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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | APRIL 2026 61 In January, The Courts Multipurpose Room was closed due to water intrusion repairs. Eric Zarr, General Manager, and the activities staff moved our tables to the Aerobics Room. The staff put them up and took them down every day. We were thankful for their accommodation and support of Table Tennis. It was cozy and the mirrors added a challenge as we tried our best not to run into them. Our players were patient and faithful during our six-week confinement there. During our time there, a player said to me. "Mary when will we be back in The Courts?" I looked at him and laughed. "It's only been a week." He replied, "It feels like a year to me." On Feb. 18, we celebrated our return to The Courts with treats. The word "treats" has a magical quality. I know because we had 19 players that day. It was exciting to watch as the players put their energy and heart into the game. Half way through our play, we stopped for a 15-minute break to eat our cupcakes. It was a time to reminisce about our adventure in the Aerobics Room. We were relieved to be back in our special place, The Courts. We are there Monday through Saturday, 2 to 4 pm. Come and join us! If you want more information, contact me. ~ Mary Baer, baerhuggy@icloud.com Table Tennis In January, The Courts Multipurpose Room was closed due to water intrusion repairs. Eric Zarr, General was exciting to watch If there was one word to describe the game of table tennis, that would be SPIN! Indeed spin is also incorporated into other racket sports such as pickleball and tennis, but in no other sport is the element of spin such a critical part of competition in table tennis. Without getting too much in the weeds, if you think about the movement of a hollow, plastic ball weighing 2.7 oz, being struck by a swiftly moving ping pong paddle covered with a sticky rubber topsheet, it's no wonder that, during an average shot, a ball can rotate at 140 revolutions per second! Table tennis would be a relatively easy sport if spin only moved in one direction. But indeed a player can impart different types of spin, depending on the direction of the arm swing and where you stroke the ball. For instance: TOPSPIN: Occurs when the ball is struck in a vertical direction from bottom to top. This movement creates a strong arch over the net. UNDERSPIN: Occurs when the ball is struck in the opposite direction (ie: chop), with the bottom of the ball moving forward and the top backward. This stroke would cause a more flat trajectory. SIDESPIN: This stroke will cause the ball to rotate along a vertical axis, and will curve in flight before landing on the other side of the net. Of course the real challenge lies with the opponent who is tasked with trying to read the direction of the opponent's paddle as they strike the ball. If you choose incorrectly, your return shot could be headed towards the tennis courts, which will only cause incurable embarrassment! At left is an illustration on how different types of spin impacts the trajectory of the ball. If you wish to learn more about understanding how different types of spin on a table tennis ball impacts your game, come join us at the Spin & Slam Club, which generally meets Monday through Saturday starting at 10:30 am. The Spin & Slam Club was formed to attract table tennis players who are competitive and are serious about improving their game. It is also a great opportunity to learn and practice the proper method of legally serving the ping pong ball per USATT regulations. Proper serving allows an opponent complete visibility of the ball during the toss and therefore the ability to read the spin. See you at the tables. ~ Bob Rubenstein, brube88@gmail.com Spin & Slam Each player puts their paddle on kitchen island, to keep the games moving along. Time for treats! L-R: Bruce, Kelly, Jeanine, Jim , Dennis, Val, Julia, Alan, Paco, Soo Lee, Rob, (Front seated - Mary, Frank, Pete), Richard, and Scot

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