Saturday, September 10, 2011

Play Ping Pong For Fun And Exercise

By Carl Hartley


Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a fun and relatively easy game to play. This is one reason most people play ping pong for fun, as opposed to professionally. There are cheap ping pong tables, which also makes the sport affordable. If you want to know how to play ping pong, here are a few simple rules and tips.

The game is usually played with two players. It can also be played with four and, just like tennis, this is called doubles. If you have never played before it works best if you practice with someone who is also a beginner. If you are facing someone with experience they already know they can win, so hopefully they will be willing to teach. You can also practice alone by hitting the ball against a garage door or some type of blank wall.

There are different ways of electing who serves first. Sometimes it is by a coin toss. To serve the player drops the ball on the table surface with one hand, lets it bounce once, then hits it to the other side of the table with the other hand. The players volley back and forth until one of them fails to return the volley. At this time the point goes to the other player.

The ball is only allowed to bounce once on your side of the table before the volley is returned to the other side. It is best to practice volleying back and forth just to get adept at hitting the ball with the desired force and direction. After both players gain a little expertise, they can attempt to hit shots that will be difficult for the opposing play to return. However, in order to avoid frustration, acquiring the skill of volleying first is more productive than trying to beat your opponent. There will be plenty of time for that later.

When the ball is served or a volley is returned if it does not hit the other side of the table or if it hits the net, the point goes to the receiving player. The receiving player is allowed to hit the ball only one time when returning it to the other side. Failure to do so gives the point to the other player.

According to the official rules of the game, the volley continues until eleven points have been scored. The serve is alternated every two points. After eleven points the player with the most points wins the game. When playing for recreation, people will frequently go up to fifteen or twenty-one points.

In professional table tennis to be declared the winner, a player must win two of three games played. Or when a player wins two games in a row he is the winner, which negates the need to have a third game.

Surprisingly, if you play ping pong enough it can be a great form of exercise. The more experience you have, the more active the game becomes. Thanks to cheap ping pong tables this is a family fun activity accessible to everyone.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails