Table tennis (also called ping pong) is a fun sport game to play, but if you’re serious about playing and you want to improve your game there are plenty of variations you can play that will help you strengthen your skills.
Table tennis is simple in general, but it can be challenging to be really good at it. There are a lot of rules you need to keep in mind while playing and you need to be consistent with your play. Practicing can also grow boring, especially for beginners who haven’t “locked into” a practice routine. This is especially true for kids who can struggle to focus for longer periods of time.
If you intend to play professionally or you just enjoy the idea of being really good at the game, it can get tedious always practicing by playing a regulation game. And chances are it would be impossible to do so anyway because you won’t always have a practice partner. These game alternatives will help you perfect your table tennis skills and advance to the next level of play. Who knows, maybe one day you could be a table tennis pro in the international table tennis federation!
New players tend to progress through skills using the same routine. For instance, players learn to hit the ball with the ping pong paddle (as opposed to a tennis racket), then hit it over the net, then direct their hit over the net. They then focus on consistency in volleys, learn variety to help them put spin on the ball, and finally, learn to hit with power.
Too many players learn the first step and skip right to the last, especially over enthusiastic youngsters who want to blast the ball at their opponent. By practicing using this routine, you’ll gradually perfect each skill over time. When you practice in a multiplayer game, you can improve your hand-eye coordination rapidly. Try watching a table tennis video on YouTube and you'll see the focus that this sport requires.
Bucket Game for Table Tennis
The first game alternative helps you learn to control the ball. It’s a fundamental part of the game and learning to do it early on in your training ensures you’ll be a proficient player even if you don’t have a lot of experience.
In the Bucket Game for Table Tennis, players set up plastic cups on the opposite side of the table. The larger the cup the easier it will be to play the game, but once you master each size you should move down to enhance your skills. It might even help to begin with three larger sized bowls.
The goal of the game is to hit 10 balls into the buckets. Players should begin with 10 balls total and hit them until all 10 are in a bowl or bucket.
The Bucket Game can also be played with two players who switch sides and keep track of how many balls go into the buckets after one round or how many rounds it takes to get all 10 balls into the buckets.
The School Game for Table Tennis
This is a simple game that’s a great place to start for beginner players. It’s a service practice game that helps you perfect one of the most difficult aspects of table tennis.
Players serve the all consecutive times, which continues until the player has achieved three proper serves. At that point, he or she moves back from the table about one foot and attempts to achieve three proper serves again. This is known as graduating to the next grade. Once a grade level is achieved, a player can move an additional foot away from the table. Eventually, a player will be able to achieve proper service from about 12 feet from the table.
Not only does this game help with service through repetition, it also allows a new player to determine where he or she feels most comfortable serving. Some players like to serve from right up on the table, while others prefer to have some space between their bodies and the playing surface.
Rallyball for Table Tennis Players
In Rallyball for Table Tennis Players, one player serves the ball to the other and that player hits it back. If it hits the net or goes out of bounds, the server gets a point. If it lands in bounds, the receiving team gets the point. Basically, this is a loose version of regular table tennis without all of the other rules of the game involved. This is a good opportunity for beginning players to get the feel for volleys without concern for all of the other issues that can interrupt consistent play.
Single Player Games for Table Tennis Players
In many instances, players will be practicing without the benefit of an opponent. There are still plenty of fun games you can play when you are playing alone. Some tables can be configured to allow for single player practice. One side of the table becomes vertical and you’ll be able to play alone because you can hit the ball against the opposing side of the table.
Another way to challenge yourself when playing alone is to set a certain goal or attempt to perfect a skill with a certain amount of balls. For instance, you can get a set of 100 balls fairly cheap. Choose a skill – maybe proper service of the ball – and practice with the entire set of 100. If you want, you can then gather the 100 balls and begin again. Using a large number of balls allows you to practice the skill over and over without stopping to retrieve the balls when playing alone.
You can also try playing with varying levels of equipment. It’s good to start with practice table tennis balls, but as you progress, try the better quality balls. Even if you aren’t a pro, it’s still good to get a feel for different equipment.
One final option you have is to set a time frame in which to play. You can at that point choose any game or practice drill, but you must do it for that certain amount of time. This can help you create consistency and allow you to turn off thinking about anything other than the task at hand. Set a timer that will allow you to avoid clock watching and practice a given skill until the timer goes off.
