OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi All. I come from a tennis background, having played at a high level since I was about 12. I'm now 32 and headed for my second knee operation in 15 months. I tore the meniscal cartlidge in my right knee, and now my left. So I'm seriously thinking about making the switch to table tennis. BUT, is table tennis any easier on your knees? The tennis serve puts a lot of pressure on my knees, and obviously you don't run as far during a table tennis match. But I don't want to swap if TT is just as tough. Both times I injured my knees I was running backwards for a smash - something you don't do in tt. Any advice welcome.

While injurys can happen in almost any sport, Table Tennis does have its share of injurys. Torn rotor cuff, shoulder separations, Torn Archilles tendons, slips and falls. Yep not a contact sport..unless you play doubles and crack your partner with your blade spitting his hed open. If you play a defensive game( away from the table) you can injure your knees, ankles, etc. But if you will play closer to the table and take some time to learn the proper techniques, then I am sure you can transition from,tennis to table tennis and enjoy the work out. It does require faster cycle times, better hand eye cordination, and a good work out. Try it and see, but donot give up on it too early. WE have alot of players who also play tennis as well.
* youtube some videos or watch some from this web site.
Peace. GIG

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*IT IS NOT LOGICAL TO PLAY WITH LONG PIPS*
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.


New blade set-up... Nittaku Monophonic with Dawie 388d-1 ox and Big slam max ( really like this one) down to FH rubber selections--I like it better than talon
flaired handle and 90 grams

I have a long-missing (27 years) posterior cruciate ligament and most my damaged meniscus removed. I can't really play tennis any more, but I still manage to play TT and have done for the last 5+ years at a reasonably high club level ~US2000. So yes, TT is a lot easier on the knees than tennis, though it is not invulnerable to injury (like any sport).

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

I see a lot of knee braces at my club and I twisted my knee earlier this year and wore a brace for a month or two.

However, if you have GOOD footwork, unlike many other sports, you really shouldn't be twisting your knees too much. Table tennis is mostly played with a side-to-side shuffling movement though there are exceptions depending on your style of play or when playing doubles. There is at least one high-level senior US player (McAfee) who is practically immobile due to knee replacements and he still plays at the US 2300 rating level.

So bad knees don't have to stop you from playing!

 

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Giant Dragon Kris Special : RITC 802 w/Dawei 2.2 35d fh : : Donic Blue Fire M3 2.0 black bh
Member of Charlotte Table Tennis Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Visit Charlotte Table Tennis Club on Facebook

Thanks for all the replies! I've also joined the gym to rehab and properly strengthen my legs, so that should help too. I might give TT a serious go then!

A lot less pressure on the knees in table tennis ,I played tennis recently and sore knees next day,never get this from tt,I put it down to running in towards the net and a lot of pressure on the knee when pulling up to stop+the harder surface

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Tsp Black Balsa 3.0 Tenergy 05 1.9 388d ox black

That last post reminded me of something...GOOD SHOES. Tennis, basketball or running shoes will lead to foot and knee problems. For TT one needs good side support to keep the foot from rolling over. There are specialized TT shoes...volleyball and badminton shoes also work well. My shoes are made by Yonex (badminton) and I love them!

 

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Giant Dragon Kris Special : RITC 802 w/Dawei 2.2 35d fh : : Donic Blue Fire M3 2.0 black bh
Member of Charlotte Table Tennis Club, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
Visit Charlotte Table Tennis Club on Facebook

Mine too - good support and very durable. SHB59 from memory. They have a squarish grip on the heel that keeps your feet very stable when the foot is planted.

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Timo Boll ALC ST
FH Tibhar Evolution MX-P Max
BH Tibhar Evolution FX-S 1.8
185g

Thanks so much for the replies. Saw my surgeon today. Had surgery last week on the knee. He basically said my competitive tennis days are over. Very sad because I'm only 32 and love the sport. BUT, I'm trying to look on the bright side. This means I'm going to start taking table tennis seriously. I'll get some lessons, buy a custom bat (thinking Stiga AllAround Classic with Sriver to get me started) and work out at the gym to protect my knees as much as possible. Oh, and per recommendations I'll get some good tt shoes.

Injuries are a part of the sports,My suggestion for you is that you shouldn't quit but after recovering from you operation you should come back for it and start doing it like before.That is something which can help you.

Nearly identical to me Reb, except I had both lateral and medial meniscus removed. "Down to the bone" as the consultant put it. Have you had any signs of arthritis?

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My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Plenty Dunc! Riddled with it! Makes moving in TT very hard, sometimes impossible. Hence LP and a great chicken-wing LOL.

_________________
I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

Can you explain what the pain feels like, Reb? Is it like a "bone pain"? I get some annoying pains in my knee which make it difficult to move occasionally, and I'm not sure what it is. I guess it's the onset of arthritis but I'm not sure.

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My blog: "Learning to play: as a modern defender": http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=22254
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtazeX ... oICGS9bqNg
Join the OOAK Discord!: https://discord.gg/Yw2hYUdz3g

[Other gear I've used]
Blades: Butterfly Defence 3, Butterfly Defence Pro, Butterfly Innerforce ZLC, Butterfly Innershield, DHS Power G7, Stiga Offensive Classic Carbon
SPs: Friendship 802 (1.5), TSP Spectol (1.3, 1.8, 2.1), TSP Spectol Speed (1.3), TSP Super Spinpips Chop Sponge 2 (0.5, 1.3)
LPs: Butterfly Feint Long II (1), Butterfly Feint Long III (0.5, 1.3), Tibhar Grass D.TecS (OX), TSP Curl P1-R (0.5, 1, 1.3), TSP Curl P4 (1.3)

Hi All. As the OP, just thought I'd update you. I joined a gym in early March. Since then I've lost 12kgs. I've also been doing leg strengthening excercises like the leg press, lunges and eventually squats. Also lots of cycling. My knees have recoverred somewhat. If I try to jog or sprint it causes pain, but I'm ready to give tt another go now. I'm just going to have to be careful. I'm not going to play back to back days and I'm gonna keep doing the gym work. I'm realistic. My tennis days are over and I won't be jogging anymore because I want to be able to walk when I'm 50. I'm 33 now. But I think tt could be great for me.

Had my first knee injury ever few weeks ago and i'm 48.

A nerve or something pops out and it's scary. Have not had it looked at yet,just stopped playing tennis till it feels better.

Have changed my t/t shoes to a lower height shoe. I feel with tennis, it's the shock of impacting concrete from a sudden slow-down of movement that causes most injury. With t/t,possibly more the twisting movement. At least that's where i feel my injury has come from,more the twisting rather than impact.

I wear walking shoes with two insoles when i play tennis,otherwise the high impact from running and the sudden stopping goes straight through the shoe into my legs and lower back big-time.

You don't need anywhere near as much shock absorption in t/t shoes as tennis shoes.

i'm wearing Spalding XT Lite shoes at the moment. They weigh 280g,have good grip and my left knee is not hurting so much as with my old pair that were too high off the ground,possibly causing loss of balance leading to excess twist.