Heavy weight training and fine motor skills

Roneil Sivanandan Asked 8 years ago

Hey Alois and Jeff

I have started bodybuilding training whilst practicing TT twice a week. I do feel that weight training affects my TT somewhat detrimentally. While researching I came across a comment that training with weights that have mass significant relative to your bodyweight can cause a decrease in fine motor skills.

Have you any knowledge or experience with regards to this? Can you highlight where I could possibly include some exercises in my bodybuilding training to benefit my TT? Areas in my game I should expect relevant increases and decreases in ability due to increased strength?

Thanks for the great show

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Ronell,

The increased strength will help you because power is determined by strength and speed.

For Table Tennis a lot of speed comes from the legs. This is an area that you can work on.

I don't think weight training needs to decrease your touch or fine motor skills. Keep training and your touch will improve.

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Francisco Cespedes Grau Posted 8 years ago

My suggestion is you dont train to get more muscle, so to get more strenght, more muscle without strenght gains may make you slower, more strengh will make you faster, you need to look at powerlifter routines not bodybuilding routines.

Roneil Sivanandan Posted 8 years ago

"My suggestion is you dont train to get more muscle, so to get more strenght, more muscle without strenght gains may make you slower, more strengh will make you faster, you need to look at powerlifter routines not bodybuilding routines."

Or gain strength proportionally to weight gain to maintain speed.