The handshake in table tennis.

the who le thing about cho is mind games or any sort of battle cry. also it keeps the player pumped up.

Handshake is mainly western culture. I think it has evolved due to the overwhelming influence of other cultures dominating the sport where handshake is not used.

That is not a criticism; just my observation.

I think it just depends on the players, if they know each other (like Persson and Waldner) the handshake is a lot nicer. Also, I think it depends on the culture, almost every chinese player will just tap the hand of the other player.

brusch123 said:

I know that is not criticism, everyone is allowed an opinion, but isn´t it a shame? The sport we love has gotten so arrogant and respectless?

Click to expand...

I don't really see it as arrogant or a lack of respect. A handshake is just not that common for many of the participants in their own culture so using it must seem alien and contrived. Zhang Jike is often remarked as arrogant, and yet he shows more warmth and respect towards his opponent at the moment of victory than many.

It is also important to put it into perspective in comparison to other sports. I think in general there is much more respect shown in TT than most others, particularly in regards to acknowledging luck and owning up to edges etc.

Because: Sweaty Hands.

I think you have to consider the culture and/or social norms of the participants where he/she grew up. It does not mean that if one doesn't shook hands with his/her opponent after a match, he/she will be deemed "arrogant", sometimes they're not just used to it. But sometimes I see players who just walk away from the event after a loss, not even a pat or a handshake to his/her opponents..

zkj takes off his shoe sometime in victory ...

brusch123 said:

Then why would Zhang Jike only tap the opponents back and make a nice handshake in victory, if it is so foreign? You cannot say that the handshake is foreign in defeat and familiar in victory.

Click to expand...

I never said ZJ used a handshake in either case; just that he "shows more warmth and respect towards his opponent at the moment of victory than many". That does not necessarily mean handshake which you associate with respect, while many other cultures do not.

Oh, God, not this silly conversation again. There were at least two whole long threads on this about 2 years ago. Who cares if they shake hands after. It is a silly convention. I have never seen a bench clearing brawl in a table tennis match and I have never heard a table tennis player making crazy boastful comments before a match as happens in so many sports.

And, when you have a player like Michael Maze who adds some excitement to the game and part of that has to do with antics, sometimes it makes things more interesting.

There are too many gentleman in table tennis. Why not more trash talk.

Okay, I am joking for those of you who don't know me. But, really, who cares about the after match handshake.

If it had not become a formality and guys only did it when they wanted to, it might mean something more when it happens.

Do you always want to shake hands with your opponent after a match?

I know I could care less at the end of a match, win or lose, whether I shake hands with my opponent.

You can be gracious in winning or losing without shaking hands and you can be the opposite and still shake hands. It is only a gesture. And because it is a forced gesture and not done when the two players both feel like doing it, it is often an hollow gesture.

I say we get more bad boy characters into the sport who trash talk straight through the match. Perhaps even some more creative point winning celebrations, like touchdown dances in American Football. Or how about when Charles Barkley was on the Phoenix Suns and spit at an audience member who was annoying him and then told the press that he is not a role model.

Okay, guys, I am joking again.

But:

It is okay for players to have their own personalities and not feel they need to conform with our ideals.

i think it depends on the players as to whether the hand shake is firm or not. i have experienced this myself, some players just tap my hand, others go for a full on handshake. it just depends on the person i think.