By Dom Welburn
Sports have always held a special place in my heart, and among the countless sports I have played, table tennis stands out to me as one of the best. This fast-paced game offers not just fun, but also an easy way to stay active. Imagine this: a sport with a small ball flying across a 9-foot table at speeds exceeding 90mph, making for such an exciting challenge to keep up and remain in control in the rally. While, engaging in this sport, at any level, can be both exhaustive and yet incredibly stimulating for our bodies.
Yet, table tennis is more than just a test of physical agility; it’s a true mental workout. The strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and hand-eye coordination involved in the game can sharpen the mind and keep it agile. As Dr. Daniel Amen puts it, table tennis is “the world’s best brain sport and the aerobic chess.” Why? Because it’s a full-body workout for your brain – a mental and physical dance all at once!
Beyond some of the physical and mental benefits, table tennis serves as an incredible stress reliever. The rhythmic back-and-forth motion, coupled with the intense focus and concentration required to keep up with the game, provides a natural means to alleviate stress. Therefore, contributing to our overall well-being, keeping us healthier and happier.
This is also a wonderful social sport that is inclusive for all ages. It can help foster new friendships and creates lasting memories. The friendly competition results in thrilling rallies but also effortless fun, bringing people together to enjoy an element of healthy competition and camaraderie.
There are many benefits for taking part in Table tennis, such as:
🏓 Improved mood
🏓 Reduced stress, anxiety and depression
🏓 Improved confidence and self esteem
🏓 Improve mental wellbeing
🏓 Improve cognitive function
🏓 Lower blood pressure
🏓 Develop social skills
(Why not try table tennis on World Mental Health day? – Table Tennis England)
Also, here’s a few fun facts about table tennis:
🏓 A professional player can put a spin of 9,000rpm on the ball making it almost impossible to return.
🏓 There are 1600 variations of rubbers that produce different adjustments to spin on impact.
🏓 Table tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world with 227 associations and producing staggering viewership of 552.3 million watching the 2016 Rio Olympic table tennis events.
I hope this inspires some of you to get involved in, what I think is one of the best sports. If you do have a table, I would love to hear from you and about some of your stories using it? I was inspired by a video from Table tennis England, called Gordon’s story which is a great watch and can be found here (World Mental Health Day – Gordon’s story with table tennis – YouTube)
Alternatively, if there is sport you feel passionately about, why not create a blog about it? I would love to hear your suggestions for other sporting activities to try out.
I hope to hear from you and catch you on the table in the future 😊
Thanks for reading! Dom.