Does Height Make Table Tennis Difficult? (Unexpected Answer)

When it comes to sports in general, many personal features affect the performance and unique abilities that you might benefit or suffer from, and height is definitely one of them. Table tennis is no exception where certain metrics make things more optimal, but it’s skills that matter in the end.

In this article, I will teach you all about the connection between height and table tennis. I’ll also explain the best and worst scenarios, other physical things about table tennis, and a little bit about age as well. But, before I get ahead of myself, does height make table tennis difficult?

In general, tall players have a longer reach which is an advantage; however, they also need to bend more for tough strikes, which can be straining. In addition, shots on the tall player’s body are harder to receive because they need to adjust their optimal position more than a short player.

There are pros and cons to being a tall table tennis player, but there are more cons than pros in most cases. Most professional table tennis players aren’t tall, which is a clear indicator that it is harder to play table tennis when you are taller than the average, whatever that is.

It is easier for a short player to play closer to the ping pong table, whereas tall players fare better when they are further away. This alone gives an advantage to the short player because the one who is closer to the table has an advantage.

All in all, it really comes down to skills, and there are a ton of tall table tennis players that beat shorter ones. Also, the height should be considered to affect the game drastically, but people slightly taller than the average can play well.

However, height can make table tennis more difficult.

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Is it better to be tall or short for table tennis

Generally speaking, it is better to be short to get all the advantages of table tennis. However, short people have shorter reach but they are quicker, they need less time and distance to adjust their stance, they can play closer to the table, and it won’t be so straining to the knees and back.

How tall are table tennis players

It’s hard to determine how tall table tennis players usually are because we all are unique, and our heights are different. However, I gathered the best ranking 20 players from both men’s and women’s categories, and the average height of men are 1,77 m and women is 1,62 m. Finally, the average height of all players is 1,695m

Below you can find height by a player so check them out and find your favorite player!

Men Athlete & Height	Women Athlete & Height
1. Ovtcharov Dimitrij / 1,86 m	1. Chen Meng / 1,66m
2. Fan Zhendong / 1,73 m	2. Zhu Yuling / 1,61 m
3. Boll Timo / 1,81 m	3.Feng Tianwei / 1,64 m
4. Lin Gaoyuan / 1,75 m	4. Ishikawa Kasumi / 1,57 m
5. Xu Xin / 1,81 m	5. Ito Mima / 1,52 m
6. Niwa Koki / 1,62 m	6. Hirano Miu / 1,56 m
7. Ma Long / 1,75 m	7. Cheng I-Ching / 1,62 m
8. Wong Chun Ting  / 1,70 m	8. Wang Manyu / 1,76 m
9. Gauzy Simon / 1,82 m	9. Doo Hoi Kem / 1,66 m
10. Matsudaira Kenta  / 1,68 m	10. Chen Xingtong / 1,65 m
11. Harimoto Tomokaz / 1,78 m	11. Hayata Hina / 1,66 m
12. Freitas Marcos / 1,82 m	12. Lee Ho Ching / 1,60 m
13. Mizutani Jun / 1,72 m	13. Kato Miyu / 1,59 m
14. Lee Sangsu / 1,78 m	14. Li Jie / 1,65 m
15. Chuang Chih-Yuan / 1,69 m	15. Gu Yuting / –
16. Assar Omar / 1,96 m	16. Chen Szu-Yu / 1,63 m
17. Calderano Hugo / 1,82 m	17. Mori Sakura / 1,59 m
18. Filus Ruwen / 1,88 m	18. Suh Hyowon / 1,59 m
19. Oshima Yuya / 1,64 m	19. Sato Hitomi / 1,63 m
20. Aruna Quadri / 1,80 m	20. Pota Georgina / 1,7 m
Men’s Average Height: 1,77 m	Women’s Average Height: 1,62 m

What is the best age for table tennis

Age is a relative thing that considers everything in our lives and for some things, you are at your best at a certain point in your life. Before determining the best timeframe for table tennis, it’s vital to understand when it is the best time to start?

Generally, the best time to start table tennis is at the age of 5-7, depending on how advanced the child is at that point. We all have heard the sayings that when you start something at a very young age, you can adopt the required skills so much faster than when started as an adult.

Practically, a kid can start table tennis as soon as it’s able to hold a racket and understand and use quick reaction, coordination, and intellectual skills, which usually form at the age of 5-7.

Fast-forwarded to the best age to play table tennis is probably in person 20s. This is when people are often at their highest physique conditions, when the reaction times are the shortest, and when you can really do anything the best. Of course, it’s personal but generally speaking, the best age for table tennis is in your 20s.

Read also: 19 Advantages and Disadvantages of Table Tennis

Is table tennis physically demanding

Table tennis can be physically demanding, yet it can be quite easy as a sport as well. For example, if you were to play in a competitive game where you and your opponent takes things seriously, then table tennis would be extremely physical because you need to hit the ball every other second, have great core and foot strength, quick and explosive movement from side to side and front to back and more.

On the other hand, if you were to play table tennis as a recreational pass along, it wouldn’t require much arm, core, or leg strength, nor would it need explosive movement or fast reaction times.

Learn more: What Muscles Does Table Tennis Train (Full Guide)

Conclusion

If you aren’t unusually tall or short, it shouldn’t be difficult to play table tennis, at least from the height standpoint. As you could see in the men’s top 20 players, the height difference between Omar Assar (1,96 m), the tallest player in the rankings, and Koki Niwa (1,62 m), the shortest, is a whopping 34cm!