Introducing The Game Of Table Tennis (Golden Oldie)

I love Table Tennis. It is an addiction for me. Fortunately I’ve had the opportunity to play local league table tennis (mainly in Grimsby\Cleethorpes) for over thirty years. Anyone interested in playing competitively should simply ring his or her nearest league secretary. There is a place for everyone in the leagues. All you need is to be fairly mobile or flexible, with a modicum of hand-eye coordination. In our league, one of our best players, Colin Woodford, is a wheelchair user with very fast hands.

As for equipment, any decent sports clothing will do. Just no white shirts as the ball is usually white. Then of course you need a bat. Most sports shops should be able to sell you an acceptable, cheap “weapon”. Personally I prefer to go online or send a form to an equipment company such as Tees Sport or Jarvis Sports (UK). They will post you a bat of your choice. Most modern players use reverse-pimpled rubbers on an “all-round” or “attacking” blade. In other words, they tend to go for spin and speed. These rubbers usually have a layer of sponge underneath, to give extra speed. “Older” bats are covered with pimple-out rubbers, having no sponge: thus imparting much less spin but more “control” at the expense of speed. An “old” bat may indeed be suitable for the beginner to ease him or herself into the game.

This blog is not intended to be a coaching manual. Experienced players and coaches are best placed to show you how to play. Just a few pointers though. Basically there are two ways to hold the bat: the “shake hands (Western)” grip and the “penhold” grip favoured by the Chinese etc. I happen to prefer the Western version, which seems easier, but each to his or her own. So all my tips are for this Western grip.

Table tennis can be a very technical game, but essentially it’s all about imparting and controlling spin. Essentially you spin the ball by brushing it at a fine angle, at high speed. Spin may be put on the ball in four directions: upwards (called “topspin” or “loop”), downwards (“chop” or maybe “slice”), left or right. Loop tends to run up the opponent’s bat, and chop down – into the net. An ideal way to use these spins is when serving. I could write a book on the serve, but suffice to say there are almost infinite variations. Indeed you may use a “mixed spin” serve: topside or chopside. During a rally, however, a loop is usually employed as an attacking drive or defensive lob, whereas a chop shot is mainly used as a late defensive retrieving stroke.

The most basic of shots in table tennis are the “block” and the “push”. Often these two shots are combined or blur into one. Pushing is all about playing straight through the ball, aiming for a spot just above the net. Any spin you might put on the ball is a bonus but a bit of chop may help. When you “block” you mainly keep your bat still and cushion the ball, though against chop a gentle “jab” may be required. With both the block and push, the angle of your bat is crucial. Against a chop from your opponent you must lay your bat back late too, to let the spin fade away before you play the ball. 

Conversely, loop is best taken early with your bat over the ball, laid forward. Experienced players can do this with a slight flicking action. In the same way, against sidespin you need to angle your bat accordingly, i.e. if the ball is spinning from your right to your left, you must aim right.   to compensate for, yes, the backspin. It usually pays to take the ball

Of course, disguising spin is a major aspect of the game, but that’s another story. The main thing is to watch your opponent very carefully. Always try to Focus on the game. Concentration is very important. “Footwork” is another aspect which is well worth developing. The main thing, however, is just to enjoy the game.

Paul Butters

© PB 30\8\2008 with slight amendments 4\11\2017.

Grimsby Table Tennis January 2012 - Transition Time

(Picture Credit - Kotaku)

Last season (20011-12) was one to forget for me. After half a season struggling in Division One, The Ashwells kindly persuaded the league to transfer me to Brian Lomas’s short-handed team in division three. Brian had shockingly lost the cheery Eric Williams, who had passed away around Christmas time.

In Division One I won just one match, beating Norman Hames, who later got his revenge. I did take games off Sean Ward, Jonathan Corry and other top players: good but no cigar. Captain Ryan Wadham and his team finished second from bottom but were spared relegation.

In Division Three I won most of my games, but only just. I could now relax as we settled in mid-table.

This season Dennis Burgoyne joined Brian Lomas and myself in D3 to form “Nemesis” (my name-suggestion). Dennis had not played for many years, so he made quite a gamble. Colin Tyas left us and joined Don Ellis’s team in D4.

Dennis loves to throw up a succession of high, swirling lobs. Every now and then he dashes in to play a blazing forehand kill. Dennis has a fine orthodox backhand but prefers to use that lob. He is quite a character and loves a can of Coke between games!   

Captain Brian Lomas is a good, solid, all-round attacking player who would do fine in D2. Like me he plays with an economy of movement and a flashing backhand.

Most of the season we have been second in D3 behind “Urban Juice”: Leo Tsang, Billy Wong and Dave Hanks. In the New Year we were top by one point but they had two games in hand. In fact I only saw them twice fail to win 8-2 or better. We held them to 7-3. They look certainties to become champions. Their high energy attacking play is too much for most players at this level. (Ed - They Won It!).

Actually I “friended” Leo and Billy on Facebook this week. Happily most of the top Grimsby League players are my Facebook friends. Of these, Sean Ward is now the current Men’s Singles Champion. Sean and some other younger players have made a respectable debut this season in the National League. As Lincoln veteran Andy Wignall says, a useful “reality check” for some of our youngsters.

You can only progress as a player by matching yourself against superior opposition.  For Sean and Jonathan that simply means taking on opponents from outside Grimsby. My former team-mate Jack Blyth looks well established in D1 now, with one of the leading sides.

Talking of ex team-mates: great to see my old buddy John Holmes is now regularly winning in D4. There was a time when he couldn’t buy a win, but he has completely turned the corner. People like John are what the game is all about.

Paul Butters

My Career in the Grimsby Table Tennis League 1882 - 1990 (The "Early Years")

My career in the Grimsby, England (U.K.) Table Tennis League spans 34 years. Most matches are now played at Clee Sports Hall, which usually runs about 6 or 7 fixtures per night. There were over 20 venues back in the day.

When I first joined the league in autumn 1982 (having moved here from Doncaster), we had four man\woman teams arranged in eight divisions plus a “Premier Division”. The league had in fact been cut by a division. There were 2 Schools Divisions and a Girl’s Division. Plus a 2 division summer league. No venues were listed then, but the following year there were twenty two! Matches were divided into two “draws”, so you only played half of the opposing team as an individual.

The NALGO club played at 76 a Pasture Street, an old run-down building later converted into flats. For the record, our then office manager Don Newton invited me to play for NALGO D in Division 6. Our squad: Roy (Captain) and Maureen Lincoln, Dave Gregory (deceased), reserve Diane Lord (Roy’s daughter) and others. We finished 4^th so Dave and I were promoted to a new NALGO D in Division 5. 

At that time Dave Skerratt (from Scunthorpe) had won the Grimsby Men’s Singles twice in a row and G Sharpe was long reigning Ladies’ Champion having depose Connie Moran in  c. 1979. (Pete Taylor won the Men’s in 1978).

For 83-84, the late Don Keightley (father of Ian) was captain and we added Roy Lee. We went undefeated and won the title. Connie Moran took back her Ladies’ title and kept it for many years. Matt Sheader took the Men’s and again monopolised it most years for a very long time. Brian Allison won it now and then I recall. As for the doubles.... Need I say?

The following year (84-85) I became captain of NALGO D as NALGO moved to the former Yarra Road Post Office, Cleethorpes. Terry Reddington (a Job Centre boss) was added. Then youngsters Andy Bruford and Will Jenner joined. We finished 5^th in division 4. Yarra Road was quite spacious if ancient.

85-86: we became NALGO B in Division 3. We added Mike Braithwaite and used Ian Keightley but finished 8^th. Andy and Will decided their priorities lay elsewhere.

Suddenly things happened fast. Clee Council joined the NALGO fold, and I effectively joined Clee Council. Richard Wilson was captain and Dave Wagstaff their star player. (He’ll love me saying that!). 

For 1986-87 the league adopted 3 player teams. We were called NALGO B and we finished 3^rd in Division 3, narrowly missing promotion. The Yarra was still our home.

87-88: most of NALGO were called “Longchamps” and played at the now Littlefield Lane Club. We were “NALGO Longchamps A”, stayed at The Yarra and we won Division 3.

88-89: I became captain of NALGO A as the whole of NALGO occupied The Yarra. We finished 3^rd in Division 2. Another promotion “close miss”.

89-90: NALGO club moved to Grimsby Tennis Club on College Street, we remained NALGO A but moved to Knoll Street, Cleethorpes. Suffice to say Knoll Street was called “The Goldfish Bowl”! The league still had 20 venues incidentally. We won Division 2 for the first time.

Actually this article is longer than I expected. Have dredged up shoals of facts. Richard, Dave and I won a number of titles until about 2002 when first Dave, then Richard retired. But that’s another story.

(C) Paul Butters 26\10\2010. Edited\Amended 1\1\2016.