When Should Kids Start Sparring? A Coach's Guide to Youth Training
This is a brand-new, technique-focused column in a Q&A format. The mysterious experts answering questions are two former national team members who prefer to remain anonymous. They just want a quiet life and a good night’s sleep — no fame needed.
Sharing these technical insights feels genuinely valuable, and it’s a nice complement to the usual content. That’s how this “Reaching the Peak” column came to be.
Q: When a child is learning, at what point can they start practicing fixed-point speed drills and adding ball quality?
There’s no strict rule. In general, once they have good consistency, good stability, can keep up with the ball physically, can handle forehand two-point and backhand three-point drills, push-block, side-step, and crossover moves, and the transition between forehand and backhand is solid — then fixed-point speed drills can begin.
It depends on the direction you want to take the child. If the goal is amateur, becoming a strong recreational player, adding ball quality isn’t a problem. But if the aim is professional, power training is still way too early. Within four years of starting professional training, don’t think about power. Meaning if a child starts at five, before the age of nine, don’t think about it.
Why shouldn’t children develop power too early? Because if they do, they’ll never be able to produce a really spinny loop later. First, you have to build up the speed of the forearm snap. Only when you can achieve fast forearm acceleration should you think about adding power training. If a child starts using power before learning proper stroke mechanics, it’s usually because someone wants results quickly, with no thought for the child’s long-term development.
Q: What age is best to start learning table tennis? And is it okay to start match play early?
Around age four or five, the focus should be on building interest. By six, formal training is appropriate.
Once they’ve learned to push, drive, and loop, they can start match play. Without real matches, interest fades. Competition is also a form of motivation.
Q: Liu Shiwen has such incredible anticipation and reads the game so well — shouldn’t she be hitting with more power?
Her style is different. She’s all about staying close to the table and keeping high speed. Ordinary players typically have about three-quarters of the swing in a relaxed, loose phase and only about one-quarter in active power. Liu Shiwen can get down to roughly one-sixth in active power — she prioritizes speed, angles, and continuous stroke rhythm over raw force.