OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I'm looking into joining a local club and I'm wondering what kind of things to do and not do so I don't immediately piss off the regulars while playing or practicing.

when you have a hit ask them. Are you having a hit, playing a game, doing warmup drills, etc.
it can be irritating if you are expecting to do fh-fh warmups but the other guy thinks he's playing a game.

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Shih Tzu

NEW RUBBER MASS INDEX || OLD RUBBER MASS INDEX

1) When you arrive, ask to see who is running things and talk to them about money, format of session, your TT experience etc.
2) When called or invited to a table don't delay as time on a table can be precious. Obviously if you have just walked in the door or have just come off another table and are busting to use the toilet or need to refill your drink bottle then these are valid reasons to be a little slower.
3) If you have just finished your time on the table (games, amount of time, whatever) don't expect to stay on the table, particularly if there are others waiting. Don't stand at the table and talk, you can do that away from the table. Remember time on a table is precious.
4) Don't expect to play with the really good players first up - it may happen even so
5) Be assertive without being demanding - admittedly a fine line. There may be local "rules and exceptions" that you are not aware of. Find these out the easy way, not the hard way. Usually those running a session will want you to have a positive experience so you will come back, however regulars are already "coming back".

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Retriever (sometimes golden, but often leaden)
Moderator, Inverted Retriever Technique sub-forum - http://ooakforum.com/viewforum.php?f=74

+1 on Retriever's solid advice, here is a bit of my perspective.

If you have a luxury of having more than one option - check them all out. You might find out they have different playing conditions, people, prices, coaching options, open hours etc., and some of these might be more important to you than others.

Try to get a read on the 'culture' of the club: how they treat newcomers, how do you 'call a table', do people mingle or stick to their own cliques.

Avoid challenging players way above your level - won't be fun for both of you.

When you get to the table, introduce yourself, ask for opponent's name, shake their hand, tell them it's your first time at the club. Shake hands after the match too, say 'thank you' .

Be humble and open minded - you probably will be outmatched and likely will lose a lot at first, but it gets better later on. People notice if you keep coming back and are persistent in trying to get better.

If they offer coaching, take a couple of lessons.

Don't try to win 'warm up', blasting (and mostly missing) shots for a winner is not fun for your partner and you are not really impressing them - save these for the actual match, and probably even then not a best tactic. Just keep the ball on the table, first doing FH to FH, then BH to BH exchanges.

Games are to 11 points, and people will at least frown if your serves are blatantly illegal (over the table, no toss etc.). Most clubs I know no longer play with celluloid balls, so get some decent (3*) plastic ones.

Good luck!

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USATT: 1702| League: 1958

Thank you everyone. Based on pgpg it sounds like players bring their own balls? How many is a good number to bring?

- Sometimes you have to walk through one court to get to the next. Avoid walking into courts while a rally is going on.
- Don't chase loose balls into adjacent courts when players are in the middle of a rally. Wait until the players are finished.
- You will run into 3 types of people. Some are there primarily to train, some are there to play matches, and some a little of both. Stick to the players who have the same objectives as yourself.
- If the club is busy, they may have rules on how long you can stay at a table. If there are no rules and there are people waiting for a table, play 2 or 3 matches and then give the table up.

Finish your games, whether you are getting killed, or doing the killing.
Try to give players lower than you a hit.
Seek out hitting with those that look like they don't have someone to play with.
Be kind to everyone.
Don't offer too much advice when it's not invited.
Be an ambassador for the sport.

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What format do club players usually use for matches? Best of 3, 5, 7?

Normally it's best of 5 but I could see a scenario if some clubs didn't have lots of tables playing best of 3 so more people could play.