Right age for starting table tennis

Discussion

shiva nair
shiva nair Asked 14 years ago

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????? 

Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

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. 

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Thoughts on this question

Piers Grey

Piers Grey Posted 14 years ago

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

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

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

andrew brand Posted 14 years ago

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.
Vincent Munoz

Vincent Munoz Posted 14 years ago

It's really nice to have a partner. If you can't find one, buy robopong 2050 if you can afford.
Piers Grey

Piers Grey Posted 14 years ago

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

Zobayer Unknown Posted 14 years ago

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?
ttchua Unknown

ttchua Unknown Posted 14 years ago

19 years , 35 years too old,you must be joking, then what about 55 years old where I pick up this game last year in February 2009 (now 1 year 1 month) from zero knowledge and I am now able to play a very decent ping pong game with my social club playersand even able to beat some very old veteran players. This is the most interesting and difficult sport game that I have encountered ( I was once a fairly good basketball, badminton and volleyball Player but due to some health problem , I had to switch to a game where I think is injury free, hopefully). The key to this game is FOCUS, FOCUS and train as many times as possible ( I played almost 5 to 7 days for the past 13 months).No coach , all on my own but thanks to You tuble and internet .
saptha giri

saptha giri Posted 11 years ago

hi me too the same doubt ,am from tamil nadu

Arnab Ghosh

Arnab Ghosh Posted 11 years ago

Main thing is to have fun and win points while playing good table tennis, regardless of the level and stage.

dave abayon

dave abayon Posted 11 years ago

I am 34 years old and start playing table tennis and and all i know was smash and smash result i always lost a match^^...but after a few weeks I learned how to hold back a bit and try to play ball handling, after a few months i tried exploring spins and experiment some tricks..and a few months later i can play much better.  I am not dreaming of being the best in table tennis yes coz i am old enough for that. All that I am trying was to play and have fun. and LEARNING was a continues process... it never stop.  By the way i only built my own table (from a 2 sheet of plywood) so i can play and learn table tennis. If you love to play table tennis you must find a way and have fun always.

Gunana Gun

Gunana Gun Posted 8 years ago

Hi is 14 years a right age to start ??

 

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

It is better than not starting...

If you are 14 get started as soon as you can.

Dan Misson

Dan Misson Posted 8 years ago

I'm 32 and started playing 3 weeks ago. You can start anything at any age. Depends in what you want to achieve. For me it's fitness and skill and working at just bettering myself and enjoying playing. Way too late for me to be works champion ;-) don't let age stop you doing anything. I've fallen in love with tabke sport. Absolutely love it. I just wish I started years ago!

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Well said Dan.

Gunana Gun

Gunana Gun Posted 8 years ago

I've already started a year ago....

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Excellent Omar.  Now keep working hard and see where you can get to.

Gunana Gun

Gunana Gun Posted 8 years ago

Thanks a lot

 

shivarama krishnan

shivarama krishnan Posted 8 years ago

Hi sir,

i'm shivaramakrishnan from bangalore. i feel i can do it in Table Tennis. i'm 30. can a start learning the game. i just want to do something special. i love my game. i understand it late but is it too late to start it. just advise me to start it. i want give it a real try and prove it. if is any age limit. its the only thing i'm worried about. please advise.

 

thanks

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Hi Shivaramakrishnan,

It is not too late to start at all.  You can keep playing this game competitively till you are into your 90s so you have 60 good years ahead of you.

shivarama krishnan

shivarama krishnan Posted 8 years ago

Thanks Alois. i was just going through one of the video in you tube on spin in Table Tennis. i will start in Alois and do it. hope i will meet you live. i will add up more question on the game. 

 

Thanks for your words and support...:-)

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

No problems.

Tony Ping

Tony Ping Posted 8 years ago

Hi Alois 

im tony a New Zealand player.I'm 15 right now and is it too late to train into world championships and play competively? And also if I trained really hard within the next few years would I be able to reach a very high standard and play in the Nationals?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago

Hi Tony,

Train your best and work as hard as you can... who knows where you can reach.  Reaching a National level is not out of the question.

Tony Ping

Tony Ping Posted 8 years ago

 Thanks,

good advice

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