My journey to Black Belt at 50… and past!: Desk Tennis

How I began Enjoying Ping Pong Critically
 Like so a lot of you, I performed ping pong as a child on the desk within the basement. I wasn’t notably good.  At certainly one of my jobs, there was a desk and I performed slightly extra intensely. And as a guardian, I put in a desk on the patio and performed with my children.  My son and I performed lots.

On a household trip about 12 years in the past, my son and I entered the resort’s ping pong event and to my delight. I completed fifth out of fifty.  However the guys in entrance of me weren’t just a bit higher than me, they have been a lot better. So I requested them why.  Ze answered:

“You’re nearly as good as you’ll get for those who do not practice”. 
        “Prepare? What is that this practice of which you converse?” (Did I point out that we have been talking in French?)
“Sure, practice, You’ve got by no means educated. Clearly, you have by no means take a lesson.”
        “What do you imply it is apparent? And what kind of lesson? Like a tennis lesson?”

So after I obtained residence, I googled Ft Lauderdale desk tennis classes, made a telephone name, and booked a non-public lesson.  It seems in Fr Lauderdale, there may be a tremendous desk tennis middle. It is close to the nook of College Blvd and Sterling Drive (extra data). 

And for about half the price of a tennis lesson, I took my first non-public desk tennis lesson. Teresa, the girl in pink under, was (and is) my trainer and coach. Since 2012, I may need taken 20 classes from her. I are likely to do them in batches. Like I simply took three classes in three week.

The primary lesson was the very best. Or possibly the worst. Actually, they’re all nice.  Within the first lesson, it turned out that the way in which I held the paddle wanted correcting. My method to the backhand wasn’t proper if I wished to play higher. Neither was my forehand. And I wasn’t standing correctly.  Like many sports activities, to get higher, I used to be informed that I first want to begin over and be lots worse.  However for me, it is fundamental coaching and apply which is my residence discipline and it is enjoyable!

My Desk Tennis Standing at the moment –  Whereas the constructing that I reside in has a desk to play on, there’s not many individuals to play with right here.  A giant breakthrough for me was when I discovered that there was a group middle about 5 minutes from my residence the place they put out 5 tables thrice every week for a couple of hours. And it is filled with actually good gamers.

There is a rotating crowd of regulars of which about 20 present up on any given day. My ping pong has gotten actually good however on this crowd, , they’re principally higher than me, some are a lot better than me. Curiously sufficient, they’re nearly all older than me. Some are a lot older (BTW, I am 65).  Rather a lot to sit up for. 

The opposite massive breakthrough was after I retired this yr (3/2023) and somewhat than enjoying often, I can play a number of instances per week.

So ping pong is now a significant exercise by me. It checks all of the containers. Plenty of room to enhance. Plenty of folks to compete with. Nice train. I can play inside within the air con. The damage charge is low.  If I get good (and I’ve a really lengthy strategy to go), there’s tons of elevated ranges of competitors to attempt for. It is social sufficient.  And now that I am starting to grasp the sport, I may watch it.  BTW, Youtube, Instagram and so on are filled with desk tennis feeds. Some humorous. Some lovely. Some simply wonderful.  

This is me enjoying. It seems that whereas I consider myself as a very good TT participant, on this planet of people that play in desk tennis tournaments, I am not so good.

 I feel I misplaced sport 1 11-9. This is Sport 2. I feel I misplaced it 12-10