What to do when injured - experiences required
Table Tennis Training and Drills
Last updated 9 years ago
Mark Baker Asked 10 years ago
Table tennis was such an everyday part of my life. I would practice 1-3 hours a day and play several days a week until I had a fall at work and injured my playing wrist. I have not played in 6 weeks and just found out I will have to have surgery so I will be out a long time. I am going stir crazy. I'm thinking about training and playing left handed. Do you think that's a good ideal or should I just keep in shape and return to the sport when I am healed. Any ideals would be appreciated. You never appreciate the sport enough until you're unable to play.
MB
Alois Rosario Answered 10 years ago
Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope it all goes well from here on for you.
Playing with your other hand is OK for developing a new skill. I am not sure how much it will help with playing with your correct hand though. I suppose it will help you with spin recognition practice and your fitness and stop you from going stir crazy.
If others have had similar experiences please share them with Mark.
Thoughts on this question
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Darrell Porter Posted 10 years ago
Ive had a similar experience. If you go to a club, go and watch them play, although you might be tempted to play, you could learn new things by standing back and watching them play. Hope this could help
pieter-jan louage Posted 10 years ago
hi Mark
I had the same problem like you. I had a serious shoulder injury for more than one year. I was unable to play table tennis with my right hand and I started to play with my left hand. the beginning was difficult but the more you pratice the more comfortable you feel. After a few months I could do some slow spins with backhand and forehand. it really helped me. here is my experience about playing with your other hand when injured :)
greets Pieter-Jan (Belgium)
Daniel Blundell Posted 10 years ago
I train all sports I play (including TT) on both sides of the body. To do so does come at the cost of improving your game on your strong playing arm but there are benefits.
The first benefit is for this very situation where you have an injury on your playing hand. If your left is play ready you can both continue to enjoy playing and continue to keep fit. Alois is the expert but I would think if you play with the left you still keep your footwork trained up.
Another benefit comes from symmetric muscle development. This does not just play an aesthetic role. Symmetric muscle development can help prevent injuries and back problems down the track.
Shahin Shahrad Posted 10 years ago
Hi Mark,I hope to get well soon.
Played with the left hand, the precision and focus is better for you. There is a good opportunity to focus on your footwork skills.
Another exercise is very helpful for me, " Mental training ". When we play in our minds, We do not ever go wrong. Our balls with full power, and a great locations. To achieve maximum improvement in exercise, 80% think the best practice match and 20% of actual practice. You will be amazed at the progress of the "mental training".
Mark Baker Posted 10 years ago
Thanks for the support. I have been hitting against the robot left handed and I think I will start visiting the clubs again and watching and maybe hitting some with beginners. I wasn't that good right handed (rated about 1100 in the U.S.) but I love the sport and I love competing at my level of play.
D K Posted 9 years ago
Hello
I agree with mark.
I do not have an injured hand (but head :D ) ,but I agree that his "mental training" can help. It does not have. But It can.
That is the only way that I could learn defense besides watching a slow motion videos,because I have never met (personally) a player that can play strokes I want to learn. (or maybe they can play it but does not want me to play it so they pretend that they cannot play it)
And although I am getting better extremely slowly,when I really know where and how the opponent's ball will come,I quickly imagine something like "how would a master defender deal with it",then I try to imagine the master defender chopping it and I try to copy the movement of my imagination.
It can sound very strangely but sometimes it works :D
D K Posted 9 years ago
So this is the way I can learn strokes :D