Fundamental Skills of Sports - Table Tennis
Class 8 · Physical Education and Well Being
4 ideas in Class 8 Physical Education and Well Being, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Grips and Tapping
Part of: Fastest racquet game
Grip starts every skill: shakehand shakes the slant racquet with parallel thumb-index while penhold holds like a pen in Chinese or Japnese style. Loose grips rotate freely, and tapping bounces balls on forehand then backhand sides.
Why it matters. Grips steer every stroke. Loose holds quicken wrists for spins and drives.
Try it in two minutes
- Shake hands with the racquet handle.
- Hold it like a pen the other way.
- Bounce a ball 10 times each side.
Try at home. Bounce a ball alternately on both racquet sides.
Footwork and Stance
Part of: Fastest racquet game
Ready stance plants shoulder-wide feet, bent knees and forward lean on toe balls. Side steps push and glide, forward steps attack low, and every shot resets to ready.
Why it matters. Feet deliver strokes. Fast placement plus balance returns balls others miss.
Try it in two minutes
- Stand ready: wide feet, bent knees, lean ahead.
- Shuffle sideways 3 steps each way.
- Reset to ready after every swing.
Try at home. Shuffle to called directions without losing balance.
Serves
Part of: Fastest racquet game
Legal serves rest on open palms, toss 16 cm near-vertical, strike falling balls onto own side first, and follow through. Topspin serves spin forward to dip fast at corners.
Why it matters. Serves open every point. Legal tosses plus spin pressure receivers from ball one.
Try it in two minutes
- Palm the ball flat and still.
- Toss 16 cm straight up.
- Strike down onto your side first.
Try at home. Toss a ball 16 cm and catch it 10 times.
Attacking Strokes
Part of: Fastest racquet game
Forehand and backhand drives attack with speed and spin, pushes float short low balls back with backspin, and high tosses invite the mighty smash. Table tennis plays solo and in pairs.
Why it matters. Stroke choice wins rallies. Attack, control and power each answer different balls.
Try it in two minutes
- Drive 10 balls forehand cross-court.
- Push 10 balls short with backspin.
- Smash 5 high tosses.
Try at home. Rally drives against a wall 20 times.
What your child will practise
- Attacking Strokes: Candy Quest (Flip and Match)
- Attacking Strokes: Jungle Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Footwork and Stance: Explorer'S Map Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Grips and Tapping: Mission Control Quest (Match It Up)
- Serves: Candy Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Quiz: Attacking Strokes (8 questions)
- Quiz: Footwork and Stance (8 questions)
- Quiz: Grips and Tapping (8 questions)
- Quiz: Serves (8 questions)