The game of ping pong, more properly called table tennis, is an indoor sport that is played between two people on a scaled down version of a tennis court on top of a small flat table with a net fixed across its middle. Players use small rackets, or bats, to hit a lightweight hollow ball back and forth over the net. It’s one of the most popular sports in the world, and the sport has even helped ease Cold War tensions between China and the United States during the 1970s.
In ping pong the ball must bounce on your side of the table before going over the net. It’s this extra bounce that gives the game its onomatopoeic name. Other than that the rules are identical to table tennis.
To improve in ping pong it’s important to practice consistently and not only work on your shots, but also to practice your footwork. You can improve your speed by doing quick steps and moving your feet in the right way when hitting the ball. By doing this you’ll be able to change the direction of the ball quicker and improve your overall performance.
It’s also helpful to learn how to read your opponent’s movements. This will allow you to get a better idea of what type of shots they’re gonna hit and how they’re gonna play. You can then use this knowledge to anticipate their moves and predict how they’re gonna return your shots.