Play Ping Pong to Unplug with Your Family

Did you know that if you enter the words “ping pong table games” into Google all you get is a bunch of ping pong games online and links for apps?  I thought that was pretty funny.  You see, we have been enjoying our Killerspin ping pong table now for 5 months and I wanted to look up some other fun ways to play pong on our table.  I laughed when I saw all of the ways you can play ping pong without needing to unplug!

Killerspin sent our tech family a Killerspin ping pong table to do just that, #UnPlugNPlay together and increase our family bonding moments.  When we first received the table, we didn’t know where to put it.  Originally I was thinking of putting it outside, but I wanted it inside for quick pick-up games.  This proved to be a very good idea.  After all, who wants to go out in the cold or dark to play ping pong?

Family Time

We’ve had a blast playing ping pong these past months.  We laugh, we cry (from laughing so hard!), and we’re exercising (yes, getting off the couch or away from our desks to chase a stray ball is exercising!).

My kids are learning important hand-eye coordination, which will help them in other sports.  They are also learning a great sport that will enhance their playing enjoyment when they play pick-up games at camp, youth group, or at friend’s houses.

And of course, I love the fact that they are becoming stronger players during our family time.  With increased skill, they are becoming more competitive, which leads to longer and more gratifying table game matches.

Friends

One of my husband’s and my goals has always been to create a home and environment where our kids’ friends would love to come to.  By doing so, we develop relationships with our kids’ friends and their parents and get a better feel for who our kids’ fare hanging around.  Our Killerspin ping pong table has worked well with this plan.  Kids LOVE to play ping pong and often pick up the paddles when they come over.

At some point when are at our house, there’s always that lull time when kids don’t know what to do.  I find that challenging them to a ping pong game gets them on their feet and into action.  They often play for longer after I leave the room.  Hearing the laughter filling our halls warms my heart.

Even with our adult friends, having an activity like ping pong is a great memory builder.  Sure, sitting around and talking is nice, but the friendly competition and challenges create fun memories.  I have found that a ping pong game recharges you and actually gives you more energy…even on a Friday night!

And the best thing is that ping pong is multi-generational.  We like to play kids versus adults or child against parent for bragging rights!

Ping Pong Table Variation Games

The game of ping pong is fun in itself,  but changing things up every once in awhile takes gameplay to a new level.  Here are some variations your family is sure to love…

Round the World Ping Pong – great for a larger group, this game will really get you moving.  Two players play in this game, with additional players lined up to succeed the first player who misses the ball or hits it off the table.  The first player serves and the second player returns the ball.  Then they immediately drop their paddles and run to the opposite ends of the table and continue playing, rotating in a clockwise manner.  Once a player messes up, they are replaced by the next person in line.  Whoever is left standing wins.  This game is a lot of fun and DEFINITELY requires some exercise! 

Run Around the Table – at least three people are needed for this game, though the more the merrier!  The first player serves, with a person lined up to grab the server’s paddle as soon as s/he has served.  After serving, the first person runs to the other side of the table ready to grab the second player’s paddle after s/he has returned the shot.  Or if there are more people playing, the first player gets in line for the player spot on the opposite side of the table.  Everyone starts with 5 points and keeps rotating around the table taking shots.  If you miss a shot or hit the off the table, you lose a point.  The last person standing with points wins.  

Airball – my daughter and I created this game, as mentioned in our Three Great Ways to Unplug with Your Family article.  The first player serves the ping pong ball normally.  The second play must hit the ball in the air where the first player returns the ball, in the air.  The ball doesn’t touch the table but must get over the net.  There are really no boundaries, as long as the ball continues being hit in the air.  Can be played with two or four players.

Two Handed Table Tennis – as the name suggests, you play the normal game of ping pong with a paddle in each hand.  Sounds easy right?  Sure, but wait until it’s your turn to serve.  Having a handle in each hand makes it a bit awkward at first, but you’ll get the hang of it.

15 Foot Ping Pong – Because the Killerspin table can be split into two smaller tables, simply separate them and have a gap of about 6 feet in between each table.  Play ping pong as normal, but you need to ensure you hit the ball onto the other person’s table for them to return the ball.  If your ball falls in the middle, your opponent wins a point.

Ping Pong with Your Cat
OK, sometimes there’s no one around to play ping pong, so you need to get a little creative. Have a cat? Perhaps she can play you! Watch this amazing video from the 50’s…

Our Killerspin ping pong table has served us well.  I have been very impressed with the quality and construction of the table. As I mentioned earlier, often times the ping pong table sits in our family room – it’s more of a focal point than our TV!

The Killerspin table is super easy to fold up the table ( it splits up into 2 individual pieces) and roll the two pieces out of the way.  It’s sturdy but moves easily with the wheels.

Killerspin tables run from $599.99 and up.

A Mom’s Perspective

Having a ping pong table in the house has been a blast.  And I absolutely love Killerspin’s flexible design of folding up the table into two pieces and rolling it to wherever you need it.  We have moved our table in several different rooms around the house.

Since bringing the #Killerspin table into our house, we have enjoyed bonding together over ping pong with our kids and our friends.  It is the ultimate table game to have around for quick family pick-up games as well as spur our imagination to play various games of alternate ping pong.

What I like so much about ping pong is that it’s already set up and ready to go.  You don’t need to drag it out like a board game and set up the pieces and then put the game away afterwards.  I love that ping pong is engaging.  Once you start playing, it’s hard to put down the paddle.  And finally, ping pong teaches kids important life skills such as handling pressure and success and failure.  

My daughter tends to get a doom and gloom attitude when she’s losing.  She adds pressure to herself when she says, “I’ll never win.”  These are teachable moments to explain to her how important it is to manage pressure in a competition.  Her attitude will help steer whether she wins or loses…as determines her enjoyment of the game.  

How my daugher handles pressure playing ping pong at home is a good indication of how she handles pressure on a test, in her volleyball matches, and in group projects.  Playing ping pong with my daughter gives me a chance to speak into her life so she’ll be better equipped to handle pressure as well as her attitude whether she wins or loses in her future.