Luck
Table Tennis Discussion
Last updated 8 years ago
George togonidze Asked 8 years ago
How important is the luck of the game?
What is the place of fortune during the game.
Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago
Hi George,
I don't think it has much of a bearing at all in the overall result.
There may be a match where your opponent gets a bit more luck but it will all even out in the end. In another match you may get more luck too.
I know that it is easier to remember the luck that goes against us than the luck we get in our favour...
As they say... "the harder I work, the luckier I seem to get"
Thoughts on this question
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Johan B Posted 8 years ago
You can definitely get more luck, in the sense of nets and edge hits, by playing lower and deeper/wider
Richard Sanderson Posted 8 years ago
An older guy I've now played in the league twice and beat keeps complaining about how "lucky" I am and the quote Alois put is what I then told him haha "the harder I work the luckier I seem to get".
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
Just doing a bit of googling about where the quote came from. Some say Thomas Jefferson but others say no... anyone have any insights?
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
I thought it was Thomas Jefferson too!
Nykolis Fuegomyego Posted 8 years ago
It was
Nykolis Fuegomyego Posted 8 years ago
They call me lucky where I play from
Ilia Minkin Posted 8 years ago
I think that sometimes luck matters. For example, when it is the deciding game, the score is 9-9 and your opponent hits an edge twice in a row. I also believe that luck matters a lot when someone goes for a really wild swing being desperately out of position, inventing totally new stroke on the move and somehow hitting the table in the end. Normally, it is a 1 out of 100 shot, but if it works in a critical situation, that should be a lot of luck.
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 8 years ago
@Ilia, it certainly is luck if someone gets 2 edges in a row at 9 all. But I don't think that happens very often and even if it does, it is probably not the deciding factor in whether you win or lose the match. You still have 6 other sets (in a best of 7 match) and if you played the first 18 points slightly better their luck would matter even less.