What to expect from a club
Table Tennis Discussion
Last updated 9 years ago
Matt Kurzer Asked 9 years ago
Hi Guys,
I'm joining a club very soon and I was wondering what to expect from a club. Like what to wear, do and bring. Also I'm going to a "social practice", so am I going to have a hit or game? Or am I going to do stuff like muti-ball? Also what is better training with someone that is better than you or worse?
Thanks a lot, Matt
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Matt,
Each club is a little different. The best thing to wear is some comfortable sporting clothing and runners. Take your bat if you have one as well.
With a social session you are probably going to just have a hit with a range of players and play some informal games as well. I doubt there will be any formal training or multiball.
It would be interesting to get your feedback after you go there to help others in your position. Going anywhere new can be a little daunting at first but going to a club is a great step in improving your game. Enjoy the experience.
Thoughts on this question
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Jean Balthazar Posted 9 years ago
Last try:
Hi Matt,
Regarding training with a partner of a higher vs. lower level than you, clearly having a stronger one is better for you. He will feed you more consistent balls, will keep the ball in play much longer and will drive you to increase your game quality by putting more speed and more spin. Also, he will be able to adapt his speed and power to what you can cope with (accumulating one shot wins would be no training for you, and neither for him).
Weaker partners tend to return very variable quality balls (position, height, spin, usually slow), so it’s difficult to develop and fine tune a consistent stroke on your side.
That being said, if everybody only accepted to train with partners better than themselves, not even the world champion would ever get to train! So when you have the chance to train with someone better than you, do your best to make it useful and interesting for them too, and also “pay back” by training an equal time with players weaker than yourself.
Actually, playing with weaker partners can be a good training too, dealing with those rather random returns and trying to shoot them back with consistency and putting back some pace in the rally. The other option, like Alois or Jeff mentioned in a previous “ask the coach” response, is to teach your partners to feed you multiball (and returning the favor obviously).
Finally, when you’re starting to learn, it’ also better to have a partner who plays a “standard allround game” (ideally using two regular backside rubbers), because you will tend to adjust to his game and to replicated the strokes you see him doing. So ideally, you’re also looking for a good “model”.
Hope this helps.
J-B.
Matt Kurzer Posted 9 years ago
That's a very good point, THANKS!