Friday, January 9, 2009

Ping Pong Success From Past Failures

By Jay Cutler

In ping pong, the same rules will apply to every individual. That means having to play the game and train well for years before becoming decent in it. Even the half serious recreational enthusiast will need to do the same. And this process will include experiencing mistakes and failure before success can be had.

Even the best players in the world have made many mistakes before reaching the top. We should not shy away from doing so, and can improve through the experiences of the ones before us. We can prevent the same errors from occurring, while knowing how to react if they do.

Failure is intimidating, and many will be afraid of it. But it does not signal the end of the world, especially in a sport like ping pong. In fact, mistakes can strengthen our skills and characters at the same time, benefiting our game.

Future errors can be prevented through the most common, yet ultimately crucial, qualities of hard graft and sound commitment. Becoming lazy is the worst scenario for a ping pong player. No progress can be achieved that way. The best players in the world are often the hardest working of the lot.

It will take a copious amount of discipline to excel in table tennis. Even for recreational players, playing the game regularly will help in improving overall fitness. Becoming slack in a regular routine will not lead to improvement, but many steps back in the effort to become good in ping pong.

Avoid injuries by getting decent quality equipment from the beginning. Many have tried to save some money and opted for cheaper equipment. But those could lead to problems along the way, such as poorly padded shoes or bad materials used in table tennis paddles. Give yourself a good start with good equipment that allows better enjoyment of a game of ping pong.

Always start from the basics. This is not often stressed enough to beginners and many ping pong players experience a great deal of frustration as a result. Once the first steps have been mastered, they will prepare you better for the technically demanding skills.

By getting the basics right and supplementing it with lessons we learn from others' mistakes, it is not beyond our means to become good ping pong players. In the end, there will be greater enjoyment from the sport, encouraging more to pick it up and ensuring longevity of the game.

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