When you watch a professional table tennis match, you’ll notice that the players frequently touch the table. You may be wondering why table tennis players touch the table and what purpose it serves.
The simple answer to this question is that professional table tennis players touch the table during the match for 10 different reasons.
In this blog post, we’ll explore each of these reasons in greater detail so that you can understand why table tennis players touch the table and how it benefits their game.
Table of Contents
why do table tennis players touch the table ( 10 Reasons)
The following are the 10 reasons why players touch the table during a match:
1. Wiping the Sweat off the Hands
One of the main reasons why players touch the table tennis table is to wipe the sweat off their hands. As you know, playing ping pong can be quite strenuous and as a result, players often sweat profusely.
If the sweat is not wiped off, it will make the paddle slip and this will impact the player’s game. Additionally, the sweat can also get into the player’s eyes and cause distraction.
To avoid all of these problems, players touch the place near the net of the ping pong table. They then dry their hands by rubbing them on the table. This helps to keep their hands dry and gives them a better grip on the paddle.
2. Take a breather
Another reason why players touch the ping pong table during the match is to take a breather.
As we mentioned earlier, playing ping pong can be quite strenuous and as a result, players often get tired quickly.
In order to catch their breath and rest their body parts for a few seconds, players will touch the table. This allows them to have a quick break from the game and regain their composure.
3. Tactics and Strategies
The third reason why ping pong players touch the table is to strategize and come up with new tactics.
During a match, players will often Touch the table to think about their next move. This allows them to analyze the situation and come up with a plan that will help them win the point.
Additionally, to study the style of play of their opponent, players may touch the table. By observing their opponent’s movements, they can figure out which areas of the table are weaker and then exploit those weaknesses.
4. Concentration:
Concentration is key in any sport, and ping pong is no different. Players need to be fully focused on the game in order to win.
There are times when players may get distracted by the crowd, TV cameras, or their opponent’s movements. When this happens, they will touch the table as a way to refocus their concentration.
Additionally, players may also touch the table to stay calm and composed. This helps them to avoid making mistakes due to nerves.
5. Routine & Ritual
For some players, touching the table is simply a matter of routine or ritual.
Some players have certain rituals that they perform before and during a match. For example, they may touch the table in a specific pattern or a certain number of times.
This helps to get them into the right mindset for playing and also gives them a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Regardless of how superstitious players may be, touching the table has become part of their routine and helps them to feel comfortable during the match.
6. Correcting the Stance/Position
The sixth reason why ping pong players touch the table is to correct their stance or position.
During a game, players will often move around the table to chase the ball. As a result, their stance or position may become incorrect.
When this happens, they will touch the table with their racket hand to readjust their position. This helps to ensure that they are in the correct stance or position and prevents them from making mistakes.
7. Waste Of Time
In some cases, players Touch the table as a way to waste time.
In professional table tennis matches, there is a limited amount of time that players can take between points. If a player takes too much time, they may be penalized.
As a result, some players touch the table as a way to waste time and prevent their opponent from getting an advantage.
8. Psyching Up The Opponent
The eighth reason why players touch the ping pong table is to psych up their opponent.
In some cases, touching the table can be used as a way to irritate or distract the opponent. By touching the table frequently, players can make their opponents angry or frustrated.
Additionally, players may also use touching the table as a way to intimidate their opponent. By appearing calm and composed, they can make their opponent feel nervous or uneasy.
This can cause them to make mistakes or play poorly, which gives the player an advantage.
9. Reducing fear
The ninth reason why ping pong players touch the table is to reduce fear.
In some cases, players may feel nervous or scared when playing against a difficult opponent. Whenever that happens, they’ll touch the table to calm themselves down.
Additionally, players may also use touching the table to build up their confidence. By touching the table before a point, They can convince themselves that they have what it takes to win.
This can help to reduce fear and improve their performance.
10. Assessing the table surface
The tenth reason why ping pong players touch the table is to assess the surface of the table.
There are different materials used to make table tennis tables, and each has its characteristics.
By touching the table, players can get a sense of the surface and how it will affect the ball. This information can help them to make strategic decisions about where to place the ball and how to hit it.
Moreover, touching the table can also help players to find any irregularities on the surface of the table. This can be helpful in correcting their shots and avoiding mistakes.
Why Do Table Tennis Players Wipe Their Hands Close to the Net?
The table tennis players wipe their hands close to the net because the place close to the net is not used during the match as much as other places on the table. If the players wipe their hands close to the net, then this place is made wet, and it does not disturb the player’s shots, spin, and bouncing because the player does not use the place close to the net for shots, spin, and bouncing. It uses other parts of the table for these things.
furthermore, you can touch the table with a racket hand, but you cannot use your free hand for touching the table. Read more
Conclusion
I hope you found this blog post to be interesting and informative about why table tennis players touch the table. As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why players touch the table and how it benefits their game.
Understanding these reasons can help you improve your own game and better understand the strategies that top players use to gain an edge on their opponents.
FAQS:
Is Wiping Hands on the Table Against the Rules?
No, wiping hands on the table is not against the rules. This is a choice the players can make if they want to.
What Happens If I Touch the Table With My Free Hand?
If you use your free hand to touch the table, then your opponent will receive one point.
Why do ping pong players stomp when serving?
When serving, ping pong players stomp because due to this the opponent does not listen to your serving sound, as well as your opponent does not know the amount of your spin.