Why Table Tennis is the Most Complicated Racquet Sport!

I always wanted to make a video on this topic and it’s finally here. If you disagree, let me know your points in the comments below. Thanks for watching!Do like and subscribe!

Clips from the following videos were used in the making of this video.

Photo by Josephine Gasser on Unsplash

[poojanaik]

This is so well put and crisply explained! PS: The basketball example really helped me to understand the concept you were explaining

[svhegde]

the way of presenting points appreciable..intermixing good videos at right time. TT requires
high speed reflex system ..mind body coordination in split seconds .

[czarny_baranie]

I think types of movements players make should also be taken into consideration. For example in badminton there are a lot of up and down movements, in squash there's a lot of reaching to the floor (hard to compare these two movement types in terms of difficulty), but in tennis there's a lot of court space to cover and running long distance and hitting is usually quite hard for beginners. Table tennis on the other hand allows you to cover most of the table by standing in a small area, which is easier for beginners. However once you get better table tennis requires precise small movements made in a split of a second to correct your position which are absolutely unique to this sport.

[Rakesh]

I love this video. Very good explanation. I did not know all these details but i felt that tt is a complicated sport in someways than other which u have mentioned.actually i wans trying to explain my friend about this. But he couldn't understand. So this video will help me to make my friend understand how tt is.

[achyutram]

Fantastic video! This topic is such a good one! I try so hard to explain it to my other racket sport friends.. it'll be so easy!

[kishorekumarsky]

Hi,
After watching the video, I thought several aspects were overlooked in the comparison.
I am considering that the discussion is about complexity (the number of parameters one needs to consider or the number of parameters that affect the game mechanics) and not difficulty (physical strength, stamina, power etc).

Badminton: There is spin involved in this game as well. The shuttle has a natural spin while it is travelling, but that is not the point of discussion. The question is: can you play in a certain way such that there is spin induced on the shuttle and the spin affects the path of the shuttle? The answer is YES. Spin shots exist in Badminton. However, spin is limited to only 2 degrees of freedom, and it also does not affect the game significantly. So, I agree that badminton is the least difficult of the sports in the discussion. Also, it is the fastest racquet sport where the shuttle travels at speeds up to 400+ KMPH. But the "speed shouldn't affect the complexity" is what I am assuming based on the discussion in the video. Correct me if I am wrong.

Squash: It is a bit difficult to compare mechanics-wise with others, but the overall argument that it is less complex than table tennis and tennis is agreeable.

Tennis and Table Tennis:
Tennis is equally complex if not more than Table Tennis. Hear me out.

1. In tennis, the change in trajectory due to spin BEFORE the ball bounces is way more significant than AFTER it bounces, as in table tennis. The concept of topspin/drive, slice/chop/backspin, and sidespin is the same in both sports.

2. If the assumption is that the net (strings) in the tennis racquet acts just like a trampoline, it is farther from the truth. The concept of friction very much exists in tennis. The strings slide over each other to produce spin on the ball. The tension in the strings, material choice of strings, and the spacing of the strings are some of the interdependent parameters that affect spin along with technique ofcourse.

3. "A surface is less complex than a net to control". Not just table tennis, consider the case of "pickleball". Would you agree if I say "the ball gets the same speed and spin irrespective of the location where the ball touches the hitting surface"? With an assumption that the answer is yes, that is not the case with tennis at all. If the ball doesn't contact the centre of the net, the ball behaves differently, and the difference is very large.

4. The magnitude of spin (8000 vs 3000) shouldn't matter as long as the effect is considerable because "speed shouldn't affect complexity". Imagine Veritasium has done the same experiment with a table tennis ball instead of a basketball. What would be the outcome? The table tennis ball will not travel as far as basketball did. It is because a larger diameter ball requires a lower spin to produce a high amount of Magnus force. Imagine how much the RPM (spin) on a table tennis ball should be to travel as far as the basketball did. Trust me it will be in 5 digits, and I am not kidding. I have attached a video link that shows the ball's drift(deviating from the straight line path) while in the air before it bounces. In fact, the amount of drift is in meters.


5. The elevated platform in table tennis is more of a "convenience" than a "feature". The platform had to be elevated so the game could be played standing. Imagine the same game on the floor. People would have to be sweeping to be able to play a shot. Around-the-net shots exist in tennis as well. Under the table is not possible in tennis as there is no table in tennis (duh!). But the mechanics are the same for both tennis and table tennis. Also, we wouldn't be calling net and edge clips and edge as a feature right? I have included links for some around-the-net shots and Magnus effect drifts in tennis below.

6. It is way more complex to select and tune a tennis racquet than a table tennis racquet because of the higher number of parameters. There are different string materials, the shape of the strings (yes, strings have shape), the texture of strings, the racquets' flexibility, balance, weight, head size (net), aerodynamic profile and so on. Everything has a major effect, and the number of parameters is more in tennis than tt. Even the grip(on which bevel of the 8 bevels one holds the racquet) has a major effect, and the grip is changed continuously based on the situation.

7. Additionally, Volly(the ability to hit the ball before it bounces) doesn't exist in table tennis. Imagine the complexity in the decision-making when you have a choice to go to the ball and hit before/after it bounces and imagine the complexity of the opponent's decision-making during such situations.

8. Biomechanics: It is much more complex to play tennis than table tennis (not due to running or court size). The number of joints and degree of movement (not the distance that needs to be run) is more in tennis. For example, the role of the wrist in the forehand (topspin). The joints go to locations which are physically impossible for a human to take them consciously while playing tennis.

9. All the types of serves which are available in table tennis are also available in tennis.

6. Average length of rallies in tennis and table tennis is almost similar. On average, up to 5 shots in TT and 4 in tennis.

Summary: Tennis is definitely more complicated than table tennis in my opinion. If not, it can never be placed below table tennis in terms of complexity.

I mostly play badminton, but I have played all 4 sports for some time now. (nothing to brag. Recreational, college level, no major achievements)

Always open to constructive discussion. Peace 🙂

[drupepong]

Here's a topic I've wanted to make a video on since I first made this channel.
I'll admit I am a little biased towards Table Tennis since I've played that the most out the 4 sports mentioned.
Do you think I missed out a point regarding a sport you play?
Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for watching :)

[XCSme]

One thing not mentioned is spin deception. In table tennis slightly misreading the spin usually leads to losing the point. Truls is a good example of how deception can win points even against top players.

[h.p.]

This is a great explanation! And I really agree! But I think the added complexity of table tennis is what makes it even more fun and beautiful to watch as well as play. In fact table tennis and road cycling are the only two sports I ever watch.

Also, I had this argument with a friend of mine on why table tennis isn't as popular as tennis, and the "cool factor" was brought up. IMO, I think table tennis, *especially in slow-mo* is THE coolest looking sport, hands down. TT has literal matrix-neo action going on. But what do you think? Does it really "not look as cool" next to tennis?

[shardulkhade]

Appreciate your effort in the video. However, my personal opinion is never compare one sport with the other.

To put things into perspective, tennis is majorly an OUTDOOR sport. That itself brings in lot of complications.

Fitness and energy levels during the match can determine your form and decision making in clutch moments. So the duration of a rally, dimensions of the court add to the complications. Rallies in squash go on and on so from the outside it looks less complicated, but the effort is huge

What we can address is how complicated a sport can be to LEARN for a beginner.

[Jure]

Table tennis is also complicate because of hiden spins specialy in serves .The ball can slightly change direction on second bounce ...
Players need to very good look the moment of contact the ball and racket and vrist of the oponent because the posibility of bad return wich oponent can finish the point or even mis whole table. Other sports need phisical efort more but in table tennis need more concetration on what oponent is doing because of closer distance of play and enorms variation of spins which players can produce with litlle vrist movements

[sunilbhandari]

Quite a few factors left unsaid
What about pickleball

[zuLess]

I think the dumbing down of sports for the spectators sake is a mistake. Spectators love to see things they dont understand initially, and somethimg the commentators can explain.

[lszujo]

it's not full stop.bad argument...tennis is the most complex racket sport.you need far better conditioning, you have bacically 3 totally different shot mechanics you have to learn out of which the serve is the most complex.besides that all those subshots/volley, return of serve, overhead which requires years to learn after learning the basics/then comes strategy and mental toughness-though I'd say you have to apply all those to other sports too.yet tennis is a high earner sport, played around the world on high level...