Table Tennis - A Great Spectator Sport
I read the blog “Why Table Tennis Is A Horrible Spectator Sport” the other day. It was a very interesting article and I’ve heard a number of people agree with most of what was written. I personally though don’t think that Table Tennis is terrible to watch. In fact it is my favourite sport to watch but you could say that I am a little biased.
When people find out that I play Table Tennis, the first thing I hear is: “Wow, I love watching it when the players are 10 feet back from the table smashing the ball back and forth.” However here in Australia at least you don’t actually get to see Table Tennis on TV very much. The problem is that the sport is simply not popular enough. People have enough sport to watch with football, cricket, soccer, basketball and car racing.
Too Complicated?
When the Olympics were on in 2008 we did get to see some Table Tennis here thanks to the tremendous efforts of the Australian team. A few of my work collegues occassionally did mention what a terrible shot it was not to get that simple serve back. However I don’t think that this is a problem with the complexity of the game. After playing with the correct equipment and a decent coach for only 15 minutes most people would understand how difficult it can be to return a good serve. This understanding then helps people enjoy the game. I believe we we should be trying to educate people about the intricacies of the game rather than trying to simplify it.
Short Rallies
Are short rallies really a problem? The length of a rally doesn’t affect my enjoyment of the game. What I like to see is competitors trying to perform under pressure. Watching the events unfold and seeing how the players deal with each stage of the match is fascinating. Trying to see if one player is getting nervous or watching someone save match point with an unbelievable shot, these are the things I like to see.
Your Thoughts?
I don’t believe that there are fundamental problems with the sport. It’s just that at the moment it is not popular enough in certain countries to be shown on public television. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Let us where you are from and how Table Tennis is perceived in your country. And importantly, do you think Table Tennis is a great spectator sport?
Mat Luff
commented on January 26th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Suggestions of changing the game e.g. increasing the ball size (even more), raising the net height etc. have been given many times. Here is one proposal that does not change the game fundamentals of the game.
As suggested above “we should be trying to educate people about the intricacies of the game rather than trying to simplify it”. I think getting people to understand to importance to the serve is where to start. People understand the importance of the serve in tennis. So why not score it like tennis? By doing so it will bring the also bring the understanding of the power of the serve.
In tennis the serve has an advantage just like table tennis. When a player fails to return a serve in tennis the spectators understands it may have been a good serve. When a player fails to return the serve in table tennis instead of it just looking boring to the “limited educated” spectator they will understand it may have been a good serve. From there they can learn about spin, placement and deception of the serve. These aspect (spin, placement and deception) along with speed (which they already understand) is largely what table tennis is about. Hopefully explained well by some good commentators.
Tennis scoring has the concept of hold serve and breaking serve. I think the scoring system of tennis is brilliant. It is designed to keep the spectator (and player) on edge the entire match. Personally I thought to change from of games from 21 to 11 was a great idea (some don’t agree). One loss in this change was giving a player 5 serves in a row. It allowed them to setup some patterns and dominate for a while. The tennis scoring system will also bring this back.
Possibly the next step after the change to game of 11.
Jeff Plumb
commented on January 28th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Hi Mat,
That is an interesting idea and I have heard a few people suggest that Table Tennis should adopt the tennis scoring system. Has anyone out there ever tried playing a game using this scoring method?
Sydney Birchall
commented on January 28th, 2010 at 9:37 pm
I find short rallies very frustrating to watch. Like the laymen, I like to watch (and play) the long rallies, especially back off the table.
What about a point scoring system based on rally length? If the point is concluded in 1-2 shots, the winner gets 1 point. If the point is concluded in 3-6 shots, the winner gets 2 points. If the point is concluded in 7 shots or more, the winner gets 3 points.
I’d return the games to 21 points with 5 serves each, best of 5.
There may be some extra work for umpires to do, but at least it will be very clear cut.
I think there’d be some interesting tactical issues and once the point exceeds 7 shots, especially in tight games close to the end of the game (eg 19-18), there’s a lot at stake in that point.
BTW, don’t know if you remember but we used to train together (along with lots of other kids) at the NSW state training camps in the late 80s at the then-State Sports Centre. Happy memories.
Cheers,
Sydney
Ji-Soo
commented on January 29th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Interesting idea about using the tennis scoring system. However, table tennis already has such stigma related to the condenscending view that it is a minaturised version of tennis (as opposed to a very distinct and unique racquet sport in its own right) that adopting the tennis scoring system might be unhelpful. But I agree that serves change sides too often. Maybe we can adopt a tennisesque system without the whole 15-30-40 thing. However, any tennisesque system (winning smaller ‘points’ to win ‘games’, and it is the number of games that determines who wins the set/match) would necessarily lengthen the matches substantially.
Mat Luff
commented on January 29th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Yes, the tennis scoring system is certainly not my idea. I too have heard it suggested several times before.
Yes I agree with Sydney to an extent on the length of rallies. I would like to see them slightly longer (without impacting on the foundations of the game). Rubbers and blades have gotten faster over the years (even without glue). My two cents worth on this would be to raise the net height slightly. Remember this sport is watch by millions of Chinese on a daily basis so there can’t be too much that needs changing.
Yes I agree with Ji-Soo on taking tennis score and using in verbatim including the 15, 30, 40 point system would just look like a “cheap copy” of tennis.
Using a “tennisesque system” does not necessarily have to increase the length of a match. Tennis takes a long time due to many factors (fault servers, time between points, etc). Although lengthening a table tennis match slightly wouldn’t hurt in my opinion.
Jeff Plumb
commented on January 29th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Nice to hear from you Sydney. They certainly were good times training at the state sports centre.
You have an interesting idea about offering different points for different length rallies. It would need some thought though because in some circumstances it would encourage shorter rallies. If during a rally you got into a position where you had a low chance of winning the point, you would not want to extend the rally for fear of losing more points.
It is a good point that Mat makes. There are millions of Chinese watching on a regular basis. That is why I still believe the game doesn’t need to change too much.
Mat Luff
commented on January 29th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Here is another related question. Has the image of Table Tennis improved over the last ten years in Australia (and the rest of the western world)?
I think it has a little but I’m not sure in it if my imagination.
Eduard
commented on January 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am
No dubt! Table tennis is a great spectator sport! It’s fast, energic and tactic. Is very nice to play table tennis and watching matches too. I understand allways more thing about this game when i see players in a match, observing tactics and technics. It’s great!!!!!!!
Mike I.
commented on February 3rd, 2010 at 9:05 am
Actually guys, I went on the ITTF website recently and I saw an article that the Oceania table tennis association made a 3-year contract with Fox sports to televise table tennis in Oceania, might want to check that out.
Ji-Soo
commented on February 5th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Personally, I don’t have any problem with short rallies. That is the distinguishing feature of table tennis compared to other racquet sports. Two people, up close and personal, blazing away with all guns, knowing that they have to push the envelope with every shot or else the opponent will immediately make them pay (here I am talking about world class table tennis of course!). Under such conditions, it is hard to have a long rally. I think the fact that even these great athletes who train hours a day and have been playing since they were 5 years old have short rallies really drives home what a fine line there is in every shot. And the short rallies also really accentuates how special it is when you DO get a long rally.
If you were having 15+ shot rallies every point, it would just be the same old same old.
BOYD STUART
commented on February 5th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
the change of the ball from 38mm to 40 mm changed the game and being played to 11 points the same. we now have a different game .one night watching sen usa television the commentators questioned the changes as slowing down the game
when ball smaller ball was used there was great rallies and tactically you need to be fitter to play to 21 points instead of eleven the rallies in games were much better have you ever played with the new 40 mm ball and it hits the net , just drops dead , seems to be more nets with this new ball the old 38 mm ball gave us a chance to get it back where is our television games ?