One of the major issues of enjoying ping pong has to be the fact that you don’t always have a partner to play with, and this can be a problem that often leaves people like us who just can’t get enough of table tennis, wonder how to practice ping pong alone.
Not to worry, we have the solution for all of you loners! Just kidding, just kidding, we are all alone at one time or another, so this is for everyone. Here are some of the ways how to practice ping pong alone.
Table of Contents
How to Practice Ping Pong Alone With a Robot
If you want to practice playing ping pong on your own, one of the best ways to do it is by investing in a robot. A robot can take your game to the next level, and we only suggest investing in one, if you take your table tennis seriously!
We compiled a list of robots you can choose from, and there are plenty of options, from the inexpensive options to the highly technical and costly ones.
You can set it up and practice all kinds of shots and improve the shots that seem to get stuck in. This can be the perfect opportunity to help you learn new tricks and new serves to get your opponents on the backfoot, early on.
Most of the high-end robots are programmed with a range of options that are good enough to help even the pros, so it is a fairly decent option if you want to practice ping pong solo.
Buy Table With Playback Position
Some tables come with the option of a playback position.
Most of the JOOLA tables have the playback position, in addition to many other famous brands having this advantage. If you often play or practice solo, we suggest buying a table that comes with the option of a playback position.
The playback position allows you to fold the table in an upright position and you can play against the table. Keep in mind, though, that the table won’t miss!
Your chances of beating the table are quite limited as you would need to go quite hard and ensure that the return drops out of your court.
Buy a Return Board
If you have already bought a table, and it does not have the playback position, do not worry! You can buy a return board which will do the job for you. There are some really good options to choose from, and if you are serious about playing solo, then buy one right now.
Of course, there is a better option to make one for yourself. If you are interested in doing that, you can look up some of the DIY options on YouTube.
Shadow Play
Shadow play is another brilliant method of practicing alone.
Of course, it is a lot different than playing but it can help you improve your technique. We suggest doing it in front of a mirror so that you know the type of shots you are playing.
If you are serious, you can also record yourself and watch it back, to see the things you can improve. Here is a video that can help you in ping pong training with a few drills that will improve your game.
Watching Others
Another way of improving your game is by watching others play.
You can learn quite a bit from the top professionals, of course, they do play at a much higher level, but there is always some room to learn. Most of the ITTF tournaments can be watched live and we suggest doing that if you are interested in taking your game to the next level.
From closely following their footwork to watching their positioning on each shot, you can pick up on many things from such players. There are a lot of videos available on technical analysis of most of these players and we suggest going through those videos, as they can be a huge help.
Improve Your Serve
You don’t need a partner to work on your serve.
If you think there are facets that you can improve regarding your serve then we suggest practicing on your own and serving until you feel you have a lethal one. Remember, a good serve lays the foundations for a good point.
You can learn many different serves and their types.
This allows you to add various shots in your armory and work on improving those shots.
Remaining Fit
If you are truly passionate about taking your game to the next level, then you should not worry about not having a partner to play with. Improving your game takes a lot more than just practicing shots, and you can start by getting in shape and staying fit.
This takes a lot of commitment, so you should be prepared.
You can improve your diet and start working out. For better footwork, you require agility and stamina and you can add that by improving your body mass and training at a higher level.
We suggest increasing the time of cardio as it helps you stay in peak physical condition.
Conclusion
All things considered, if you do not have a partner to play with, it does not mean you cannot practice on your own or improve your chances of becoming better at table tennis.
You can play table tennis alone by investing in a robot or getting a return board. This will allow you to practice your shots and add more variety.
Apart from that, you can improve your physical shape and work on your technique by shadow playing. If you feel that your serve requires a bit of training then you can practice that, too.
Of course, watching the top pros go at it, is another way of improving your game, so don’t be lazy and keep playing, even if you do not have a partner to play with.
So, if you landed on this page with a question in your mind, how to practice ping pong alone, you have quite a few answers now, for sure.
