I never played table tennis as a kid, or even as a young adult. I did not know that sport, at all.
I got a kid, and when he was five we were living near a soccer club, and a table tennis club. I did not want him to play soccer, because the soccer club was too much on the 'dark' side ( arrogant, potty mouth even at a very young age), so he ended up at the 'baby ping' training session.
He liked it and continued to the kid session the years after, until the covid came. For me it was still a dumb "playing with a little ball" sport, but as long as the kid did some physical activity and enjoyed it, it was great.
During the covid we moved to the countryside, and to a little local club, with only a few kids playing. Mine was the only one serious, and after one year the coach recommended him starting individual local league, as a test. Surprisingly, he did not end up being the last, and he enjoyed it. Because I could see how competitive the ping is, and that competition is a healthy way of helping a kid growing up and getting mentally stronger, I paid for individual training sessions, and I started to drive the kid and his coach at multiple events (individual and adult team tournaments).
And slowly, I discovered that table tennis is not a dumb little white ball sport, but there is tactics, strategy, it makes you move a lot and it's fun. And I need to work-out for my health (weight management, massive arthritis).
So I started to play last September. It's complicated because, I'm a total beginner, with no special "gift" ( talent, natural way of playing), and in addition I'm a woman. I'm struggling finding training partners. The only thing I have, I'm stubborn, so I know I will improve.
Once a week, I pay a private session with a coach. And since once I got too frustrated, went to the club for nothing (nobody wanting to train with me), I bought a meta quest with ElevenVR, and it's actually great to train gesture when you are a beginner. Now I can do short pushes!
