Calories Burned Table Tennis
Calorie Calculator
About table tennis
Table tennis is rated 4.0 METs, which puts half an hour at the table at 141 calories for a 155 lb player and lands the sport just above a brisk walk. Anyone who has played a real set to 11 finds that low, and the rating is honest about why. Most games are a lot of standing at one end of a table, short bursts of footwork, and a ball that spends a fair share of the session under the sofa. Keep the rallies long and move your feet and the cost climbs. How far it climbs, nobody has measured. The Compendium carries exactly one table tennis entry and it has sat at 4.0 since a 1978 questionnaire.
Calories Burned by Body Weight
Calories burned per 30 minutes of table tennis at moderate intensity (MET 4)
| Body Weight | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 120 lbs (54 kg) | 109 cal |
| 140 lbs (64 kg) | 127 cal |
| 155 lbs (70 kg)Reference | 141 cal |
| 170 lbs (77 kg) | 154 cal |
| 185 lbs (84 kg) | 168 cal |
| 200 lbs (91 kg) | 181 cal |
| 220 lbs (100 kg) | 200 cal |
Calories Burned by Duration
Calories burned at 155 lbs body weight, moderate intensity
| Duration | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 70 cal |
| 30 minutesReference | 141 cal |
| 45 minutes | 211 cal |
| 60 minutes | 281 cal |
| 90 minutes | 422 cal |
Calories by Intensity
Different intensities burn different calories. MET (Metabolic Equivalent) measures exercise intensity.
Food Equivalent
30 minutes of table tennis burns enough calories to offset:
Based on 141 calories burned (30 min at 155 lbs)
Tips for Table Tennis
- Stay on the balls of your feet between shots, flat-footed players reach with the arm and lose the point
- Serve short and low, a serve that runs long hands the other player a free attack
- Play real games to 11 rather than knocking up, rallies get longer when the point counts and the rallies are the workout
- Brush the ball instead of hitting it flat, topspin drops the ball back on the table and keeps the rally alive
Frequently Asked Questions
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