Do you have to be fit to be a pro table tennis player?

[staysmart]

How much athleticism is necessary in table tennis?

We have 60+ years old successfully competing in Olympics - Ni Xia Lian and we have pro players that look like competing in other sports like hammer throw (to be kind).

Is technique supreme? Does being fit matter? Can you be seriously overweight and compensate by using short pips or long pips?

From the fitness point, is table tennis closer to darts and bowling than athletics?

 

[MOJOJOJO-74]

I remember seeing this really overweight dude at one of the team tournaments in Illinois, where his shirt was too small and you could see his belly hanging out, and he was using long pips. I didn't see his game, but I'm pretty sure he plays close to the table because he definitely wouldn't be able to play your normal defensive or offensive game, especially since he looked out of breath just walking to get the ball.

 

[staysmart]

I remember seeing this really overweight dude at one of the team tournaments in Illinois, where his shirt was too small and you could see his belly hanging out, and he was using long pips. I didn't see his game, but I'm pretty sure he plays close to the table because he definitely wouldn't be able to play your normal defensive or offensive game, especially since he looked out of breath just walking to get the ball.

In amateur play older guys and out of shape guys are the norm, not some exceptions. I am not body shaming or age shaming, I am glad that they choose to move and play instead of being a couch potato.

I am just curious how much do you have to be in good shape to play at higher levels, or if this is a sport based on skill and strategy first.

 

[beeray1]

There's a point where it becomes very very difficult I think and then a point where it's almost impossible. How high up is the debate, but I don't think you can be a top top pro while being too overweight with today's fast game. I base my observations on watching a lot of the German league content and you see guys who are pretty large all the way up in like Oberliga/Regionaliga. But they all have a small amount of truly exceptional attributes that allow them to do it, whether it's insane feel, table awareness, tactical wizardry, or they just have amazing hands.

There is also a type of person that might be big but you don't realize how much of an athlete they still are or how good their conditioning is, and a few of those guys come from other sports into table tennis and have an affinity for it. Eugene Wang is just a little chubby, despite the comments that refer to him as being an oversized fatty - but he's probably what I have in mind as the 'limit' since he's been top 50. When he was younger he could move pretty damn well.

 

[LordPippington]

The fatter you are, the longer your pips need to be

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

TT is a wonderful and marvelous sport where material can compensate for athleticism.

 

[Lazer]

It matters, in all sports… even for Formula 1 drivers. But it is not everything. The higher the level the more it matters…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[staysmart]

TT is a wonderful and marvelous sport where material can compensate for athleticism.

Yes, it seems that the slower they are, the more they use materials that slow down the game, disrupt the timing of. the opponent. But I see a lot of young guys also using material for the same effect.

 

[Lando]

I remember seeing this really overweight dude at one of the team tournaments in Illinois, where his shirt was too small and you could see his belly hanging out, and he was using long pips. I didn't see his game, but I'm pretty sure he plays close to the table because he definitely wouldn't be able to play your normal defensive or offensive game, especially since he looked out of breath just walking to get the ball.

This dude is describing me, apparently lol

 

[Table10Ice]

Chris Doran is a walking oxymoron — he’s proof that physics is less a law and more a suggestion when you're that good... and that well-fed.

Chris has such magical, magical feel, so up to high level athleticism is extremely overrated if you have divine skills to compensate with. For us mere mortals, not so much.

Same goes for my fellow Finn, Otto Tennilä, to a bit lesser degree. Incredible talented with enviable feel, but he won't ever be asked to do a underwear commercial for Calvin Klein.

 

[Tyce]

It matters, in all sports… even for Formula 1 drivers.

Strange example, F1 drivers are without exception, extremely fit and constantly balancing strength with the weight of the muscle that comes with it...
Every kg of weight shaved off is a tenth or so off of the lap time.

But it is not everything. The higher the level the more it matters…

Cheers
L-zr

I would argue that most athletes tossing extra weight around are also carrying a lot of muscle and endurance, from tossing all that extra weight around. Yeah it's difficult to pick up a ball when there's literally stuff in the way, so that's not quite a good benchmark of someone's general fitness.

That being said, of course being overweight makes it more difficult to compete with those who aren't.

 

[idaho]

How much athleticism is necessary in table tennis?

We have 60+ years old successfully competing in Olympics - Ni Xia Lian and we have pro players that look like competing in other sports like hammer throw (to be kind).

Is technique supreme? Does being fit matter? Can you be seriously overweight and compensate by using short pips or long pips?

From the fitness point, is table tennis closer to darts and bowling than athletics?


View attachment 42238

this is a very interesting topic . using long pips should help overweight players out from those inner table tactics . and i think overweight is just one of the un-fit type for tt and every tt veteran should have some fit issues more or less as tt is a not a symetrical sports but the fastest one..

 

[thisisit]

F=mxa

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Being overweight is a disadvantage, but the technical nature of the sport allows people to compete even at higher levels.
I believe it worls the other way around as well, good physical prowess makes up for a lack of tactical ability. You should be able to exploit the limitations of players in a bad shape, but many players can't do that.
It's the beauty of this sport, you have many viable routes to winning even up to a very high level. I must also add that the thousands of hours of practice require you to be good in cardio, overweight or not, they all spent enormous amounts of time at the table sweating and working. I am light and very fast on my feet, but my endurance currently is terrible. Fourth match in league I am completely exhausted and my performance drops a lot.

 

[staysmart]

Chris Doran is a walking oxymoron — he’s proof that physics is less a law and more a suggestion when you're that good... and that well-fed.

Chris has such magical, magical feel, so up to high level athleticism is extremely overrated if you have divine skills to compensate with. For us mere mortals, not so much.

Same goes for my fellow Finn, Otto Tennilä, to a bit lesser degree. Incredible talented with enviable feel, but he won't ever be asked to do a underwear commercial for Calvin Klein.

As I have seen in Dove commercials, they started to feature regular people so don't say never
Otto, with his backhand, is better suited for the Axe Effect. He's not chopping but opponents fell down nevertheless.

 

[the-don]

I think many countries would force you to be super fit just because you are representing them and wearing their shirt.
the same way they force players to be showing their fist and shouting all the time.
because deep down high level is a show, not really a sport anymore.

that's why 99% of the things you see in ittf matches you don't see regular people do in clubs.

it's almost like they are actors taught to act and appear in a certain way that makes it appealing and engaging on video.

and also the players... they know they are gonna be watched so they want to show the best version of themselves.
that's why they all look so fit and engaged in what they are doing.
they also want to look good for that instagram account they want to grow.
it's a whole lot more than just being optimal at playing table tennis

except the indians.
indians don't give a F.
they all use pips, get fat.....

 

[Matteones]

My favorite all time fat lazy supremely talented professional player:

Whilst it is undeniable that table tennis is a sport that can be won in many different ways, and that's usually why we love it, it is also undeniable that the same player with 30 kilos and many beers less would be a true top 10 player.
So being fit is a must if you want to become the best version you can be in table tennis. Just look at all stable top 10 players in the last 20 years and how incredibly fit they are.

 

[Tyce]

I think many countries would force you to be super fit just because you are representing them and wearing their shirt.
the same way they force players to be showing their fist and shouting all the time.
because deep down high level is a show, not really a sport anymore.

that's why 99% of the things you see in ittf matches you don't see regular people do in clubs.

it's almost like they are actors taught to act and appear in a certain way that makes it appealing and engaging on video.

and also the players... they know they are gonna be watched so they want to show the best version of themselves.
that's why they all look so fit and engaged in what they are doing.

except the indians.
indians don't give a F.
they all use pips, get fat.....

You're such a weird one

 

[Lando]

I think TT is more like heavyweight boxing. Sure, being fit helps, but it's not a requirement.

 

[Lazer]

Strange example, F1 drivers are without exception, extremely fit and constantly balancing strength with the weight of the muscle that comes with it...
Every kg of weight shaved off is a tenth or so off of the lap time.


I would argue that most athletes tossing extra weight around are also carrying a lot of muscle and endurance, from tossing all that extra weight around. Yeah it's difficult to pick up a ball when there's literally stuff in the way, so that's not quite a good benchmark of someone's general fitness.

That being said, of course being overweight makes it more difficult to compete with those who aren't.

I agree it was an off example, but in the old days Formula 1 drivers were usually a bit overweight. A better example today would be an archer….

Cheers
L-zr