Last Updated on April 24, 2024 by Alex Horscroft
I see all sorts of mistakes in table tennis such as poor grips, not warming up, and terrible footwork. But it’s okay to commit these table tennis sins, that is, provided you acknowledge them and seek to make changes.
These are 15 of the most common mistakes in table tennis that you might be guilty of:
- Not having a proper grip
- Gripping your paddle too tight
- Poor understanding of returning spin
- Standing too close to the table
- Weak ability to generate spin
- Not warming up
- Bad stance
- Weak footwork
- Hitting the ball too hard
- Not hitting the ball at the correct point
- Using the wrong stroke
- Not improving the weak areas of your game
- Not dedicating time to working on your serves
- No clear strategy
- Changing your paddle too often
Join me as I explain why each of these mistakes hurt your game, and explain how you can put a stop to them.
The 15 Most Common Mistakes in Table Tennis & Simple Fixes
1. Not Having a Proper Grip
Grips have inherent strengths and weaknesses, take the shakehand grip for instance. It excels on both the backhand and forehand and is super versatile. The penhold grip, by comparison, has a stronger forehand but a much weaker backhand.
As such, choosing the right grip is a very important task as it will shape how you can play. Unfortunately, many beginners don’t even know the proper way to hold their paddle. Therefore they grip it any old way and do not reap the benefits of established table tennis grips.
Solution
Adopt either the shakehand or penhold grip. I recommend the former as it is more beginner-friendly, more versatile, and doesn’t require elite footwork.
2. Gripping Your Paddle Too Tight
Similar to how you hold your paddle, the firmness of your grip also affects your performance. Many new players grip their racket too tightly, which leads to stiffness. This makes it more difficult to react quickly, produce smooth strokes, and impart spin.
Solution
Adopt a relaxed grip. You will notice that it enables you to move your wrist more freely which is essential for producing spin during serves and for backhand strokes.
3. Poor Understanding of Returning Spin
Getting to grips with spin is no easy feat. This is mostly because no other racket sport comes close to the spin that table tennis generates, so new players have to learn almost from scratch. And to say it is overwhelming is an understatement.
I remember one of my first times receiving a serve from an advanced player. The spin blew my mind! I couldn’t even get the ball on the table. And you know what that means, I lost almost every serve that came my way. But by spending time learning how spin works I became one of the spinniest players in my county.
Solution
Spend some time learning how spin works. A good way to identify the spin on the ball is to watch where the paddle begins and finishes. The direction of travel is where the ball wants to go. For example, a left-to-right motion produces sidespin which encourages the ball to land more to the right.
If you want more detail, I recommend you check out my comprehensive spin guide.
4. Standing Too Close to the Table
Distance management is an overlooked aspect of table tennis, so it’s no wonder beginners are guilty of standing too close to the table.
The advantage of standing so close is that it makes it easier to reach balls that bounce short. However, it makes it far more difficult to return balls that land deep. Therefore, standing really close to the table is a big no-no.
Solution
Take a small to medium step away from the table. This gives you extra breathing room and means you don’t have to quickly backpedal to play those deep balls. If the ball lands short, you can easily take a step in to play it. It’s much easier to take a step in than a step out!
5. Weak Ability to Generate Spin
Many newer players have limited spin ability. Most can produce every kind of spin, but their technique limits them to moderate spin levels, which is usually fairly easy to handle. To start winning points from spin, you really need to bump your ability up to high.
Just think about it. A ball loaded with heavy spin is much more difficult to return and may force a defensive shot out of your opponent, thereby shifting the balance of the rally into your favor.
Solution
Practice brushing the ball. By making faint contact, you cause the ball to focus on rotation rather than movement. A loose grip and loose wrist help a lot with this. As you get better, try using a faster motion. It’s more difficult as you need to be precise, but this is what generates the most spin.
6. Not Warming Up
If I had a penny for every time I saw players dive straight into rallies I’d be a very rich man! Warming up is highly important as it helps you get your eye in and attempt more difficult shots in a controlled manner.
Of course, warming up with stretches and such is important too, but what you should be more concerned with is a warm-up drill. I start every session without fail with warm-up exercises because I know they work. I feel the difference, and you will too.
Solution
Begin sessions with controlled crosscourt drives, forehand to forehand, and then backhand to backhand. Afterward, you can move onto third ball attack and loop against block if you’re a skilled player.
7. Bad Stance
New players are guilty of many sins when it comes to stance. Most notably, they stand very upright and don’t have their paddle in a neutral position. These table tennis mistakes mean they have more to correct when they go to play the ball, and in a fast game like table tennis, it really shows.
Solution
As a general rule of thumb, whenever you are not playing the ball you should adopt what is known as the ready position. To be in the ready position, do the following:
– Stand with your feet 1 to 1.5 shoulder-widths apart
– Bend your knees in a slight squat
– Lean forward and position most of your weight on the balls of your feet
– Position your racket in front of you at a neutral angle with a 45-degree bend at the elbow
8. Weak Footwork
Developing good footwork is no easy task, but avoiding bad footwork isn’t all that challenging. Many beginners are what I would call “stuck in the mud,” and most don’t even realize it. Instead of moving their feet to the right position, they reach for the ball. Consequently, the quality of their shots suffers.
With your arms almost fully extended, you’re pretty limited with respect to how you can hit the ball. By standing in the proper position you have far better options at your disposal.
Solution
Practice your footwork with some targeted drills and pay particular attention to which position feels the most natural to hit the ball. I recommend standing with a wide stance and leaning forward slightly as you prepare to move. This really helped me to improve my footwork.
9. Hitting the Ball Too Hard
Many beginners lack the technique to strike the ball consistently with force. Hell, even I miss a whole lot when I hit the ball hard and I’ve got over 10 years of experience! Therefore, this goes to show the importance of finding a balance between speed and consistency.
Solution
Analyze the patterns of which balls you are missing. Is it mostly on your forehand? Is it those balls that are just high enough to warrant a smash? Whatever the case may be, identifying the shots at fault will help you to correct them.
There are many ways to win a rally, not just speed. Remember what I said about spin earlier? The same goes for placement too. You can take some of the heat off those big hits and focus on placement while obtaining the same result — a beautiful winner!
10. Not Hitting the Ball at the Correct Point
You might not realize it, but every shot has a different optimal contact point. Loops, for instance, are best hit at the top of the bounce or just after. Blocks, by comparison, you take much earlier as the ball is rising (at least, usually!).
Many beginners pay no attention to the trajectory point they strike the ball. This once again comes down to a lack of knowledge. In fairness, even advanced players make mistakes here too. There’s one fellow at my club who takes his pushes far too early, yet when he loops the ball, it’s no joke!
Solution
Focus on striking the ball when it feels natural to do so. For attacking topspin shots, the top of the bounce is usually optimal. When blocking, I would recommend taking it earlier as the ball is rising, and as for backspin, take it just as the ball starts to descend.
11. Using the Wrong Stroke
Beginners suffer immensely when it comes to shot selection. Should you drive the ball? Block it? Push it? You just don’t know. And choosing incorrectly usually results in losing the point, so it’s an important decision to make, and you have very little time to do so.
The culprit when it comes to choosing the wrong stroke is often our devious ol’ friend spin. As mentioned before, having a strong grasp of spin is essential in table tennis. This is especially true at higher levels when players start to try and be deceptive with the spin they produce.
Say, for instance, your opponent plays a fast backspin serve. Your instinct may tell you to drive the ball as high speed usually means topspin. However, they have purposefully put backspin on the ball to try and mislead you. As a result, your drive will go straight into the net.
Solution
Identify the spin on the ball and select the appropriate shot to return it. Your safest shots against topspin are blocks and drives, while your safest shot against backspin is a push.
12. Not Improving the Weak Areas of Your Game
Many serious players are guilty of neglecting drills in favor of match-play — it’s just more fun. Yet a good chunk of beginners neglect drills altogether. Doing so harshly stunts your progression.
It also means you can’t hone in and work on improving your weak areas which should be your main priority.
Solution
Dedicate some time each session to performing specific drills to improve areas where you are weak. This will round out your game and make you less vulnerable during matches.
13. Not Dedicating Time to Work on Your Serves
Serves are just about the most important shot in table tennis. Every rally starts with one and you get half of ’em. Win all of yours and you’re almost guaranteed the match!
Therefore, you should spend a good amount of time refining your serves during practice. With enough time and effort, you should notice that many opponents struggle to return your serves or set you up for a simple 3rd ball attack.
To put this into context, I consider serves to be one of the strongest areas of my game. And I aim to win at least one of my serves for free. Either because the opponent couldn’t return the ball or because they set me up for a loop.
Solution
Dedicate around 15 minutes per session to a drill that works on your serves. Try varying the spin, speed, and placement, as variation is key to being a serving demon.
I recommend checking out my Ping Pong Serve Guide where I cover every serve in table tennis along with pictured examples. It took me a while to write and I feel it’s a great resource.
14. No Clear Strategy
When I watch beginners play it’s apparent that many have no plan in mind. They’re just mindlessly hitting the ball hoping either the opponent will miss or that they will get to play a smash. Letting fate guide the course of the match is a poor way to go, so take matters into your own hands.
Solution
First, ascertain what type of player you are. What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? This enables you to play in a way that is complementary to your style.
Similarly, analyze the style of your opponent, where are they strong and weak? By shifting the rallies onto your strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses you give yourself the greatest possible chance of success.
15. Changing Your Paddle Too Often
There’s no denying your paddle is highly important — a cheap paddle is quite literally incapable of high-level shots. That being said, switching rackets too often is a recipe for disaster. And it’s a fault that many players are guilty of.
Table tennis requires precision, and this precision comes from regular practice and knowing your racket. Keep switching it and you’ll find yourself missing a lot more than you should be.
Two of my friends are guilty of this mistake. They frequently yo-yo between a faster and slower paddle, struggling to ascertain whether they prefer increased point-ending potential or higher control. And guess what, their game suffers and they get in their own heads. Many times they’ve come to me after a loss blaming their paddle switch. They should have listened!
Solution
Find a paddle you like and stick with it. This will ensure you are not constantly second-guessing yourself. When you decide it’s time to switch to a different blade or rubber, spend a good amount of time learning where it differs before playing important matches.
Closing Thoughts
Everyone makes mistakes in table tennis, but the best players recognize these mistakes and seek to improve them. If you’re guilty of any of the table tennis errors outlined above, try acting on the advice I’ve provided as it should help solve the issue(s).
If however, you’re not plagued by any of these common mistakes in ping pong, then congrats! You’re well on your way to becoming a top player!
Similar Reads
- How to Kick Ass as an Elderly Table Tennis Player
- Switching Hands Playing Table Tennis (And Why You Shouldn’t Do It)
- How to Win at Table Tennis (When You’re Playing Bad)
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Weakness in Table Tennis?
A weakness is an area that lags behind the rest of your game. It acts as a spot that your opponent can exploit, so it’s important to improve your weaknesses.
How Do You Avoid Mistakes in Table Tennis?
To avoid mistakes in table tennis you need to identify the correct form and adhere to it. The faster you play, the more likely that you will make mistakes. You should also try avoiding high-risk shots as you will likely lose more points than you win.
What Is the Best Strategy to Win at Table Tennis?
The best strategy to win at table tennis depends on your playstyle. Without getting too specific, it’s shifting the course of the match to highlight your strengths while exposing your opponent’s weaknesses.
Why Am I So Inconsistent at Table Tennis?
Inconsistency in table tennis is usually the result of either poor or insufficient training. Try spending time practicing specific drills. I find these are great for improving consistency.
I've been playing table tennis since the age of 14 and have competed against some of the top players in England. While I love playing, I also really enjoy coaching too!
Blade: Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | Rubbers: Nittaku Fastarc G-1