How do you fit table tennis around a demanding job?

[ALI AWAN]

Hi all,

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure whether to post this but here goes!

I'm a lorry driver by trade, so most of my week is spent behind the wheel going from one end of the country to the other. It's a decent living but it doesn't half make it difficult to keep up with hobbies and table tennis is the one thing I really don't want to let go of.

The problem is finding any sort of routine. Some weeks I might get a session in, other weeks I don't get anywhere near a table. I'm away from home a lot, I'm tired when I do get back, and by the time I've sorted everything else out the motivation has taken a hit too.

I know I'm not going to be training like a professional anytime soon, but I'd love to at least keep my game ticking over and not feel like I'm starting from scratch every time I do play.

Has anyone else juggled a job like this with table tennis? How do you manage it whether that's finding clubs on the road, keeping sharp without a table, or just staying motivated through a patchy schedule?

Would really appreciate any thoughts. Cheers!

 

[Tyce]

I don't have the same level of unpredictability, but wife and kids do get the better of TT from time to time.
The BEST thing for my game is playing at a club that is open almost every weeknight. So if Monday doesn't fit, I can go Tuesday, etc. etc. and this way I can manage 2 weeknights most weeks even if they're not always the same nights.

On the road I guess your options are really limited. Yes, you could bring your bat and do some simple exercises but in all honesty I don't think it's good to have your bat in the car and potentially exposed to long time heat or even direct sunlight. So if you do, make sure it's protected well. Keeping in touch even with some keepy-uppies, doing them against a wall or whatever, will keep you sharp at least on a basic level. You could maybe do some serve practice on a bed depending on the room you have in your sleeping cabin. Just focusing on serve contact and the spin it creates.

 

[Conehead]

I can only encourage you to find time to play between the tough and irregular schedules that you have.
If you're exhausted after work, play table tennis - it'll benefit your mind, soul and body.

 

[Yuomay]

You could try and contact a few local clubs to have a knock. If you play and control à Viscaria im pretty sure there’s plenty of people who’d love to spar every now and then.

 

[Lula]

I work with lifestyle habits a lot. I would say that you have to do as good as you can. Try to plan so the training have as little friction as possible. Better to plan to train only a short while so you start to do something. Maybe just good enough to go to a tabletennis hall and chat. Preparations aswell, look up tabletennis clubs, contact them beforehand, try to schedule breaks, powersleeps, food and have the bag ready to go.
Or maybe plan to practice only when you are at home and not working. Same thing there, plan before hand with partner, preparations, schedule a time and try to just do little. Maybe easier to get a table and robot at home?
Shadowplay is not the same but will probably still help you develop. Same with looking at tabletennis and instructional videos.
Strength training and jogging is also probably much easier to do and can also make you better at tabletennis.

Possible to change work schedule or change job? More teamwork with partner? So you have more time when you are off work.

I would say that everyone have obstacles for training. Only thing you can do is try to find a plan and strategies that work for you.

You got this! And if not, you are still doing the best you can.
Good luck

 

[ShakehandJpenCpenEnjoyer]

VR might be an answer for you. Eleven table tennis game is also the sponsor of TTD.

 

[ajtatosmano2]

Shadow practice can be very useful, just record yourself to correct the movements.

 

[blahness]

There's a lot of footwork exercises you can do anywhere. Split step, lunge, etc...

 

[NetProphet]

Hi all,

I'll be honest, I wasn't sure whether to post this but here goes!

I'm a lorry driver by trade, so most of my week is spent behind the wheel going from one end of the country to the other. It's a decent living but it doesn't half make it difficult to keep up with hobbies and table tennis is the one thing I really don't want to let go of.

The problem is finding any sort of routine. Some weeks I might get a session in, other weeks I don't get anywhere near a table. I'm away from home a lot, I'm tired when I do get back, and by the time I've sorted everything else out the motivation has taken a hit too.

I know I'm not going to be training like a professional anytime soon, but I'd love to at least keep my game ticking over and not feel like I'm starting from scratch every time I do play.

Has anyone else juggled a job like this with table tennis? How do you manage it whether that's finding clubs on the road, keeping sharp without a table, or just staying motivated through a patchy schedule?

Would really appreciate any thoughts. Cheers!

I've used my TT network to find as many places possible for me to play.
My own club does Monday and Wednesday evening.
Two other clubs also do Monday evenings, so in case I can't make it to my own one I can usually drop in to one of them.
Another club does Thursday evening and there's a Thursday morning group in another place that I try to make from time to time.
Ina around all of this I try to do coaching nights as well. We did Friday evenings for 3 months and for another period there were some Tuesday evening coaching sessions.
During the summer (with our club closed) we will do regular Wednesday coaching.
With options like this I usually manage 2 sessions a week, sometimes 3.
I think with your unpredictable schedule you probably need to cast your net to have as many options as possible.

 

[lightspin]

Has anyone else juggled a job like this with table tennis? How do you manage it whether that's finding clubs on the road, keeping sharp without a table, or just staying motivated through a patchy schedule?

Would really appreciate any thoughts. Cheers!

It is really hard to just "show up" to a club and hope you find someone there to play with that is around your level or will be fun for you to play. You might not even be able to play when the club has open hours. What I advise people to do is to network as much as possible and take people's phone numbers or e-mail addresses that way you can contact them directly when you have free time. The second step is to try to find random public tables that are open during the day and night. That way you do not have to rely on a formal club to be open at the time you also have free time.

Good luck!