| Table tennis can be a great way to build endurance, | | | | Thanks to recent technology, table tennis enthusiasts |
| train one's wits, and even lose weight. Often referred | | | | can train using table tennis DVDs. Through a |
| to by ping pong, its trade name, table tennis entails skill | | | | combination of lectures on the physics of table tennis, |
| and strength, and learning it can be difficult. The | | | | along with hands-on prompts, DVDs can assist trainers |
| constant footwork can make one's body more | | | | in their classes, or can allow you to learn how to play |
| adapted to stress. The high speeds of the ball can | | | | table tennis at home. |
| sharpen one's eyes, and make one anticipate and | | | | If you are interested in learning table tennis through a |
| adapt to an opponent's strategies. The activity | | | | DVD, then take note of these aspects of table tennis |
| associated with table tennis, moreover, can make | | | | that a DVD may teach you. |
| anyone sweat and slim down. | | | | • The table tennis DVD can teach you to |
| Table tennis is played by either two opposing players, | | | | customize your paddle. Also known as a bat, the |
| or two opposing pairs. These opponents are positioned | | | | tennis table paddle or racket can be customized to fit |
| on opposite sides of a low table, with a low net | | | | your needs and skills. |
| separating them from each other. Players hit a hollow | | | | • The table tennis DVD can also teach you how to |
| ball from end of the table to the other, with the use of | | | | hold your paddle comfortably. For instance, if you wish |
| rubber matted rackets, keeping the ball in the air. | | | | to have a greater grip, but less control on shifting from |
| Strategies come when the ball is spun, creating an | | | | one side of your racket to the other, then you may |
| unusual trajectory that can be difficult to follow and | | | | want to hold your racket in the pen hold grip. On the |
| counteract. If a ball is not hit while it is within one team's | | | | other hand, if you wish to have more shifting control, |
| qualifications and capacity to hit, the opposing team | | | | but a weaker grip on the racket, you can try the hand |
| may be awarded a point. | | | | shake grip. Last, if you want to combine the |
| The two main skills a table tennis player has to learn | | | | advantages of both grips, you can try the experimental |
| are speed and spin. There are two aspects to speed | | | | V-grip. |
| in table tennis: a player has to be able to think quickly | | | | While these lectures and demonstrations are being |
| and anticipate the opponent's moves, which can be | | | | shown on the DVD, you may want to hold the racket |
| difficult in a high speed game like ping pong. Skilled | | | | in your hand and try what position you are most |
| table tennis players, moreover, can hit balls at | | | | comfortable with. |
| extremely high speeds, so that opponents have very | | | | • A table tennis DVD will also demonstrate the |
| little time to make their counterattack. | | | | different strokes associated with table tennis, and how |
| Spin, on the other hand, is the ability of a player to use | | | | these strokes change the speed, spin, and direction of |
| the appropriate rubber side of his or her racket to hit | | | | the ball. You may want to place your TV and DVD |
| the ball, and send it on an often bewildering, distracting | | | | player near the ping pong table if you want to |
| trajectory to the other side of the table. The rubber | | | | experiment on these strokes. Be careful, however, of |
| mats that compose the two sides of a table tennis | | | | sending the ball hurtling toward the TV! |
| racket have their own uses: depending on their texture | | | | These are only a few of the aspects tackled by a |
| and composition, they can change a ball's direction, spin | | | | typical table tennis DVD. You may also be taught |
| it, or send it bouncing onto the table. The ability to know | | | | footwork, proper posture, and defensive play. If you |
| which side to use, what spin to use, and how to keep | | | | carry out your training meticulously, and if you watch |
| the ball in the air all come together to make the best | | | | the DVD regularly, then you may be able to play table |
| table tennis players. | | | | tennis and enjoy the sport better. |