Table Tennis Tips!

• Mix up serves of different length and spin:- Some examples of advanced serves include medium-long, deep, short, down-the-line, pure spin, pure speed, etc. Serves to the elbow tend to be very effective.
• Develop a third-ball attack:- This is where you serve, the receiver receives, and you nail one in for a winner. An example is a short backspin serve, followed by a long push, then a powerful loop.
• Immediate Attack:- Attack whenever you can, primarily on a long serve. It has been proven that the player to open the offense most often usually wins point, set, and match.
• Keep your eyes mostly on the opponent's racket when receiving a serve:- If you keep your eyes on the ball, the server will baffle you with his deceptions.
• Mix up your returns when receiving:- Most players too often tend to push, allowing their opponents to start the offense. Mixing up loops, drives, pushes, chops, etc. provides for excellent variation and a bewildered opponent.
• Choose your equipment wisely:- If you are ready for professional equipment, begin with a medium-fast blade. A medium-fast blade allows you to rely more on technique than on equipment to get the ball over the net. It will also provide optimum control.
• Forehands are the way to go:- To hit forehands wherever you are on the table, you will need to develop good side-to-side footwork. The best players are always able to attack almost equally well on both hands.
• Find some cool serves to experiment:- Examples include a high, heavy backspin serve that bounces on your side near the net, on the opponent's side near the net, and goes back over to your side. Its not only for fun but also, trying these serves promotes the development of 'touch' and spin.
• Control your temper:- When you are losing in a match, or have missed several shots in a row, don't get mad, get even. Ask yourself what needs to be done in order to beat the problem that is plaguing your game. Then try the solution. If it doesn't work, do it again. Until the match is over, you should never give up. If it is your turn to serve, then you are allotted a reasonable amount of time per serve to wait and think things over before you toss the ball. Take advantage of it.

Interesting Table Tennis Facts!

• Table tennis was banned in the Soviet Union from 1930 to 1950. The sport was believed to be harmful to the eyes.
• Table tennis became a medal Olympic sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
• Early table tennis paddles were normally made of cork, cardboard, or wood, and covered with cloth, leather or sandpaper.
• Table tennis is the most popular racquet sport in the world and ranked second overall in terms of participation. Over 10 million players compete in sanctioned tournaments each year.
• A modern table tennis match at the elite level lasts on the average about 30 minutes. Top players often smash the ball at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
• How many balls can two players hit back and forth in 60 seconds? The current record is 173 set by Jackie Bellinger and Lisa Lomas in 1993.
• A modern table is 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high. The net is 6 inches high.
• Harry Richman a song writer in 1936 had an interesting theory. When he flew over the Atlantic in a plane he believed filling it up with table tennis balls gave him more chance of staying afloat if the plane was to crash at sea.
• Table Tennis balls are not hollow like one would think. They are pressurized with gas.
• World class players can put up to 9000rpm of spin on a table tennis ball.
• The world's top table tennis players can smash the ball at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour.
• In 1926 the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) was formed.
• In 1952 foam rubber rackets were introduced by Japan.
• The racket, bat, or blade may be of any size, shape or weight.
• Beginning in 2000, games are played to 11 points (instead of 21 points).
• On Oct, 1, 2000, the size of the table tennis ball changed from 38mm to 40mm and weighs 2.7 grams and made of celluliod material.
• There are about 350 sanctioned tournaments per year.
• China, Sweden and South Korea are currently the world powers in table tennis.

Table Tennis World Women Ranking!

1. Ding Ning
2. Liu Shiwen
3. Guo Yan
4. Li Xiaoxia
5. Feng Tianwei
6. Guo Yue
7. Ishikawa Kasumi
8. Wang Yuegu
9. Fukuhara Ai
10. Wu Yang

Table Tennis World Men Ranking!

1. WANG HAO
2. TIMO BOLL
3. MA LIN
4. ZHANG JIKE
5. MA LONG
6. MIZUTANI JUN
7. SAMSONOV VLADIMIR
8. WANG LIQIN
9. XU XIN
10. JOO SE HYUK