The Top Benefits of Playing Table Tennis!

Being active and healthy is something we all need to do. For kids, it’s almost second nature to them when they’re outside, but for adults and seniors, high-intensity fitness exercises are a hard ask. If this applies to you, maybe it’s time to let table tennis become your sport of choice. Also known as ping pong, the game is played in more than 200 countries worldwide, and the reduced movement required makes it an ideal recreational sport for all ages and abilities.

teenagers playing table tennis in garden

8 Health Benefits of Playing Table Tennis

Not just a tremendously fun and action-packed game, table tennis also comes with numerous health and social benefits. Below are the top 8 benefits of playing ping pong:

  1. Improves hand-eye coordination – Played out on a miniature tennis court, table tennis helps stimulate mental alertness, concentration and tactical strategy, making it the perfect game for both young and old to sharpen reflexes.
  2. Enhances mental acuteness – A key element of table tennis is the speed, spin and placement of the ball. Research has found that regular players of table tennis are highly skilled in both creating and solving puzzles. After all, table tennis is as much a game of quick-thinking strategy as it is a sport.
  3. Improves reflexes – The fast-paced, short-distance nature of table tennis, helps improve muscle movements.
  4. Great for the joints – Unlike many physical exercises, table tennis does not put too much pressure on your joints and can actually improve leg, arm and core strength. It doesn’t matter what fitness form you are in - a game of table tennis can be enjoyed even if you’ve had knee surgery.
  5. Good for weight loss – Even a 10-minute game of table tennis can do wonders for your fitness. A 10-stone person can burn around 272 calories by playing table tennis for one hour. Considering how addictive the game is, this won’t be difficult - you will likely go over and play it for hours
  6. Improves balance – Staying balanced and being able to quickly change directions are key to being successful in a ping pong rally. With regular play, you’ll see your balance and stability improve.
  7. Stress relief - Nothing relieves stress quite like smacking a ball right past your opponent and basking in the glory. Table tennis releases endorphins, which are known to fill in that stress with positive chemicals.
  8. Brain activity - With all these benefits it’s no wonder that table tennis has been dubbed “the world’s best brain sport” by America’s best-known psychiatrist, Dr Daniel Amen.

Why Table Tennis is a Great Sport for the Garden

  • Sociable – With opponents being so close together, table tennis is naturally quite a sociable game. Buying a table tennis table for your home will allow siblings and parents to spend more quality time together whilst playing.
  • Able to be played solo - If you can’t find a partner but still want to play, you absolutely can. Our table tennis tables fold up on one side so that you can challenge yourself to keep a rally on the wall.
  • Accessible to all ages - It bears repeating: people of every generation and ability set can enjoy table tennis. Whether you're a child, an adult or a senior, the game can be adapted to suit varying skill levels, making it a lifelong activity that promotes physical and social engagement.

Fun Facts About Table Tennis

  • Table tennis was invented in Victorian England, as a parlour game played by the upper class.
  • Table tennis is one of the most popular indoor sports in the world. It is estimated that 300 million people, worldwide play ping pong.
  • In professional table tennis volleys, the ball can reach speeds as high as 90mph.
  • Table tennis is the national sport of China.
  • Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988.
  • Chinese player Ma Long is the most successful in the discipline, netting no less than five gold medals at the Olympics since 2012.
  • The longest competitive table tennis match in recorded history was won by Luxembourgish player Ni Xialian at the 2017 Austrian Open, in a match that lasted 1 hour, 32 minutes and 44 seconds. You won’t have to play this long to feel the health benefits!

Start Playing Table Tennis with Kettler

Now that you’re convinced to take on this wonderfully simple sport, check out our range of professional-grade table tennis tables and start playing for yourself. At Kettler, we’ve been dedicated to helping our customers enjoy the best recreational experiences for the best of times since the 1960s, and our team is here to assist you in finding the perfect table for your home or garden. If you need help choosing the right table tennis then head over to our table tennis buying guide for more information. If you have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to contact us today.

young couple playing table tennis indoors