Learning how to play ping pong is all about the finer details but what if you want to do it on your own? Ping pong (table tennis) doesn’t have to be a two-person sport all the time. You have options available to you when it is time to play on your own for a little bit.
Here are some of the ways you can learn how to play ping pong alone and have a great time doing it. These are ways that are proven to work well and are going to become fun as soon as you get started.
Set the Table Against the Wall
The first piece of advice is a simple one. You will want to take the ping pong table and set it up across from a wall. This means the wall is going to act as the opponent as you hit the ball. The ball is going to bounce back and you can go back and forth from there. This is easy to set up and most people do use this technique when they are trying to play ping pong alone. It simply works well. Make sure the wall is smooth and the bounce will be great.
Use the Playback Position
Learning how to play ping pong alone is all about finding a way to get the ball to come back to you. This is where your focus has to be. In this example, you are going to be taking the ping pong table and folding it up from one side (see our list of the best ping pong tables that fold up). Most ping pong tables are designed to do this to play on your own (find out more about what ping pong tables and accessories are made of). The ping pong table will fold up and you are going to have a small wall in front of you regardless of where the table is set up. This is ideal for those who just want to play on their own for a bit.
Set Up a Return Board
Some people just want to find a way to have an option to return the ball to them. This is natural and that is something you are going to be focused on throughout the process. In this case, you will have a return table set up right across from you. The best high end ping pong tables are excellent because they will allow the ball to come back to you and it isn’t going to cost a lot. This is one of those options that are good for those who don’t want the ball bouncing all over the place. It is more controlled and that can be useful in most situations.
Shadow Play
This is an underrated option for those who are just looking to get the technique down (see table techniques for beginners anyone can do). You don’t need a lot to begin working on your game and a lot of people just want to stick to traditional shadow play. Shadow play is fun because it is going to get you used to moving around and keeping the paddle in your hand while doing so.
A lot of people make mistakes when it comes to practicing with the ball when it is best to just focus on the paddle in your hands. Learn how to move it around and what it takes to get it to do what you want. This is going to take a bit of time but it is a great option for those who are just finding out what their technical weaknesses are. You should always have one eye on this as you are pinpointing what needs to happen to improve your game.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the best tips for those who want to learn how to play ping pong alone. There are several things to focus on when it comes to a process such as this and it’s best to get as creative as possible. In fact, a lot of people use nothing more than the wall when it comes to having a bit of fun. Ping pong is one of those sports that you are not going to need a lot to get started. Just a ball and paddle will be more than enough to get started. Use the advice listed here to make sure you are on the right path.
