Is table tennis THE hardest sport to go professional in?

[Grumms]

true china is massive, but the whole world plays football. Arguments like, it´s the most technical/hardest sport are not important. Kids can learn every sport if they train early enough. The bigger the sport the harder it is. Football biggest sport of the world = hardest to go pro in.

You forget one parameter. Even if there are a lot of contestants, there are a lot of winners. In France alone, you make a living of football until 4th division at least. It's thousands of players. In England, it's even much more.

I don't know the ratio, so I can't tell in which sport there are the biggest % of players that can make a living. I'm pretty sure the ratio is very low in running.

 

[Sp8e00]

true china is massive, but the whole world plays football. Arguments like, it´s the most technical/hardest sport are not important. Kids can learn every sport if they train early enough. The bigger the sport the harder it is. Football biggest sport of the world = hardest to go pro in.

Not really because there is levels to football. You can make it professional playing in national
League which is the 5th league of England whereas in table tennis, your either the best or no one at all

 

[passifid]

We really need to all be having the same conversation.

Yes you have to be a higher quality of athlete to be a pro footballer in the UK. However if you are it's easier as there is a whole industry of attending junior games and finding talented amateurs so if you shine you will be noticed absolutely

Table tennis has the opposite issues I think in the UK it's probably one of the easier sports for talent to get into however it doesn't have good coaching in the UK for that level and there is no academy or scouting industry so you see players like Anna hursey actually train a large amount of time in china.

Different types of difficulty. Like proper polo, very easy if you want to go pro but it's the having millions in disposable income for the top horses that's hard to get at the outset

 

[NDH]

OK, so I think your phrasing of the question is slightly skewed.

Essentially, what you are saying is:

"Table Tennis is one of the hardest sports to go professional in due to the prize money, limited sponsorship and general lack of funds across events".

And in that instance, yes, I'd agree with you.

The same can said for athletics, squash, badminton, gymnastics and many other sports.

 

[Singshasha]

OK, so I think your phrasing of the question is slightly skewed.

He did say make a career out of table tennis
Without:
- a side job
- coaching
- video creator
- etc

Many people suggested it is possible to make it a career by:
- coaching
- administration
- running events

I don’t see how his phasing of the question is wrong, just rather, I’m not sure how people are reading it, because many have read it incorrectly starting from page 2.

It’s a straight forward question, x players -> how many can live off it.
If the ratio is small, then is it considered the smallest (hardest) to go professional (earning money from playing the sport)?

We all know the base number of players is a huge number, and if 200 mens in Germany can be pros, how many in France, how many in the whole of Europe.
Many national champions cannot live off playing table tennis, so the question is around making it a career, not just a sport

 

[NDH]

I don’t see how his phasing of the question is wrong, just rather, I’m not sure how people are reading it, because many have read it incorrectly starting from page 2.

In general, making a living out of table tennis would be what I categorise as professional

I take you point about the original post - But I was replying to the above part on page 2.

Because plenty of coaches and organisers make a living from Table Tennis.

 

[passifid]

I wouldn't consider being a professional coach as going pro at table tennis more an adjacent job, I think opening ancillary avenues makes it a bit misleading.
if coaches count do sports influencers?
what about videographers and photographers who also play?
What about tournament directors?
Some guy who works at nittaku?
The IT man who works at SPORT80 on behalf of table tennis england?
A referee?

Where do we draw the line at being a professional table tennis player? as millions live off the football sports economy but I wouldn't say a referee is a professional footballer nor is the inventor of hawkeye and definately not the owner of a sports memorabilia store

 

[NDH]

I wouldn't consider being a professional coach as going pro at table tennis more an adjacent job

Oh, I agree.

If we are talking about "Professional Table Tennis Player" great.

I was just highlighting the previous explanation and discussion seems to be mixed between "Player" and "Can make a living from the sport of Table tennis".

As a player, it really just boils down to lack of money at the top end.

Not competition, not exclusivity, not a barrier to entry - It's just a massive disparity between the levels of excellence at the top, and the money on offer.

 

[Sp8e00]

Oh, I agree.

If we are talking about "Professional Table Tennis Player" great.

I was just highlighting the previous explanation and discussion seems to be mixed between "Player" and "Can make a living from the sport of Table tennis".

As a player, it really just boils down to lack of money at the top end.

Not competition, not exclusivity, not a barrier to entry - It's just a massive disparity between the levels of excellence at the top, and the money on offer.

The rate of input to output that you receive is not great and fair in my opinion.

 

[Sp8e00]

I wouldn't consider being a professional coach as going pro at table tennis more an adjacent job, I think opening ancillary avenues makes it a bit misleading.
if coaches count do sports influencers?
what about videographers and photographers who also play?
What about tournament directors?
Some guy who works at nittaku?
The IT man who works at SPORT80 on behalf of table tennis england?
A referee?

Where do we draw the line at being a professional table tennis player? as millions live off the football sports economy but I wouldn't say a referee is a professional footballer nor is the inventor of hawkeye and definately not the owner of a sports memorabilia store

For me a professional in something is someone who can make a living solely off of themselves, sponsorships and stuff count but off of your own career is the major guideline

 

[Grumms]

For me a professional in something is someone who can make a living solely off of themselves, sponsorships and stuff count but off of your own career is the major guideline

At least 90% of the money you earn as a pro sport player is from sponsors. Even for the most attented sport, ticketing is nothing compared to sponsors/advertisement.

 

[latej]

I'm off topic. How hard is the sport to go professional I'd say it's approx. the same, because the "curve" I believe is the same, or the "gap" between profis, those who are really really good at it, and amateurs, I think it behaves the same.

But what sucks is why TT is not played more often. I'd argue it is "hard to enter" sport, more than others. First hours are crazy, of course you don't that, which is good. Then if you are adult, you get lost in gear, because the amount of choices feels like 100x time more than in other sports, and no chance to find out or verify what is a bad choice, unless of course you believe your trainer.

How to break the spell???

 

[Singshasha]

For me a professional in something is someone who can make a living solely off of themselves, sponsorships and stuff count but off of your own career is the major guideline

I think the only person qualified to answer your question or get very closed to a solid answer is no longer on this forum anymore

 

[barusu]

I think the only person qualified to answer your question or get very closed to a solid answer is no longer on this forum anymore

I kinda have a feeling you are him in disguise 😁✌️