Table tennis is a sport that does not require a great deal of physical strength to play. Unlike tennis, which requires a racket and a large court, table tennis only requires a few pieces of equipment, such as a paddle and a net, to play against an opponent.
If you enjoy a fun sport with relatively light physical activity, table tennis is a great choice. To learn more about the basic techniques of table tennis and its health benefits, read the full discussion below!
What Is Table Tennis?
Table tennis is a small-ball sport played by either two players in singles or four players in doubles. The game is played by facing your opponent and hitting a ping pong ball back and forth using a paddle.
The equipment includes a paddle covered with rubber, allowing the ball to bounce more easily. Meanwhile, the playing surface is a small table with a net stretched across the middle from one side to the other.
Since table tennis is a sport that is often played competitively, it is no surprise that many people enjoy it because the playing techniques are relatively easy to learn.
Basic Table Tennis Techniques
If you want to play ping pong like a pro, you should first master the following basic techniques. Check out the explanation below.
1. Holding the Paddle
Although it may seem simple, there are specific techniques for holding a table tennis paddle. These techniques include the shakehand grip, penhold grip, and Seemiller grip.
- Shakehand Grip, a basic grip where the hand holds the paddle as if shaking hands.
- Penhold Grip, in this grip, the paddle is held in the same way you would hold a pen.
- Seemiller Grip: often referred to as the American grip. The paddle is held similarly to the shakehand grip, but the index finger is placed along the edge of the paddle while the paddle is rotated about 90 degrees.
2. Positioning the Body
Another essential table tennis technique is proper body positioning. To hit the ball accurately, you need to maintain the correct body position. There are two main elements of body positioning: stance and footwork. Nonetheless, these two techniques serve different purposes.
- Square Stance, a body position facing the table, commonly used when receiving a serve. Players can move one foot forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally.
- Side Stance: in this position, the body is positioned sideways, bringing the shoulders more parallel to the table. This technique can be used to attack and outmaneuver the opponent.
3. Serving
Serving is not only a term used in badminton or volleyball. In table tennis, there are also serving techniques that players should master. These include the forehand serve, backhand serve, and crosscourt serve. Here are the proper serving steps.
- Place the ball on the palm of your open hand.
- Toss the ball at least 16 cm into the air.
- During the serve, the ball must remain visible to your opponent.
- If the serve is not performed according to the rules, the umpire may call a fault.
- A let serve is replayed if the ball passes over the net and touches it once before landing correctly.
4. Smashing
Table tennis, also known as ping pong, has several smash techniques that players should master. Below are the steps for performing a smash.
Forehand Smash
- Place your left foot in front and your right foot behind.
- Turn your body slightly to the right, with your weight resting on your right foot.
- Pull your right arm backward while turning your waist to the right.
- After the ball bounces and reaches its highest point, swing your arm upward from below.
- Then, hit the ball downward using your wrist for added power.
Backhand Smash
- Position your right foot in front and your left foot behind.
- Turn your body slightly to the left, with your right shoulder facing the table.
- Pull your forearm to the left side so that it is higher than the table.
- Once the ball bounces and reaches its highest point, swing your forearm forward while using your wrist to direct the ball.
- At the same time, shift your body weight from the left side to the right.
Health Benefits of Table Tennis
After learning about the definition of table tennis, its techniques, and equipment, here are some of the health benefits of playing table tennis.
1. Improving Body Coordination
Although table tennis only requires light movement, it can significantly improve hand-eye coordination. When played regularly, it can also enhance concentration and mental alertness.
2. Strengthening the Joints
In fact, playing ping pong can help strengthen your joints. Therefore, if you have a history of injuries or conditions such as back problems, arthritis, or gout, practicing table tennis may help improve mobility and overall physical function. Nevertheless, make sure you consult your doctor first.
3. Improving Reflexes
Continuously rallying the ball with your opponent helps sharpen your reflexes. Since this sport requires quick movements, both gross and fine motor skills are trained. With better reflexes, you will find it easier to play table tennis.
Read also : What Is a Sports Injury? The Causes & How to Treat Them
That is the explanation of table tennis, including its definition, basic techniques, and health benefits. Although table tennis is not a high-intensity sport, many people become so engaged that they end up sweating a lot. Of course, the fluids lost during exercise should be replenished with quality drinking water.
To replace lost body fluids, make sure you choose #AQUADULU. Keep in mind that not all water is AQUA. AQUA is one of the healthiest drinking waters, containing natural minerals sourced from 19 selected mountains across Indonesia.
These mountains have protective layers that preserve the water's quality by preventing physical, chemical, and biological contamination. Moreover, AQUA is an Indonesian brand that has been serving the Indonesian community for over 50 years.
You can trust the safety of AQUA because it complies with the standards set by BPOM, SNI, and halal-certified. Hence, bring a 600 ml bottle of AQUA when playing table tennis. Make AQUA DULU your favorite choice for drinking water! AQUA: 100% Indonesian, 100% Halal, and 100% Pure.
