Going from basement player to the next level

Ricky Williams Asked 13 years ago

Hey i have a few question. Im 17 years old and really enjoy playing ping pong with friends in my basement but i would like to step my game up to the next level and i am think about buying the newgy robo pong for extra practice when im alone do you think its worth buying?  

Also do you have any tips on getting the ball on the table i can do it the ball hits the table rather slow which makes it easy for my opponent to smash it back is they any way for me to get my speed up but to keep the ball on the table still?

Thanks, Ricky 

Jeff Plumb Answered 13 years ago

Hi Ricky,

It is great to hear that you want to learn some more and become a better player.

The single best way to improve from a basement player to a serious Table Tennis player is to join a club. When you join a club you will get access to coaching and competitions. The range of different styles of players at the club will surprise you and it is important to learn to play against all different styles.

With regards to Table Tennis robots, I'm not a huge fan. I would rather spend the money on joining a club and getting coaching rather than buying a robot.The problem with robots is that they don't emulate what occurs in a match. The spin is generated by the machine and not by an opponent hitting the ball with a bat. This is a big part of improving, learning to read and anticipate how your opponent hits the ball. Everything you can do with a robot can be done by a coach (or anyone with a little practice) feeding you multiball.

My feeling is that the robot is great for the first week but then you'll not use it very often and let it sit in the garage hardly getting used. So my advice as mentioned before would be to join a club and start getting some coaching. If you can't find any clubs or coaches nearby to where you live then perhaps the robot is the way to go.

To hit the ball harder and increase your consistency, you'll need to learn the forehand topspin. To play this stroke correctly you'll need a decent bat with a good quality rubber that can generate plenty of spin. Our PingSkills Rook is perfect for learning at this level. The reason you need a good quality rubber is to generate the topspin. When you play the shot, you will brush the ball creating the topspin and this topspin will cause the ball to dip. It is this dipping flight path that allows you to hit the ball harder whilst still being able to keep your consistency high.

Let me know if this answers your questions.

Good luck!