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Developing
ball control in table tennis is probably the MOST essential skill you need to
survive at the upper echelons of the game. Ball control refers to the ability
to RETURN the ball during play. Maybe your shot is not a quality one, but if
you are CONSISTENT in returning the ball, there is a high chance that your
opponent will start making mistakes. You can then CAPITALIZE on those mistakes
to deliver quality shots and possibly win points from them.
Improving
ball control is not a skill you acquire in a hurry. It requires meticulous and
dedicated practice for hours on end every day. This is where your table tennis
practice partner can play an important role. Discuss with him the schedules
when you can meet up with him, maybe at your favorite local club, and spend some
time practicing rallies. These practice sessions will help you gain confidence
in your playing abilities and develop ball control. You will find that
controlling the ball requires not only PHYSICAL fitness but also MENTAL
fitness. This is because you will face situations where you need to decide
INSTANTLY on how best to return the ball. During these practice sessions, do
not be too involved about the quality of shots you are playing. Instead, be
concerned about RETURNING the ball. You can develop quality shots later on -
that is something for the future. In fact, you will NATURALLY pick up quality
shots if you persevere with these practice sessions.
So let's
see how you can start off with these practice sessions. Begin your practice
session by first taking a FOREHAND stance. This means you should play the ball
with your forehand and not backhand. The stance you take will vary depending on
whether you are right-handed or left-handed. Ask your partner to play
DIAGONALLY across the table - take any of the diagonals. Let him serve or you
can serve to put the ball into play. Practice for some time diagonally with
your forehand and see how you are returning the ball. Increase the SPEED of the
rally now.
Next, ask
your table tennis partner to start another practice session by playing
diagonally again. Remember to maintain your forehand stance. However, this time
your partner should return every FIFTH ball DOWN THE LINE. However, you should
always return the ball to HIS quadrant of the table - no exceptions. Hence, every
FIFTH ball will MAKE you move in order to hit it properly. Again, increase the
speed of the rally.
Okay. Now
repeat the same thing but with every FOURTH ball played down the line by your
practice partner. Don't forget your forehand stance. Ask him to increase the
speed of the rally. Repeat until you reach the point where you have to return
every ALTERNATE ball coming at you down the line. Speed up as before. This is
the most difficult part of your practice session. As the rally speeds up, you
will find it difficult to adjust. But it is important that you go through with this
practice session. Do not be affected if you mishit the ball at times. This is
quite normal. Once you are up and going with these practice sessions for a few
weeks, you will find you are able to return a maximum percentage of the balls
correctly.
Now,
during these practice sessions, reserve some time to practice with your
backhand also. This means this time you need to maintain the BACKHAND stance.
Follow the exact procedure as outlined above. The above guidelines are just to
get you going. You can discuss with your table tennis partner what OTHER
variations you can make to the above procedure so that you get STILL more
practice. Before long, you will find yourself getting more CONFIDENCE in table
tennis as your ball control improves steadily.
