The goal of beginner-level ping pong players is to contact the ball with their rackets and complete a shot successfully. But professional table tennis players view it very differently. For them, a ball is an object with hundreds of potential contact points to choose to make a specific shot. Their higher level of play is synonymous with making skilled racket contact with the ball to place shots and gain an advantage over their opponents. Their racket contact ranges from intense brushing to a soft touch with finesse for serves and returns that keep other players on their toes.
If you're a table tennis fan, you know from watching the sport that the best players are incredibly precise with their shots. They've no doubt trained and practiced for thousands of hours to develop pro-level skills. Most started playing at a young age and put in 800 to 1,200 hours a year in training. A lot of time is spent practicing and developing shots – which boil down to how to make ideal ball contact with the racket. Pro table tennis players with equipment named after them have outstanding ball contact skills during play. They can contact the ball in any way they choose to produce both spin and power.
Novice players working on improving their table tennis game need to pay attention to ball contact. If you've just been whacking at the ball trying to serve or return, it's time to give each shot more careful consideration. Adding a few shot techniques can make improvements in your game. For example, begin experimenting with topspin. Brush high toward the top of the ball with an upward motion. You'll see the difference it makes. Soon after that, try to learn how to put underspin on the ball. It requires a slicing motion toward the bottom of the ball. Playing with spin will change your game.
In table tennis, like all racket sports, the service is a crucial part of the game. It can benefit from side spin. Skimming the side of the ball as you serve will help give you an advantage. All of these techniques and shot variation give you more options as a player. Practice and training are required if you want to become serious about your play – and working with a coach is very helpful if you can afford one. Making sure to view the many contact points on the ball, and learning how to use each one is essential. It's also more satisfying and exciting to play table tennis with greater proficiency.
