Should absolute beginners take lessons or just play?

[Lando]

I say it depends on the club you're in. If there are good players, many of them will help you out on the basics if you ask.
At least in my club, the better players have no issues helping out the new players.

 

[pingpongdelay]

Thank you all so much for your responses!

 

[Brs]

If you become more serious about table tennis later then you will wish you had taken lessons at the very start. Tony and others said why - habits are easier to make than to break.

OTOH, if you never get hooked on TT, or quit entirely, you will have saved money by skipping lessons.