How do I stop putting my non-playing hand on the table
Table Tennis Strokes and Technique
Last updated 8 years ago
Emmett Swint Asked 8 years ago
I am in my 70s and have recently learned to play table tennis. Your videos have been very helpful. What I noticed is that I often place my non-playing hand on the table for support when I reach for a short ball or one off the forehand side of the table. I have osteoarthritis in my knees so I don't have very fast footwork to get in a stable position for the shot. I know hand touches are illegal in a match and would appreciate any tips to break the habit.
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi Emmett,
That could be a tacky one to stop doing. You could try putting your non playing hand behind your back for a while and see if that helps. The only thing I would be worried about is your balance. If you are going to fall then putting your hand on the table is definitely the lesser of the two evils.
Thoughts on this question
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Emmett Swint Posted 8 years ago
Thank you. I'll see if putting my non playing hand behind my back helps. I also notice in some of the videos that certain players consistently place their non playing hand in a given position for every shot. I don't think I worry about using the hand to prevent myself from falling as much as I do to compensate for not having the quick footwork needed to reach short shots.