The sport of table tennis (also known as ping-pong) is a fun and challenging game that requires both physical and mental skills. If you want to improve your ping-pong skills, the first thing that you should do is practice consistently. You can practice by playing with a friend or joining a table tennis league at your local rec center. The more you practice, the better you will become.
In the United States, there are over 30 ping-pong companies that manufacture a full line of accessories, from paddles to warm-up suits. The game was even the inspiration for the first commercially successful video game, PONG. It was also featured in the 1994 movie Forrest Gump, where the main character plays ping-pong during his tour of duty with the US Army. In the early 1970s, the People’s Republic of China invited American table tennis players to compete in their country, marking a thawing of relations between the two countries that was popularly referred to as “Ping-Pong Diplomacy”.
When serving in ping pong, hold the ball in your open hand and position it about 6″ behind the end of the table. Then, toss it at least six inches straight up. Make sure to hit the ball on its way down so that it bounces once before reaching your opponent’s side of the table. The first player to serve twice wins the point.
In addition to practicing consistently, it is important to keep your eye on the ball and learn how to time your shots. To do this, it helps to consciously watch the ball from the moment it is served until it hits your paddle. Then, pay attention to where it lands and use that information to plan your next move.