right age for starting table tennis.
shiva nair
Submitted on 25-Feb-2010 06:20:42 AM
Last updated on 19-Mar-2010 02:32:37 PM
You Asked
sir.. i started playing table tennis at the age of 19 and now i am 23 and by the time i learned the proper strokes its already too late.... is it impossible to follow the game if its too late or do you think if there are chances for me to excel??? i am in India. here its too difficult to find proper practice partners also what do think?????
and Alois Rosario said...
Hi Shiva,
This is the second question form a player starting at age 19.
It isn't too late. It is about setting your goals and seeing how close you can get to them. If you are wanting to be World Champion then starting at 19 is probably too late, but if youset other goals then they can be achieved.
As I said to a previous question, a friend started at 19 and is now one of the best Veteran players in Australia.
As far as practice partners, get anyone who is willing and teach them how to hit the ball for you.
At a later stage we will do a lesson on multiball training. This is an effective technique for training if you don't have a partner that is the same level as you.
Comments on this question
Piers Grey commented...
on the 01-Mar-2010 12:33:24 AM
I think your level of perserverence is good. This is exactly what you need to excel at this sport. I hope you continue to percefere with the sport and get to the level of which you want to be; even if that isn't at world-class status.
Ji-Soo Woo commented...
on the 01-Mar-2010 04:25:07 PM
It's not a binary yes-no thing, it's a continuum.
So 19 is a worse age to start than 18, but it is a better age to start than 20....just as 35 is worse than 34, but better than 36. Main thing is to just go out and play...and have fun!
andrew brand commented...
on the 02-Mar-2010 02:44:51 AM
A-MEN TO THAT! I ONLY STARTED LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS 34. IM TOLD BY MY COACH I CAN STILL BE A COUNTY LEVEL PLAYER IN 5 YEARS TIME THAT AGE DOESNT MATTER TOO MUCH. NOT THAT IM THINKING THAT FAR AHEAD, I JUST LOVE PLAYING TABLE TENNIS, OF COURSE I WANT TO BE IMPROVING BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO REMEMBER IT IS A HOBBY NOT A CHORE, SO JUST ENJOY IT HOWEVER HIGH UP YOU GET.
timo_bong Unknown commented...
on the 06-Mar-2010 10:00:53 PM
It's really nice to have a partner. If you can't find one, buy robopong 2050 if you can afford.
Piers Grey commented...
on the 07-Mar-2010 01:07:27 AM
As much as we all want to sucessed to play at this sport to be able to play at a high level (so at world-class status) not all of us can do it. I mean, can you imagine how easy it would be if everyone who percerfered in the sport and of whom really wanted to become a world-class player got what they wanted, there would be so many people playing at a high standard that it would lose all the fun that you have from playing the sport in the first place. Just be happy that you can play it as a hobby as something to just let go from life, for you to be your own purpose for that short (or long, depending on how much you play and for how long for) amount of time and enjoy that time of freedom while it lasts.
Not to put the sport down because I love it to bits but, imagine if you did get to that status of being a world-class player would you truly be happy? taking up the oppotunity of being able to do so much more with your life just so that you can get at the stage that you want to be.
Like I said, I don't want people to stop playing the sport all together because I love it when people decide this sport over so many others. This sport is great. I just want people to see the reaity of the way that they are thinking. To be happy with what they've got now :)
Zobayer Unknown commented...
on the 07-Mar-2010 05:20:43 AM
I am also 19. But due to some physical issues I can't play for much time, only around 60-90 minutes, so I use to play in doubles. But to be skilled, it is better to try singles I think, right?
