How to Learn to Play Table Tennis

Whether you are familiar with the sport by the name ping pong or table tennis, it may be surprising to learn the game's origins. While many people associate table tennis with Asia, it was actually born in 19th century Victorian England. Instead of a net, players used a line of books. What are now used for today's paddles were originally cigar box lids, while the now familiar bouncy ping-pong balls were once champagne corks. Table tennis offers players of any level a chance to join in on the fun, and beginners can learn through self-paced training or by getting tips from an expert.

Instructions

    • 1

      Watch free tutorials and videos on your computer from table tennis educators, such as the Ping Skills group led by the Australian Olympic table tennis coach. You’ll see tips on backhand counterhits, learn the rules of the game, get information on footwork, see how to practice by yourself and pick up pointers on different ball spins, smashes and blocking.

    • 2

      Join a local table tennis group, such as California's Concord Table Tennis Club. At a club, you'll find regular play just about every day of the week, with special times for private lessons, matches, private coaching and competitions. Clubs usually have a tiered membership, but may allow you to visit their facility for the first time on a free trial basis.

    • 3

      Purchase an inexpensive table tennis paddle from a local sporting goods or mass merchandise store. This is just to get you used to the feeling of the paddle and its use before spending money on a higher-priced paddle, which could run into triple digit figures. Purchase a few ping-pong balls as well.

    • 4

      Queue up an instructional DVD or VHS tape to learn beginner table tennis at your own pace. Instructional videos are available from online retailers, such as Paddle Palace, which offers titles such as "Table Tennis 101," "Modern Table Tennis 102," "Textbook Table Tennis" and "Complete Table Tennis."

    • 5

      Contact a table-tennis league or governing organization in your area. New York residents, for example, may rely on the New York Table Tennis Federation to refer mentors and teachers who can provide private lessons at your location. The Federation also has a robot machine available for rental, offering the chance to train when you don't have a partner.

    • 6

      Check the large social networking site Meetup for a table-tennis group in your local area. Meetup is divided by zip code. Just type your zip code in and add "ping pong" to the search function. As of July 2010, there were 78 ping pong Meetups across the country, including Philadelphia, La Habra, San Jose, Raleigh and Queens. There is no fee to join Meetup, though the individual table-tennis group may require an admission fee. Check the group's calendar and attend their events. Players of all ages attend and someone may be interested in serving as your table-tennis mentor.