Ping Pong...Contest pic?

Can I get an overall C&C on this pic please? Trying something new. Thinking of entering this in a small contest...thanks

Its super dark, like the capture of the ball in flight, but not so much the composition.

The lighting is certainly dramatic. My issue with it is that it feels like the angle + lighting + moment + background has resulted in a photo that perhaps isn't clear enough. If ping pong is what the photo is depicting, I'd like it better with a clear silhouette of e.g., a racket, also nothing in the background right behind it (the portrait hanging on the wall); and I want to see more elements that tip me off about what I'm looking at.

Nice image but the background is... well is not good.

Dramaric lighting but it doesn't convey ping-pong to me. What's the theme of the contest you're thinking about entering this in?

WOW! It's amazing that all these things had been pointed out to me. Things that my brain hadn't registered. I'm having second thoughts about submitting this particular photo now and going back to re-shoot it. There's a reason why I joined this forum.....very helpful information everyone!!! Thanks.

Its just a general (local) contest with "kids" as the theme.

Here's my thought. I really like this type of dramatic, deliberately dark photo. However my mind can't register this style and kids ping pong in the same photo. Just doesn't match the subject content. A romantic dinner, or chilled out get together, maybe. I would want to see a photo of kids playing with big grins on their faces to show how much fun they are having. In color.

Great idea and style though, I would not give up on that aspect of it because I really do think you have something going there.

I think its a cool photo but id crop it so the guys face is near the top left of the frame and get rid of the stuff to the left of him