topspin serve
- Backspin serve
If you follow these ten steps, you will be the master of this game.
The first thing to improve your skill is footwork when you stand in front of the table with the paddle in one hand and with the ball on the other side.
If you want to be an advanced player, you should practice more. But sometimes you do not have a partner. So you need a ping pong robot to help you. Robots are faster and accurate. Your game will improve in no time.
The flexibility of your knees is an essential thing to play the best shorts. You have to fold your knees a little to get the best comfort of your balance. Adjust the knees and play the best game ever.
Holding the paddle is another issue; without it, you can not play the game.
So when you play the game, you need to keep the paddle perfectly to play the best shorts.
Then come to the eyes what holds your game concentration all the time and help you to understand the shorts from the opposite player.
If you lose eye contact with the ball during the game, yes you will not be a good player, or you will lose your game for sure. So eyes are the essential things in ping pong.
The next two option regarding topspin is all about the techniques that you would have to play to improve your skill.
You have to hold the paddle as you stay, but at the time you play the shot, you need to face your paddle downward slightly.
With that smooth touch, the ball will get the topspin, and that will be harder for the opponent player to face it back.
Swing the paddle low to high is another way to topspin the ball very regular basis. When you face the ball that has been shot from the opposition player, you need to contact your eyes with the ball first and then just take your paddle low to high very gently.
All the shot techniques are quite similar, but the way to face it is always different—all you need to stay focused during the game time. To play the backspin, you need to meet your paddle upward.
And place your paddle high to low for the backspin. What I mean, when you face the ball, you just take your paddle from high to low and bring it back as it seems your hand is open.
So now you have to follow the shots to repeat the best output of your game. Apart from that, you have to be tricky when you serve. If you can learn the topspin, service very well it would be a great chance to get the point very quickly.
Like the shots to get the topspin, you have to face your paddle downward and to get the backspin. You have to face your paddle upward. So if you follow the tips, yes you will play better a couple of days later.
The most important thing to develop skills is practice. The more you practice, the more you learn. But keep in mind the perfect method makes a man master in that particular field.
Don’t go for the wrong one that will be a total waste of time and your energy.
Practice Consistently
To be an expert in any game, one must practice that thing consistently. Not the practice instead the perfect practice makes a man the master of that game.
You have to hit the ball at the right time and place the ball in the right place of the paddle, and you have to be focused on the ball all the time.
Because without eye contact, it is impossible to return the ball correctly.
Players and Equipment
In the game of ping pong, you can play in a different format. You can play one to one in a single composition, or you can play two against two or two against one. You need a ping pong table, paddle or racket, a net set, and a ball.
Ping Pong table
ping pong table is table tennis equipment, which is a flat surface with a net in the middle. It usually measures 9 feet by 5 feet (2.7m x 1.5m).
The net is 1.5 inches high at the center and 2 inches high at each side to make the ball bounce easily on return shots, as it slows down near the end of the table.
The equipment has a small, flat racket and a white ball with red spots. The rules are similar to tennis except for these differences.
Players must keep one foot on the ground at all times, there is no re-serving, and only the serving player can score points which end when two are played consecutively by either side.
Ping Pong Ball
To start a game of table tennis, one player serves the ball by gently hitting it with the paddle. The serve is either an open-hand or Shakehand push which starts from below and moves up, or a reverse side-spin serve (topspin).
At a professional level, players attempt to hit their opponent’s paddle on his/her return. A successful return is called a “good” return or “play”.
Table tennis balls are constructed in different ways to suit their intended use. All table tennis balls conform to the ITTF regulations regarding size, weight, rebound, and shape.
The choice of ball used is often decided by the player’s paddle surface preference and the speed of the surface on which the game is being played.
Ping Pong Paddle
Paddles consist of a flat side and a round side and you can use different sides depending on your preference. The flat side is more suitable for attacking while the round side is better for defensive play.
The backside of the paddle is a plain rubber material, usually black or red. These surfaces can be made from any number of different materials including wood, plastic, and various composite materials.
Paddle makers also utilize a unique combination of rubbers on both sides of the paddle to give it added grip and spin capabilities. The thickness and size of these rubbers can vary, with some players preferring a sleek paddle while others prefer something thicker.
The “sweet spot” on the paddle is the center of the racket face that will give you optimal control and power while playing your game.
It’s not always easy to find since it tends to be small, but having an expert show you how to look for it is best. The sweet spot will change depending on the angle you are holding the paddle.
So playing with both forehand and backhand shots can cause variation in where your optimum hitting zone lies. Paddles are available for every skill level whether you are a beginner or seasoned player.
At the beginning of the game, you might find someone who wants to play the game too. Finding someone advanced in ping pong won’t be a good option for a beginner. Quite similar or a little bit advanced will be the best one for the beginner.
Focus on keeping the ball low except touching the net because it won’t be easy for the opposition player to play the lower football.
Develop strong backhand and forehand
As you do not know from which side of your body the ball will come, you have to be prepared to return the ball instantly.
But you can not change the paddle from one hand to another. For that reason, you have to be strong in both the backhand and the forehand to get the best result.
Learn to put the spin on the ball
If you can move your hand so quickly from one side to another and up or down. Then you have to learn to control the ball hitting. Hitting the ball with the spin is another thing and the most among all.
The opponent won’t be a natural player. So to make an illusion in front of him, the spin shot will be the weapon to get the point.
Smash the ball
In any game, the speed of the shot helps to generate fear in the opponent. So acquiring the point, smashing would be a great option.
If you can smash hard the ball, then the opponent won’t be able to control the ball properly or will play a feeble shot then you will get the benefit to play the best chance to win over him. So practice more to be quick and speedy in the smashing.
Play a mind game with the opponent
Sometimes playing over an opponent could be very tough with the skill. You never know about the expertise of the opposition, he could be better than you. But what you can do to beat him in the game, you have to play with the mind. I know this sounds wired.
But believe me, as an athlete, I have tried it several times, and I was lucky enough to hypnotize the opponent, and I won the game. And this thing works. If you do not believe me, then apply this in your next game and prove me wrong.
The Final Words
Playing any kind of game is fun. But to be an expert on the game is always challenging. One must be dedicated and have to work hard to be a master of that game.
We all know that practice makes a man perfect. So practice more and more forget other things when you are decided to be a superstar in that game. Ping pong is one of the toughest games of all.
Because it has to play in a table, a ball, a paddle, and the small size table are divided in the middle with a net that you have to cross with the ball.
But you can make it easy with regular practice. How to play ping pong is always a frequent question for all sorts of beginners. So practice regularly and forget to say how to play ping pong.
Hi, My name is Benjamin Fink and I am the author of the ping pong reviewed blog. I am a sports person learning and sharing my knowledge with others about ping pong and other sports.
I have been playing ping pong for the last 17 years and teaching people about the game and writing new things about the game through this blog When finding something new. I have participated in serious ping pong tournaments in my country.
