Ping-Pong Tips

Rockstar Games presents Table Tennis offers an intuitive but highly detailed representation of the high-speed game of ping-pong. Though simple in structure, there's lots of strategy behind the dazzling graphics of this great-looking game. These tips will put you on your way to building a foundation for your overall strategy as you progress through your Table Tennis career.

Cloth physics look mighty fine.

Understanding Spin
Using the spin on the ball to your advantage is the most important tactical foundation you need. The use and recognition of spin is the core gameplay mechanic that influences all shot selection.

Think two or three shots ahead instead
of merely reacting to the current one.

• Read the colors: Each style of spin is color-coded. When you first begin play, make instant recognition of the spin type your top priority. Once you can stop looking for the color and simply recognize it intuitively, you're much closer to mastering the pace of the game.
• Counterhit: Once you recognize the spin heading your way, you need to counterhit with opposite spin whenever possible. This doesn't mean add backspin to a topspin shot, though. In fact, it means the opposite. After all, your opponent's topspin is your backspin, so if you cut under a ball with heavy topspin, it will only kill the pace of the ball and likely put into the net. Match your opponent topspin with your own, their slice with yours, and so on.

If looks could add spin …

Attack!
This isn't tennis. Playing defensively should be a tactic used as a necessity, not an overall gameplan. Each shot should, if not designed specifically as a winner, be focused on driving your opponent back or catching them by surprise. Similarly, if you find yourself backed up, move forward at the first possible opportunity. The farther you are from the table, the more time your opponent has to put power and angle on their next shot.

Character Strengths
Table Tennis is filled with very few jack-of-all-trades, as each character boasts their own unique style and abilities. Once you figure out how you like to play (heavy power, lightning speed, nasty spin, uber-server), find a character that fits your mold and stick with them, and only them. Eventually, you may feel comfortable enough to switch styles and characters, but initially, it will only confuse your play by switching up.

Two Moves Ahead
Table Tennis is a game of setups. Crack the ball with slice after slice, driving your opponent to the edge of the table, only to cut the ball with a drop shot with a hook and win the point. Each shot should have a purpose to either be a winning shot or set one up. Think two or three shots ahead instead of merely reacting to the current one, and succeed not with your quick reflexes, but with planning.

Put your hips into it!

Centered
The purpose of most of your opponent's shots is to unbalance you, to drive you backward or to one side of the table. Try to center your character in the middle of the table after each shot. You only have a split second, but that one sidestep back to center can save you many points.

Focus Shots
Long rallies, successful shots, and ace serves boost your focus meter in the upper right corner. Naturally, as your meter increases and changes color, your shots become faster, more accurate, and use more wicked spin.

However, you can also use the right shoulder button to fire a single focus shot to put a point away. Use these only when you've got your opponent set up properly. Moreover, don't forget you can counterpunch a focus shot with one of your own. If you see one coming, hit your right shoulder button and counter their focus shot. Manage this and gain an immediate advantage.

Rumble Awareness
When lining up the direction and angle of your shot with the left analog stick, you may feel the controller rumbling. This clues you in on how close you are to having your shot drop off the table. A light rumble is a good thing, meaning the shot will hit the edge of the table. A heavy rumbling means you've gone too far. It's more art than science, but spend some time focusing on the power of the rumble to find that fine line between a perfect shot and a lost point.

Article by Alex McLain