Why I . . . play table tennis

It was the long hot summer of 1976 when Bryan Rhodes’ friend asked him to practise table tennis at the renowned Hermits Table Tennis Club in Bradford. “Up until that time I’d only played it on the kitchen table at home—with books down the middle as a net—so it was quite an experience playing on a proper table, in a proper facility,” Rhodes recalls.

That experience sparked a lifelong love of this relatively unsung sport. “Table tennis doesn’t get enough publicity—it’s not commercial like tennis, or as high profile. But for me, it’s more enjoyable to play,” says Rhodes, a consultant trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

His passion for the sport continued through his medical school years at University College London, and as a surgical trainee in Liverpool. He moved to Lancaster as a consultant, and now plays for Burton-in-Kendal Table Tennis Club, which is based in his local village. Ten years ago, he became club chair, helping with its running and “doing my bit for the community.” And his table tennis doubles partner is also his life partner—wife Shelley, who he introduced to the sport. “It can get quite competitive between us at times,” he admits.

“Table tennis has the advantage that you can play all year around,” says Rhodes of the indoor sport. Games are played in a singles or doubles format. League fixtures are played with three players per team, with nine singles and one doubles game, so 10 matches in total. Matches are “fairly quick—we play five sets that go up to eleven points per set, and ten matches will take about two hours.”

He is drawn to the game, he says, because it is fast and tactical, requiring speed and agility. He enjoys the emphasis on spin and the need to judge it. “There are many different types of spin, and it’s exciting working out what will come from your opponent’s bat.”

His interest isn’t time consuming, he says; the match season runs from September until April, with weekly matches played by teams in the Kendal and District League, plus one hour weekly practice sessions.

Anyone can go to a practice session, including beginners. “We welcome all ages and all abilities, including people with disabilities,” says Rhodes. “Table tennis is so inclusive—that’s why it’s such a great sport.”

As a clinician he finds this sport to be particularly beneficial for his mental health. “After a challenging day at the hospital, it’s helpful to do some exercise. It helps me relax, keeps my body healthy, and relieves stress,” he says.

He finds his clinical skills come in handy when playing matches. “Hand-eye coordination is very important in table tennis and as a surgeon.

“And, as with surgery, concentration skills are important and you need to be able to focus on the task at hand.”

He believes table tennis is the “perfect sport for surgeons, because there’s much less risk of injury; it’s safer than skiing or rugby.”

“It’s also a sociable sport. As with surgery, where we’re increasingly working in multidisciplinary teams, table tennis encourages team working. And, as with any sport, you need to be able to enjoy success and deal with failure—useful skills to have in hospital life as well.”

Recently, his club has been enjoying success. “We became first division champions for the first time in our 36 years existence.”

As he prepares for the next table tennis season, there’s one person he’s hoping to rally with. “Recently, through social media, I was in touch with the friend who got me into table tennis in the first place. He doesn’t play anymore. But it would be nice to catch up with him, and to play a game.”