TABLE TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18954, 27 February 1925, Page 13

TABLE TENNIS.

" Ping pong" as a game worthy of serious consideration was killed by its name. Reincarnated as " table tennis," it is flourishing under tho Table Tennis Association, founded in 1922. The association now controls thousands of clubs — there are over three hundred in London alone—with the All England T.T.G. A3 tho largest, says a writer in an exchange. Although there are no women's clubs, none at least known to the association, the game appeals strongly to women. They form from 20 to 40 per cent, of " mixed " club members, and of the thousand and moro competitors at the last championships considerably over 300 were women. The championships start in January, the closing date being New Year's Eve, and extends into March or even April, when the survivors of eliminating competitions throughout the country meet/ in London. The woman champion, for the second successive time, is Miss K. Berry. First-class table tennis is a revelation to those who have not seen it. Save that there is no volleying, there is a great variety of strokes, ranging from the spectacular " smash " to the less showy but highly-effective " lob." Table tennis is splendid for office workers, providing, as it does, healthful exercise in a short space of time. Both young and middle-aged persons can play it. There are many local associations and leagues, providing cups wd value prr/.es, ail over the country, the chief playing centres outside London, being Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Eastbourne, Grimsby and Sunderland. Asked for some hints to beginners. Miss Bcrrv said there were many ways of holding the racquet. Some players hold :t like a pen, others as for lawn tennis. Some dangle it between the fingers; others, again, clutch it, firmly. The beginner may please herself, provided the grip is comfortable and allows perfect freedom of wrist movement. On tho whole, play is chiefly backhanded, though Mrs, McCosh, the Scottish lady champion, makes great use of tho forehand drive. In any case the player/ should aim at keeping the ball low, so that it will not bomj.ee high enough to offer the opponent an opening for a smash. For the rest, Miss Berry said that develop meet was mainly a matter of practice and playing against better opponents. In, no game is it'more essential to keep the! eye on the ball. Between players of squal stroke capacity j the issue is usually decided by the superior i "placing," the gensrsJ tactical object being to farce the opponent to one side j of the table. j