Where to look when playing
Strokes
Devin Hirsch Asked 8 years ago
Hi Alois,
Where should I look when I'm playing table tennis?
I've had a few people saying I should follow the ball all the way to my bat so it's easier to make a good contact, and it's less likely that I will miss the ball.
Others have told me to have my eyes fixed on where I want the ball to go. If I want to hit it to the backhand side, then that is where I should look as the ball is coming to me. They say I can be much more accurate with my shots that way.
So which answer is better? I tend to play better when I watch the ball as it's coming to me, but I don't know if that's a bad habit, or the correct approach.
Thanks again,
Devin
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi Devin,
Watch the ball. That is the moving object. You will see everything else you need to see peripherally.
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Devin Hirsch Posted 8 years ago
Thank you very much
Mick Derevnin Posted 8 years ago
Do you ever watch the opponents racket after the serve? I've been told by some people to watch the ball until after you hit it, then focus on the opponent's swing and racket. As the opponent makes contact with the ball, return focus back to the ball.
Personally, I've only been tracking the ball and relying on peripheral vision for the rest. The problem I have with that is that I fail to read shots that go down the line in time.
Though if I do focus on my opponent's racket after I hit the ball, I feel like I see those shots coming quicker, but I miss the ball more trying to return focus back to the ball.
Are both valid? Or should I just continue to track the ball and rely on peripheral vision?
I think if you try to change focus during a rally you will get yourself into problems. The ball is moving too fast and the changes would be too difficult.