Pingpong club offers lessons for all ages
Developing new players is the goal of Willamette Table Tennis Club
Alvin Deng of South Salem practices table tennis Monday nights at the Willamette Table Tennis Club. Alvin, 11, attends Howard Street Charter School. / DEE MOORE | Special to the Statesman Journal
You can hear the sound of balls slamming against paddles and then down on to tables and the rugged pant of players from outside the door of the warehouse at 1960 Oak St. SE where the Willamette Table Tennis Club meets.
This isn't your evening of recreational pingpong. This is competitive table tennis, the sport.
In the unobtrusive facility tucked away in South Salem, the club offers lessons to one and all. Balls and paddles are provided on loan. The best part is that the lessons are free. All a person has to do is show up ready to learn. Lessons start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. every Monday night.
Scott Lipscomb of South Salem teaches the lessons.
"I run the lessons, the leagues and things like that," he said. "I'm giving group lessons for beginners and immediate players."
This includes basic strokes, stances and how to hit the ball. The lessons are pretty relaxed. A person can attend one session, miss the next week and then return the following one, picking up where he left off.
"We are trying to develop new players," Lipscomb said.
Although the game is often called pingpong by those who play it for fun, serious competitors refer to the sport as table tennis.
The club has a family friendly atmosphere.
"We encourage it," Lipscomb said.
Though most of the people who show up for lessons are adults between the ages of 20 and 30, often children will come, too. Lipscomb frequently sees fathers with their sons, but there are mothers who come with children as well.
He especially enjoys teaching the children. According to him, the youngsters are the easiest to teach.
"They are the ones who soak it all in," he said. "They learn so quickly."
Developing new talent at an early age can lead to a lifetime pursuit of the sport. Lipscomb is a perfect example. He received his first paddle when he was 11 years old. It was a gift from an older cousin who lived in Michigan. That led to lessons and competition. Now a grown man with grown sons, he teaches others the sport he loves.
After taking a break that lasted a few years, Lipscomb returned to the sport because his health was failing and he realized he needed exercise. He's been going full throttle ever since. He now plays at least 10 hours a week. He has a table at home where he and his wife play after she gets home from work.
The club has nine tables. There is also a TV with videotapes of professional players available to watch.
The interior of the playing area has lots of overhead space; it is large enough for players to move about without worrying about bumping into other players.
Most times the club will see as many as 24 people turn out for the lessons or for an evening of table tennis. The facilities are more than large enough to accommodate even a crowd that large.
The organization has hosted state tournaments for the past few years, said Lipscomb, who recently brought home a medal.
They have provided some first class training camps, too. Stellan Bengtsson, the 1971 World Champion, has taught two camps that the club has hosted.
"We bring a lot of players in for the camp," he said.
Participants who attend events like these often come from out of state. The club also has a handful of competitors who regularly play tournaments and is frequently visited by people who have come from all of the state to play at their facilities.
Copyright Statesman-Journal 2010
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100908/COMMUNITIES/108160012
This isn't your evening of recreational pingpong. This is competitive table tennis, the sport.
In the unobtrusive facility tucked away in South Salem, the club offers lessons to one and all. Balls and paddles are provided on loan. The best part is that the lessons are free. All a person has to do is show up ready to learn. Lessons start at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. every Monday night.
Scott Lipscomb of South Salem teaches the lessons.
"I run the lessons, the leagues and things like that," he said. "I'm giving group lessons for beginners and immediate players."
This includes basic strokes, stances and how to hit the ball. The lessons are pretty relaxed. A person can attend one session, miss the next week and then return the following one, picking up where he left off.
"We are trying to develop new players," Lipscomb said.
Although the game is often called pingpong by those who play it for fun, serious competitors refer to the sport as table tennis.
The club has a family friendly atmosphere.
"We encourage it," Lipscomb said.
Though most of the people who show up for lessons are adults between the ages of 20 and 30, often children will come, too. Lipscomb frequently sees fathers with their sons, but there are mothers who come with children as well.
He especially enjoys teaching the children. According to him, the youngsters are the easiest to teach.
"They are the ones who soak it all in," he said. "They learn so quickly."
Developing new talent at an early age can lead to a lifetime pursuit of the sport. Lipscomb is a perfect example. He received his first paddle when he was 11 years old. It was a gift from an older cousin who lived in Michigan. That led to lessons and competition. Now a grown man with grown sons, he teaches others the sport he loves.
After taking a break that lasted a few years, Lipscomb returned to the sport because his health was failing and he realized he needed exercise. He's been going full throttle ever since. He now plays at least 10 hours a week. He has a table at home where he and his wife play after she gets home from work.
The club has nine tables. There is also a TV with videotapes of professional players available to watch.
The interior of the playing area has lots of overhead space; it is large enough for players to move about without worrying about bumping into other players.
Most times the club will see as many as 24 people turn out for the lessons or for an evening of table tennis. The facilities are more than large enough to accommodate even a crowd that large.
The organization has hosted state tournaments for the past few years, said Lipscomb, who recently brought home a medal.
They have provided some first class training camps, too. Stellan Bengtsson, the 1971 World Champion, has taught two camps that the club has hosted.
"We bring a lot of players in for the camp," he said.
Participants who attend events like these often come from out of state. The club also has a handful of competitors who regularly play tournaments and is frequently visited by people who have come from all of the state to play at their facilities.
Copyright Statesman-Journal 2010
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100908/COMMUNITIES/108160012
No comments:
Post a Comment