Returning to table tennis after 40 years
Training
Marcus Carli Asked 2 months ago
Hi
I’m 68 years old and have only just returned to playing table tennis. I’ve probably had a handful of games over the last 40 years and I’ve recently joined a seniors club and rediscovered my love for the game. I still feel comfortable with my shots ie control and spin, but my body positioning leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in doubles.
I first learned to play using the penholder grip at university and still play using the traditional Japanese one-sided bat.
Just wondering whether you have a category of players, like me that:
- don’t have the mobility they used to
- have terrible knees from running
- occasional back/neck pain after some shots
- get limited opportunity for drills as it’s usually you can only play doubles at the seniors’ clubs
I suspect that there would be a different advice and/or exercises that would be required. Apologies if you’ve covered this elsewhere in your site. I’ve only just started listening to your podcasts, which I find very interesting.
thanks
Marcus
Alois Rosario Answered 2 months ago
Hi Marcus,
Welcome back to the wonderful world of table tennis! It's fantastic to hear that you've rekindled your passion for the game and are actively participating in a seniors club. Your situation is not uncommon, and there are specific strategies and tips that can help you enjoy the game while managing the physical challenges you've described.
1. Adjusting Your Game Style: Given your experience with the penholder grip and the traditional Japanese one-sided bat, you might want to focus on playing a style that minimises the need for extensive movement. This can include focusing more on placement and spin rather than speed. Try to outsmart your opponents with strategic shots, using angles and varying spins to keep the ball in play without needing to move too much.
2. Body Positioning and Movement: For your body positioning, especially in doubles, communication and understanding with your partner are crucial. Position yourself in a way that allows you to cover your area of the table comfortably. Try to stay as close to the table as you can to minimise distance. Since mobility is a concern, work on your anticipation of the ball. This means reading the opponent's movements and shot selection early, which can compensate for slower physical reaction times.
3. Practice Drills Adaptation: Regarding limited opportunities for drills, try to utilise any warm-up or waiting time efficiently. Even without a table, you can practice shadow play, where you mimic the strokes and footwork. This can help in maintaining muscle memory and coordination. If possible, discuss with the club the possibility of dedicating some time for drills or even having a separate session for those interested.
Marcus, you're not alone in navigating these challenges, and many players find great joy in adapting their game as they age. Keep enjoying your table tennis journey, and feel free to reach out if you have any more questions or need further advice.
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Welcome back Marcus! As Alois said, you are not alone! I returned to our wonderful game at the age of 74, 5 years ago. Both knees are gone, which prevents me from doing the full weight transfer. Too much golf! I was fortunate to receive similar advice from Alois when I discovered Pingskills. If your club allows you the opportunity, I would also suggest working on developing two or three good serves. With the penhold grip you certainly can generate a lot of spin! I am also in a seniors club with similar playing limitations. Fortunately, there is another club that I can go to every two weeks that plays singles and allows me more opportunity to work on my game. As you are much younger than me and probably fitter from running, if you have the space at home, I strongly recommend buying a basic table tennis table and a quality entry level robot. This will help your game considerably as it has for mine. Just 30-60 minutes a day practice will make a big difference, and it is good fun. If you live in Australia, there are lots of reputable online shops that you can use to buy a table and a robot. Enjoy your new journey, Marcus!
Marcus Carli Posted 1 week ago
Thank you both Alois and Philip.
Since joining the seniors group I have found that a lot of them have returned to table tennis after a long break … so very similar to me. Even though I still don’t have a lot of opportunities to train or even have singles matches, the variety of the players I’m playing is incredible. Some are very highly skilled (even one in particular who has just turned ninety) and I’m getting great exposure to pimples, no spin returns, high spin lobs, attacking and defensive players.
Being a penhold player, I’m very comfortable at spinning, cutting and even have a good forehand smash. I don’t tend to block or push much, which given the variety of shots from all the different players, I find that I do need to develop. I’ve just set up a plywood sheet which I can prop at the end of my dining table and use as a backboard. It’s not great, but it does help me with the push, block and even my serves. … even having fun with developing the high toss serve. It’ll do until I find a training partner and I think there is one in the woods.
BTW Alois, I am enjoying the PingSkills podcast (listening on my daily walk). I started from scratch and I’m up to number 170 (the maximum checkout possible in a standard game of darts, as Jeff would say), which is quite a few years ago. So a long way to go before I’m up to date. You and Jeff have done an incredible job with the podcast/blog and obviously attracted quite a number of supporters around the world. Your incredible knowledge and great understanding of coaching is obvious and it’s great that you’re returning so much to the game. Obviously you both love it … and I think that table tennis can get into your DNA. Listening to the podcast, even though I’m still almost 10 years behind (which makes you ten years younger), is filling in the gaps for me. I’m following the players as they develop from Malong and Fan Zhendong and keeping up with all the rule changes. I’m sort of living through history.
Keep up the good work!!!
Hi Marcus,
Thanks for sharing your experience and the very kind words.
I love the fact that I am 10 years younger in the podcasts you are listening to... Maybe that is where I should remain...
Sounds like you have put yourself into a good place with lots of players and a great variety to match yourself up against.
Stay in touch and please always let us know how we can help you to further develop your game.