The Basics of Table Tennis
If you think that table tennis is somewhat similar to the game of lawn tennis, then you are on the right track. This is because table tennis is actually patterned after the game of lawn tennis itself. Of course, there would be significant modifications to the game.
First off, the court would be different, for table tennis is actually played on a table. This is the obvious for its name. There would still be the presence of a soft net that separates the table into two courts. But because the table is significantly smaller than the ordinary tennis court, the pacing of the game would also be significantly faster. Table tennis does require players to have quick reflexes. Beyond that, a good table tennis player should also have strategy plotted all over his game. The placing of shots is very essential in winning mastering and winning games.
Strategy enters the picture as soon as the ball comes into play. If you're the one serving the ball, make sure you give off a fast serve. The only rule to keep in mind here is for the ball to bounce once on your side, and onto your opponent's court as well. So, it would be very easy to make a quick serve. The strategy here would be to add a spin to the serve. This way, the ball would fluctuate in mid-air, and your opponent would have a hard time predicting where the ball would land. Your opponent just might anticipate where the ball would land. But, chances are, he or she will still find it difficult to predict that exact spot. So, if a return is made, there's every possibility that it would not be as good as your opponent would have wanted. A lot of games have already been won by means of this strategy, so you are guaranteed success in this area.
In a typical game of table tennis, the rallies would frequently end in the smash type of shot. This is actually the counterpart of the spike in volleyball, the dunk in basketball, as well as th
e smash in lawn tennis itself. The smash is that one shot that can easily put away the whole game. It takes practice and skill to master the smash. But if you want to master the game of table tennis, then this is indeed one shot that you should learn. You should also learn to defend yourself in the event that your opponent would be performing smash shots as well.
