Ping Pong Tips for Beginners: Improve Your Game in One Session

Think ping pong is just something you play in a basement? Think again. Table tennis is one of the fastest ball sports in the world — Olympic-level players react to balls traveling at over 150 km/h — and even at a recreational level, it’s a physically demanding, deeply satisfying sport that most people severely underestimate. This guide gives you the ping pong tips for beginners you need to go from flailing to flowing in a single session at The Long Shot Inc. in Oakville.

The Basics: Equipment and Setup

Before we get into technique, a word on equipment. The paddle (officially called a racket) matters more than most beginners realize. There are two main rubber types on table tennis paddles:

Inverted rubber (smooth): Standard for most recreational play. More control, less extreme spin.
Short pips / long pips: More specialized, used by advanced players for specific styles.

For beginners, a standard recreational paddle with inverted rubber on both sides is perfect. The Long Shot provides quality paddles with every booking — no need to bring your own to get started. Book your table here.

Tip 1: Get Your Grip Right From the Start

The most common grip mistake beginners make is holding the paddle like a frying pan — and it limits every shot they’ll ever play. There are two main grips in table tennis:

Shakehand Grip (Recommended for Beginners)

Hold the paddle as if shaking someone’s hand. Your index finger rests along the bottom edge of the blade (the rubber), your thumb rests on the rubber on the other side, and the remaining three fingers wrap around the handle. This grip gives you excellent balance between forehand and backhand shots.

Penhold Grip

Hold the paddle between your thumb and index finger — as if holding a pen — with the other fingers curled behind the blade. This grip is popular in East Asian playing styles and gives exceptional forehand power, but limits backhand options.

Beginner recommendation: Shakehand grip. It’s versatile, natural, and the foundation for all modern playing styles.

Tip 2: Stance and Footwork — The Keys Nobody Talks About

Great ping pong is 40% footwork. Yet most beginners stand flat-footed and swing their arms wildly instead of moving their feet into position. Here’s the correct basic stance:

Stand about 30–60cm from the table (closer for short pushes, further for drives and loops)
Feet shoulder-width apart, parallel to the table or slightly angled
Knees bent, weight on the balls of your feet — ready to move in any direction
Non-paddle arm out slightly for balance
Body slightly forward, not leaning back

After every shot, reset to this position. The biggest mistake beginners make is staying planted after one shot — by the time the next ball comes, they’re out of position.

Tip 3: Master the Forehand Drive First

The forehand drive is the most important shot in beginner table tennis. It’s consistent, powerful, and applicable to most situations. Here’s how to execute it:

Turn your body slightly to the right (for right-handed players), bringing the paddle back and down
As the ball bounces, rotate your hips and torso forward while swinging the paddle up and through the ball
Contact the ball at the top of its bounce or just after, slightly forward of your body
Follow through with the paddle finishing near your left shoulder
Immediately reset to ready position

Tip 4: Learn the Backhand Push Before the Backhand Drive

The backhand push is a simple defensive shot — a flat, controlled return that keeps the ball in play. Before trying to learn aggressive backhand loops, master the backhand push:

Bend your elbow to about 90°, paddle facing slightly upward
Move into position so the ball comes to your backhand side
Push the paddle forward and slightly downward, making contact at the top of the bounce
Keep the motion compact — this is not a big swing

Tip 5: Serve Legally and Simply

Many beginners either serve incorrectly (illegally tossing the ball with spin, hiding the serve) or over-complicate it with trick serves before they’ve mastered basic returns. The legal serve in table tennis requires:

Ball resting flat on open palm, not gripped with fingers
Ball tossed vertically at least 16cm before being struck
Ball must bounce once on your side, clear the net, and bounce once on the opponent’s side
The serve must be visible to both players and the umpire at all times

For beginners, focus on a simple, low-toss serve to the centre of the table. Get it in consistently first — complexity comes later.

Tip 6: Read the Spin — The Game Within the Game

Spin is what separates table tennis from every other racket sport. The ball can carry topspin (dips down), backspin (floats and stays low), or sidespin (curves left or right). Reading spin correctly allows you to adjust your paddle angle to neutralize or return it effectively.

Facing topspin: Close your paddle angle (tilt face toward table) slightly
Facing backspin: Open your paddle angle (tilt face upward) to lift the ball over the net
Facing sidespin: Adjust your aim in the direction the spin is trying to pull the ball

Tip 7: Rally Before You Battle

Before every session, spend 10–15 minutes rallying with your partner — no scoring, no smashing, just consistent controlled exchanges. Rallying builds warm-up, rhythm, and confidence. Players who skip rallying and go straight into competitive play make significantly more errors in the first set.

Tip 8: Common Beginner Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake	Fix
Hitting the ball too hard	Control before power — focus on placement, not pace
Using only arm (no body rotation)	Drive every shot from the hips, not just the elbow
Standing too far from the table	Stay closer to the table on defensive and pushing shots
Not resetting after shots	Return to ready position after every single shot
Watching the paddle instead of the ball	Eyes on the ball from opponent’s side to your racket contact

Book Your Ping Pong Session in Oakville

The Long Shot Inc. offers quality ping pong tables with full equipment at $20/hr — the perfect environment to put these tips into practice. Open 7 days a week, no membership required.

Book Your Ping Pong Table at The Long Shot →

450 S Service Rd W, Unit 2, Oakville | Open until midnight weekdays, 2 AM weekends

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get good at ping pong?

With focused practice, most beginners see noticeable improvement within 3–5 sessions. Consistent weekly sessions over 2–3 months will take you from beginner to competent recreational player.

What is the most important skill to learn first in ping pong?

Footwork and the forehand drive. Footwork gets you in position; the forehand drive is the most-used offensive shot in recreational table tennis.