Top 5 Benefits of Playing Ping Pong
When was the last time you played ping pong or table tennis? You probably tried it back when you were still in school or when you were still an active member of a youth club. But if you’re looking for fun indoor sports ideas that you can enjoy with the family and when you have guests over, ping pong deserves a spot on your list.
We'll share some of its benefits with you to help you decide to invest in a ping pong table for the fam. We’re sure these will get you excited!
History of Ping Pong
But before we delve into the benefits of table tennis, let’s first look at its exciting history. Ping pong is a sport that two or four people can play. Using small rackets, the players will hit a lightweight ball over a ping pong table divided into two sides by a short net.
Because Chinese players often dominate ping pong tournaments, many people believe that it is of Asian origin. Actually, ping pong has British roots. According to historical accounts, after lawn tennis gained popularity among the British in the 1860s, they decided to take the game indoors. This gave birth to table tennis.
People from all walks of life can enjoy ping pong. It’s easy to learn, and it doesn’t need a huge space to set up.
5 Benefits of Playing Ping Pong
1. It’s a Fun Way to Stay Physically Healthy
Playing ping pong is good for your health. It keeps every part of your body on high alert and allows you to move all of your muscles. Here are some specific health benefits of table tennis:
Improves Hand-Eye Coordination
Ping pong is a fast-paced sport. The ball goes back and forth as fast as the blink of an eye, especially when both players are competitive. Players must focus and keep their eyes on the ball while their playing hand is ready to pounce when the ball enters their court.
Burns Calories
The ping pong table is around 2.7m x 1.5m, but the sport will still sometimes force you to run. And even if you don’t run, the game will still make you sweat. A person weighing 150 lbs can burn about 272 calories by playing table tennis for an hour. This entertaining and addictive sport is a fun and easy way to burn calories!
Easy on the Joints
Do you have a joint or back problem that’s keeping you from exercising or playing sports? Table tennis is the answer! It can enhance core, leg, and arm strength while being kind to your joints.
2. It Potentially Improves Mental Acuity and Brain Health
Ping pong keeps you on your toes. You have to be alert while analyzing the game and your opponent’s moves. To score a point, you need to be a step ahead strategy-wise. Ping pong requires you to be both physically and mentally flexible.
Furthermore, ping pong is being studied to help slow down dementia. A previous study showed that Alzheimer’s patients who engage in ping pong and other engaging activities had improved long-term memory, reduced need to medicate, and decreased brain deterioration.
3. It’s a Social Sport
You can’t play ping pong by yourself. Up to four people can play every game, making it a great way to bond with family and friends. If you're feeling extra competitive, you can organize a tournament among family and friends and develop camaraderie and sportsmanship in the process. Ping pong has been a great activity companies adopted to use in offices as team building exercises.
4. It’s a Game for Everyone
At 12 years old, Syrian Hend Zaza became the youngest table tennis player to compete in the Olympics. Technically, children under 12 can play the sport—as long as they’re tall enough to see what’s happening on the table. Meanwhile, at close to 98 years old, Australian Dorothy de Low became the oldest player to compete in an international table tennis competition. These players show that ping pong is for everybody.
5. Exercise Helps with Anxiety
When anxiety starts to build up a good game of ping pong could help lower stress levels. Mentioned on Harvard Medical School "People could better manage the anxiety and stress of the daily news if they were exercising," Dr. Frates says. "Exercise was a great way to get away from the drama of the moment, and it still is."
Enjoy Ping Pong With the Best Equipment
Playing ping pong means you get to experience the benefits mentioned above. On top of helping you maintain physical and mental health, it’s also a good bonding and competitive activity to enjoy with friends and family members of any age. You can learn how to play it by looking at other people enjoying the game. If you train hard enough, you might even be able to play it competitively!
Moreover, you can play ping pong anytime. Since it’s an indoor sport, you don’t have to worry about the weather. Additionally, it’s not a contact sport, so injuries are less likely to happen.
To guarantee that you have the best time playing ping pong, you need to get the best equipment designed to survive hundreds of rounds. Epic Game Tables offers high-quality ping pong tables. We believe that quality is mandatory, not a luxury. For this reason, we provide top-notch tables at affordable prices.
We have ping pong tables perfect for beginners and experts. These come in different types and sizes, allowing you to choose the best one for your space.
Conclusion
In conclusion, what are you waiting on? Where will you play ping pong first with your new table?
