Strokes, Tips and Tactics

Preparation

Warm-up- As with all sports, a good warm-up is necessary to avoid injury when playing table tennis. Despite certain misconceptions that table tennis requires less energy than other sports, when played properly it is a fast pace sport that requires a great deal of agility and coordination. Before and after a match, players should engage in light exercise and stretching to loosen the muscles and improve flexibility.

The Ready Stance This is the position to which the player should return wherever possible, as it helps to maintain power and control during play. The ready position requires the player to crouch forward with knees and ankles bent and feet shoulder-width apart. The weight should be on the balls of the feet to enable quick movements, and the elbow bent, allowing the forearm and racket to point forward. The player should stand close enough to the table to allow the racket barely to touch the back of the table, angling the playing side of the body slightly away from the table. The body should be relaxed to allow well-timed movements and good control.

Footwork- The recommended footwork when playing any shot is a side-to-side shuffle, allowing the player to face the table at all times. To execute the side-to-side movement the player should take a short step in the direction in which they want to go and shift their body weight to that foot, sliding their back foot into place. Footwork should not be performed before the opponent has begun their shot, as the opponent could then catch the player off guard and send the ball to the opposite side of the table. Once a return is played, the player should return to the ready position in anticipation of the next shot.