Tired of Normal Table Tennis? Here Are 12 Fun Alternatives

Last Updated on May 8, 2024 by Alex Horscroft

While I think table tennis is the best game in the world, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t times when I got a little bored. Namely at the end of a session after tedious drills. That’s why every now and again I’ll throw in a fun table tennis mini-game to spark my interest.

For this guide, I managed to come up with 12 fun table tennis game alternatives that break away from ordinary play:

1. Around the table
2. Play with the wrong hand
3. Forever forehands!
4. Change grips
5. Swap paddles
6. Cut the table in half
7. Sitting table tennis
8. Timed target practice
9. Hitting both sides of the table
10. Two-ball table tennis
11. Impressing game
12. Hardbat

Game 1: Around the Table

Any table tennis fanatic is familiar with around the table — it’s a classic! It sees players strike the ball once and then run to the other side of the table. For best results, I recommend having at least three players per side. If the numbers are uneven, the side with more players takes the serve.

It may seem simple enough, but boy does this game get hectic quickly! You may also need to establish some ground rules first. To begin with, serves should be basic, and it’s a good idea to ban shots that are too fast. If players smash the ball, around the table breaks down pretty quickly!

When I play this game, each player has just one life, however, I hear others use three lives. Adjust to the desired level of difficulty.

Game 2: Play With the Wrong Hand

Playing table tennis with the wrong hand is one of my favorite table tennis games. Not only is it a challenge, but it’s also very comical as you can’t help but look ridiculous while playing.

As an advanced player, I have all the knowledge of how to play up in my head, but very little translates from my right hand to my left hand. Seriously, give this game a go!

Game 3: Forever Forehands!

Did someone say forehands? Sign me up! For this game, you dual-wield paddles like some kind of tribal warrior. This enables you to hit endless forehands. In fact, backhands are strictly prohibited. Hit one and you lose the point!

Game 4: Change Grips

Like switching play from your dominant hand to your non-dominant hand presents an obstacle, so does changing grips.

Most of us sport a shakehand grip, so the obvious choice is to switch to penhold, be it C-pen or J-pen. However, you could also use the Seemiller grip instead if your partner is okay with it. 

Game 5: Swap Paddles

For most players, switching paddles shouldn’t be too big of a difference, especially if you and your partner are of a similar skill level and style. However, if you’re not, swapping paddles can make play rather difficult! 

Using a slower paddle will result in countless balls ending up in the net. And don’t even get me started on switching to a different rubber type like long pimples. For contrasting players, this is a great game to try out.  

Game 6: Cut the Table in Half

This is more of a serious game — perhaps even one you could use for regular table tennis training. Essentially, you cut the table in half where the center line is. This forces you to focus on accuracy and slow down your game somewhat, otherwise many of your shots will land out of bounds. 

Game 7: Sitting Table Tennis!

Sitting table tennis is a lot of fun as it severely restricts your movement. It also limits the kind of game you can play, forcing you to play more directly than you may be accustomed to. 

My brother and I used to take it in turns with only one player sitting and the other smashing. We would then see how long the sitting player could last lobbing before they made a mistake. It was quite a lot of fun!

Game 8: Timed Target Practice

For this game, you set up small obstacles on the table; use whatever you have handy. Just make sure they are fairly small and lightweight! The aim of the game is to knock the obstacles over as fast as possible, and you’re competing against your friends for the best time. 

Game 9: Hitting Both Sides of the Table

Game 9 is rather different from the rest. It sees you hit the ball onto your own side of the table before your opponent’s, just like when you’re serving. This makes it impossible to strike the ball fast. Instead, you have to be clever with spin and placement to beat your opponent.

Game 10: Two-Ball Table Tennis

This game doesn’t really need any explaining — it’s in the name! You play with two balls instead of one! And trust me, it’s a lot more difficult than you think.

To make this game work, both players have to try and keep both balls in play, not hit them passed their opponent. A way to enforce this is that you must strike the ball upward rather than downward. 

Game 11: Impressing Game

This is a game that my friend Henley and I came up with, and it’s my favorite from this list. You play it when there are three or more people to a table — think of it as an alternative to winner stays on.

The first two players take to the table and the judge observes. The aim is to impress the judge with your performance. If you don’t, the judge will tell you they are not impressed. After a point, the judge may either remain silent (if they like what they see), or scrutinize one player, but not both. Said player must then impress the judge on the next rally, otherwise, they are off and they take the judge’s place.

In other words, it’s a game where you have two lives, and everyone is against everyone. That being said, you can form a pact with other players by feeding them easier shots, or you can try and finish them off when they are on their last life. Watch alliances form, and betrayals occur. Who knew table tennis could be so dramatic?!

Game 12: Hardbat

If you want to slow the game down and kill the ability to generate meaningful spin, hardbat is the perfect game to try. It sees you ditch your usual blade and rubbers for a much slower alternative made of wood and either sandpaper or thin spongeless pimpled rubbers. 

These rackets are much louder to play with and feel like plain old wood. Being much slower and offering little spin, they also force you to adapt your game. If you’re a looper, you’re going to have to make some serious changes!

One of the reasons hardbat play is so enjoyable is that rallies are much longer and offensive play is not as dominant. There’s much more merit to playing an allround game which takes many players out of their comfort zone.    

Closing Thoughts

It’s easy to feel fatigued or burned out if you are training super regularly, especially if your training is high quality with meaningful drills. That’s why it’s a good idea to make time for some fun table tennis game alternatives.

The impressing game and playing left-handed are my favorites (I’m a righty), but honestly, all of these are highly enjoyable. Try a few and let me know what you think. Perhaps there are some other games you think I should add to this list. 

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