TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis, also called (trademark) Ping-Pong, ball game similar in principle
to lawn tennis and played on a flat table divided into two equal courts by a net fixed
across its width at the middle. The object is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net
and bounces on the opponent’s half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot
reach it or return it correctly. The lightweight hollow ball is propelled back and forth
across the net by small rackets (bats, or paddles) held by the players. The game is
popular all over the world. In most countries it is very highly organized as a competitive
sport, especially in Europe and Asia, particularly in China and Japan.

History

The game was invented in England in the early days of the 20th century and was
originally called Ping-Pong, a trade name. The name table tennis was adopted in 1921–
22 when the old Ping-Pong Association formed in 1902 was revived. The original
association had broken up about 1905, though apparently the game continued to be
played in parts of England outside London and by the 1920s was being played in many
countries. Led by representatives of Germany, Hungary, and England, the Fédération
Internationale de Tennis de Table (International Table Tennis Federation) was founded
in 1926, the founding members being England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark,
Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Wales. By the mid-1990s more than 165
national associations were members.

The first world championships were held in London in 1926, and from then until 1939
the game was dominated by players from central Europe, the men’s team event being
won nine times by Hungary and twice by Czechoslovakia. In the mid-1950s Asia
emerged as a breeding ground of champions, and from that time the men’s team event
has been won by either Japan or China, as has the women’s event, though to a lesser
extent; North Korea also became an international force. In 1980 the first World Cup was
held, and Guo Yuehua of China won the $12,500 first prize. Table tennis became an
Olympic sport in 1988, with singles and doubles competition for men and women.

The game

Table tennis equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The table is rectangular, 9
feet by 5 feet (2.7 metres by 1.5 metres), its upper surface a level plane 30 inches (76
cm) above the floor. The net is 6 feet (1.8 metres) long, and its upper edge along the
whole length is 6 inches (15.25 cm) above the playing surface. The ball, which is
spherical and hollow, was once made of white celluloid. Since 1969 a plastic similar to
celluloid has been used. The ball, which may be coloured white, yellow, or orange,
weighs about 0.09 ounce (2.7 grams) and has a diameter of about 1.6 inches (4 cm).
The blade of a racket, or bat, is usually made of wood, is flat and rigid, and may be
covered with a thin layer of ordinary stippled, or pimpled, rubber, which may be laid over
a thin layer of sponge rubber and may have the pimples reversed. Whatever
combination is used, each of the two sides of a paddle must be different in colour. The
racket may be any size, weight, or shape.

A match consists of the best of any odd numbers of games, each game being won by
the player who first reaches 11 points or who, after 10 points each, wins two clear points
ahead. A point is scored when the server fails to make a good service, when either
player fails to make a good return, or when either player commits a specified infraction
(e.g., touches the playing surface with a free hand while the ball is in play). Service
changes hands after every two points until 10-all is reached, when it changes after
every subsequent point.

The serve is made from behind the end of the table, the server tossing the ball upward
from the palm of the free hand and striking it as it descends so that it first bounces on
the server’s own court and then, passing over the net, bounces on the opponent’s court.
In serving, no spin may be imparted to the ball by the fingers. This was not always so.
Finger spin, especially in the United States, reached a stage where the experts could
produce untakable services and the game became farcical. Finger spin was universally
banned in 1937.

Interest to the spectator lies in observing the ability of one player to defeat another by
well-thought-out strategy. Increasing the speed of the game, slowing it down, varying
the direction of or imparting different spin or pace to the ball, and employing gentle drop
shots over the net when the opponent is out of position are some of the tactics that may
be used to support the strategy planned.

Slow or defensive play at one time was so dominant that, at the 1936 world
championships in Prague, an hour was needed to decide a single point. Play is now
restricted. If a game is unfinished 15 minutes after it has begun, the rest of that game
and the remaining games of the match proceed under the Expedite System. Thereafter
if the service and 13 following strokes of the server are returned by the receiver, the
server loses the point. The service changes after each point.

Table tennis may be played with one player at each end of the table or with two players
at each end who may be both men or both women or one of each. Worldwide, the
women’s game is comparable in organization to the men’s, and women take part in
world championships and all other organized events. Table tennis as well as being fully
organized is also extremely popular as a recreational game and is so played in all types
of sports clubs, social clubs, and game rooms, in the home, and even out-of-doors
when conditions are reasonably calm.
2 THE LAWS OF TABLE TENNIS

*Courtesy of the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation)

2.1 THE TABLE

2.1.1 The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular,
9 ft. long and 5 ft wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 2.5 ft. above the floor.

2.1.2 The playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of the tabletop.

2.1.3 The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of
about 9.1 in when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 11.8 in.

2.1.4 The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, but with a white
side line, 0.79 in wide, along each 9 ft edge and a white end line, 0.79 in wide, along
each 5 ft edge.

2.1.5 The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running
parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.

2.1.6 For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white centre
line, 0.12 in wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall be regarded
as part of each right half-court.

2.2 THE NET ASSEMBLY

2.2.1 The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts,
including the clamps attaching them to the table.

2.2.2 The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 6 in
high, the outside limits of the post being 6 in outside the side line.

2.2.3 The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 6 in above the playing surface.

2.2.4 The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the
playing surface and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible to the supporting
posts.
 2.3 THE BALL

2.3.1 The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.

2.3.2 The ball shall weigh 2.7g.

2.3.3 The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or
orange, and matt.

2.4 THE RACKET

2.4.1 The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and
rigid.

2.4.2 At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive layer
within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre, glass fibre
or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of the total thickness or
0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.

2.4.3 A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary
pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including adhesive of
not more than 2mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or outwards, having a
total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4mm.

2.4.3.1 Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or

synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over its surface at a density of not less than 10
per sq. cm and not more than 30 per sq. cm.

2.4.3.2 Sandwich rubber is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single outer
layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more
than 2mm.

2.4.4 The covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade,
except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left
uncovered or covered with any material.

2.4.5 The blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering material or
adhesive on a side used for striking the ball shall be continuous and of even thickness.

2.4.6 The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the
blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the other.

2.4.7 The covering material should be used as it has been authorised by the ITTF
without any physical, chemical or other treatment, changing or modifying playing
properties, friction, outlook, colour, structure, surface, etc.
2.4.7.1 Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to
accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly
change the characteristics of the surface.

2.4.8 At the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a match a
player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about to use and shall
allow them to examine it.

2.5 DEFINITIONS

2.5.1 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.

2.5.2 The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the
free hand before being intentionally projected in service until the rally is decided as a let
or a point.

2.5.3 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.

2.5.4 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.

2.5.5 The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.

2.5.6 The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket; the free arm is the arm of the
free hand.

2.5.7 A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand, or
with his racket hand below the wrist.

2.5.8 A player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play
when it is above or travelling towards the playing surface, not having touched his court
since last being struck by his opponent.

2.5.9 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

2.5.10 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.

2.5.11 The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.

2.5.12 The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain
decisions.

2.5.13 Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing or
carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.
2.5.14 the ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes
anywhere other than between the net and the net post or between the net and the
playing surface.

2.5.15 the end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.

2.6 THE SERVICE

2.6.1 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's
stationary free hand.

2.6.2 The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting
spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls
without touching anything before being struck.

2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and
then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's
court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and
receiver.

2.6.4 From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the
playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the
receiver by the server or his doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry.
2.6.5 As soon as the ball has been projected, the server's free arm and hand shall be
removed from the space between the ball and the net. The space between the ball and
the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite upward extension.

2.6.6 It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant
umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a correct service.

2.6.6.1 If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service he may, on the first occasion
in a match, declare a let and warn the server.

2.6.6.2 Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that player or his doubles partner
will result in a point to the receiver.

2.6.6.3 Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a correct
service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point.

2.6.7 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where
he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
 2.7 THE RETURN

2.7.1 The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or
around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after
touching the net assembly.

2.8 THE ORDER OF PLAY

2.8.1 In singles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a
return and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a return.

2.8.2 In doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a
return, the partner of the server shall then make a return, the partner of the receiver
shall then make a return and thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make
a return.

2.8.3 When two players who are in wheelchairs due to a physical disability are a pair
playing doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a
return but thereafter either player of the disabled pair may make returns. However, no
part of a player's wheelchair shall protrude beyond the imaginary extension of the centre
line of the table. If it does, the umpire shall award the point to the opposing pair.

2.9 A LET

2.9.1 The rally shall be a let

2.9.1.1 if in service the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it,
provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his
partner;
2.9.1.2 if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided
that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;

2.9.1.3 if failure to make a service or a return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is
due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;

2.9.1.4 if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire;

2.9.1.5 if the receiver is in wheelchair due to a physical disability and in service the ball,
provided that the service is otherwise correct,

2.9.1.5.1 leaves the receiver's court after touching it in the direction of the net ;

2.9.1.5.2 comes to rest on the receiver's court;

2.9.1.5.3 in singles leaves the receiver's court after touching it by either of its sidelines.
2.9.2 Play may be interrupted

2.9.2.1 to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;

2.9.2.2 to introduce the expedite system;

2.9.2.3 to warn or penalise a player or adviser;

2.9.2.4 because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the
outcome of the rally.

2.10 A POINT

2.10.1 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point

2.10.1.1 if his opponent fails to make a correct service;

2.10.1.2 if his opponent fails to make a correct return;

2.10.1.3 if, after he has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than
the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;

2.10.1.4 if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his
court, after being struck by his opponent;

2.10.1.5 if his opponent obstructs the ball;

2.10.1.6 if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively;

2.10.1.7 if his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface
does not comply with the requirements of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5;

2.10.1.8 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing
surface;

2.10.1.9 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net
assembly;

2.10.1.10 if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;

2.10.1.11 if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the
first server and first receiver;

2.10.1.12 as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).

 2.11 A GAME

2.11.1 A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both
players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair
subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.

2.12 A MATCH

2.12.1 A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.

2.13 THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS

2.13.1 The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be
decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a
particular end.

2.13.2 When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a
particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.

2.13.3 After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become
the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or
pairs score 10 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of
serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in
turn.

2.13.4 In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall
choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving pair shall
decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent games of the match, the first
server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in
the preceding game.

2.13.5 In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the
server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.

2.13.6 The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of
the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to receive next
shall change their order of receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.

2.13.7 The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the
next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs
shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5 points.

2.14 OUT OF ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS

2.14.1 If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire
as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with those players serving and
receiving who should be server and receiver respectively at the score that has been
reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in
doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the
game during which the error is discovered.

2.14.2 If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall
be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with
the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached,
according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.

2.14.3 In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall
be reckoned.

2.15 THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM

2.15.1 Except where both players and pairs have scored at least 9 points, the expedite
system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes' play or at any
earlier time at the request of both players and pairs.

2.15.1.1 If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by
the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was
interrupted.

2.15.1.2 If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with
service by the player who received in the immediately preceding rally.

2.15.2 Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn until the end of the game
and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 returns the receiver shall score a point.

2.15.3 Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of
the match.

Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a
lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small rackets. The game takes place
on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as
follows: players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce one time on their side
of the table, and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side at least once. A
point is scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and
demands quick reactions. Spinning the ball alters its trajectory and limits an opponent's
options, giving the hitter a great advantage.

Table tennis is governed by the worldwide organization International Table Tennis

Federation (ITTF), founded in 1926. ITTF currently includes 226 member associations.[3]
The table tennis official rules are specified in the ITTF handbook.[4] Table tennis has
been an Olympic sport since 1988,[5] with several event categories. From 1988 until
2004, these were men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's
doubles. Since 2008, a team event has been played instead of the doubles.

History

Parker Brothers Ping-Pong game

The sport originated in Victorian England, where it was played among the upper-class
as an after-dinner parlour game.[1][2] It has been suggested that makeshift versions of
the game were developed by British military officers in India in around 1860s or 1870s,
who brought it back with them.[6] A row of books stood up along the center of the table
as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously hit a golf-
ball.[7][8]

The name "ping-pong" was in wide use before British manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd
trademarked it in 1901. The name "ping-pong" then came to describe the game played
using the rather expensive Jaques's equipment, with other manufacturers calling it table
tennis. A similar situation arose in the United States, where Jaques sold the rights to the
"ping-pong" name to Parker Brothers. Parker Brothers then enforced its trademark for
the term in the 1920s making the various associations change their names to "table
tennis" instead of the more common, but trademarked, term.[9]

The next major innovation was by James W. Gibb, a British enthusiast of table tennis,
who discovered novelty celluloid balls on a trip to the US in 1901 and found them to be
ideal for the game. This was followed by E.C. Goode who, in 1901, invented the modern
version of the racket by fixing a sheet of pimpled, or stippled, rubber to the wooden
blade. Table tennis was growing in popularity by 1901 to the extent that tournaments
were being organized, books being written on the subject, [7] and an unofficial world
championship was held in 1902.

In 1921, the Table Tennis Association was founded, and in 1926 renamed the English
Table Tennis Association.[10] The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) followed
in 1926.[1][11] London hosted the first official World Championships in 1926. In 1933, the
United States Table Tennis Association, now called USA Table Tennis, was formed.[1][12]

In the 1930s, Edgar Snow commented in Red Star Over China that the Communist
forces in the Chinese Civil War had a "passion for the English game of table tennis"
which he found "bizarre".[13] On the other hand, the popularity of the sport waned in
1930s Soviet Union, partly because of the promotion of team and military sports, and
partly because of a theory that the game had adverse health effects.[14]

In the 1950s, paddles that used a rubber sheet combined with an underlying sponge
layer changed the game dramatically,[1] introducing greater spin and speed.[15] These
were introduced to Britain by sports goods manufacturer S.W. Hancock Ltd. The use of
speed glue increased the spin and speed even further, resulting in changes to the
equipment to "slow the game down". Table tennis was introduced as an Olympic sport
at the Olympics in 1988.[16]

Rule changes

Assortment of 40 mm table tennis balls

After the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the ITTF instituted several rule changes that were
aimed at making table tennis more viable as a televised spectator sport. [17][18] First, the
older 38 mm (1.50 in) balls were officially replaced by 40 mm (1.57 in) balls in October
2000.[7][19] This increased the ball's air resistance and effectively slowed down the
game. By that time, players had begun increasing the thickness of the fast sponge layer
on their paddles, which made the game excessively fast and difficult to watch on
television. A few months later, the ITTF changed from a 21-point to an 11-point scoring
system (and the serve rotation was reduced from five points to two), effective in
September 2001.[7] This was intended to make games more fast-paced and exciting.
The ITTF also changed the rules on service to prevent a player from hiding the ball
during service, in order to increase the average length of rallies and to reduce the
server's advantage, effective in 2002.[20] For the opponent to have time to realize a
serve is taking place, the ball must be tossed a minimum of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in
the air. The ITTF states that all events after July 2014 are played with a new poly
material ball.[21] [22]

Equipment
Ball

Table Tennis Plastic Ball 40+ mm

The international rules specify that the game is played with a sphere having a mass of
2.7 grams (0.095 oz) and a diameter of 40 millimetres (1.57 in).[23] The rules say that the
ball shall bounce up 24–26 cm (9.4–10.2 in) when dropped from a height of 30.5 cm
(12.0 in) onto a standard steel block thereby having a coefficient of restitution of 0.89 to
0.92. Balls are now made of a polymer instead of celluloid as of 2015, colored white or
orange, with a matte finish. The choice of ball color is made according to the table color
and its surroundings. For example, a white ball is easier to see on a green or blue table
than it is on a grey table. Manufacturers often indicate the quality of the ball with a star
rating system, usually from one to three, three being the highest grade. As this system
is not standard across manufacturers, the only way a ball may be used in official
competition is upon ITTF approval[23] (the ITTF approval can be seen printed on the
ball).

The 40 mm ball was introduced after the end of the 2000 Summer Olympics.[19] This
created some controversies. Then World No 1 table tennis professional Vladimir
Samsonov threatened to pull out of the World Cup, which was scheduled to debut the
new regulation ball on October 12, 2000.[24]

Table

Diagram of a table tennis table showing the official dimensions

The table is 2.74 m (9.0 ft) long, 1.525 m (5.0 ft) wide, and 76 cm (2.5 ft) high with any
continuous material so long as the table yields a uniform bounce of about 23 cm (9.1 in)
when a standard ball is dropped onto it from a height of 30 cm (11.8 in), or about
77%.[25][26] The table or playing surface is uniformly dark coloured and matte, divided
into two halves by a net at 15.25 cm (6.0 in) in height. The ITTF approves only wooden
tables or their derivates. Concrete tables with a steel net or a solid concrete partition are
sometimes available in outside public spaces, such as parks.[27]

Racket/paddle
Main article: Table tennis racket

Players are equipped with a laminated wooden racket covered with rubber on one or
two sides depending on the grip of the player. The ITTF uses the term "racket", [28]
though "bat" is common in Britain, and "paddle" in the U.S. and Canada.

The wooden portion of the racket, often referred to as the "blade", commonly features
anywhere between one and seven plies of wood, though cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber,
aluminum fiber, and Kevlar are sometimes used. According to the ITTF regulations, at
least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood.[29] Common wood types
include balsa, limba, and cypress or "hinoki", which is popular in Japan. The average
size of the blade is about 17 centimetres (6.7 in) long and 15 centimetres (5.9 in) wide,
although the official restrictions only focus on the flatness and rigidity of the blade itself,
these dimensions are optimal for most play styles.

Table tennis regulations allow different surfaces on each side of the racket. [30] Various
types of surfaces provide various levels of spin or speed, and in some cases they nullify
spin. For example, a player may have a rubber that provides much spin on one side of
their racket, and one that provides no spin on the other. By flipping the racket in play,
different types of returns are possible. To help a player distinguish between the rubber
used by his opposing player, international rules specify that one side must be red while
the other side must be black.[29] The player has the right to inspect their opponent's
racket before a match to see the type of rubber used and what colour it is. Despite high
speed play and rapid exchanges, a player can see clearly what side of the racket was
used to hit the ball. Current rules state that, unless damaged in play, the racket cannot
be exchanged for another racket at any time during a match. [31]

Gameplay
Competitive table tennis

Starting a game

According to ITTF rule 2.13.1, the first service is decided by lot,[32] normally a coin
toss.[33] It is also common for one player (or the umpire/scorer) to hide the ball in one or
the other hand, usually hidden under the table, allowing the other player to guess which
hand the ball is in. The correct or incorrect guess gives the "winner" the option to
choose to serve, receive, or to choose which side of the table to use. (A common but
non-sanctioned method is for the players to play the ball back and forth three times and
then play out the point. This is commonly referred to as "serve to play", "rally to serve",
"play for serve", or "volley for serve".)

Service and return

Service by professional Russian player Alexander Shibaev

In game play, the player serving the ball commences a play.[34] The server first stands
with the ball held on the open palm of the hand not carrying the paddle, called the
freehand, and tosses the ball directly upward without spin, at least 16 cm (6.3 in)
high.[35] The server strikes the ball with the racket on the ball's descent so that it touches
first his court and then touches directly the receiver's court without touching the net
assembly. In casual games, many players do not toss the ball upward; however, this is
technically illegal and can give the serving player an unfair advantage.

The ball must remain behind the endline and above the upper surface of the table,
known as the playing surface, at all times during the service. The server cannot use
his/her body or clothing to obstruct sight of the ball; the opponent and the umpire must
have a clear view of the ball at all times. If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a
service they may first interrupt play and give a warning to the server. If the serve is a
clear failure or is doubted again by the umpire after the warning, the receiver scores a
point.

If the service is "good", then the receiver must make a "good" return by hitting the ball
back before it bounces a second time on receiver's side of the table so that the ball
passes the net and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net
assembly.[36] Thereafter, the server and receiver must alternately make a return until the
rally is over. Returning the serve is one of the most difficult parts of the game, as the
server's first move is often the least predictable and thus most advantageous shot due
to the numerous spin and speed choices at his or her disposal.

Let

A Let is a rally of which the result is not scored, and is called in the following
circumstances:[37]

 The ball touches the net in service (service), provided the service is otherwise
correct or the ball is obstructed by the player on the receiving side. Obstruction
means a player touches the ball when it is above or traveling towards the playing
surface, not having touched the player's court since last being struck by the
player.
 When the player on the receiving side is not ready and the service is delivered.
 Player's failure to make a service or a return or to comply with the Laws is due to
a disturbance outside the control of the player.
 Play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

A let is also called foul service, if the ball hits the server's side of the table, if the ball
does not pass further than the edge and if the ball hits the table edge and hits the net.
Scoring

Table tennis umpire

A point is scored by the player for any of several results of the rally:[38]

 The opponent fails to make a correct service or return.

 After making a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net
assembly before being struck by the opponent.
 The ball passes over the player's court or beyond their end line without touching
their court, after being struck by the opponent.
 The opponent obstructs the ball.
 The opponent strikes the ball twice successively. Note that the hand that is
holding the racket counts as part of the racket and that making a good return off
one's hand or fingers is allowed. It is not a fault if the ball accidentally hits one's
hand or fingers and then subsequently hits the racket.
 The opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface is not
covered with rubber.
 The opponent moves the playing surface or touches the net assembly.
 The opponent's free hand touches the playing surface.
 As a receiver under the expedite system, completing 13 returns in a rally. [39]
 The opponent that has been warned by the umpire commits a second offense in
the same individual match or team match. If the third offence happens, 2 points
will be given to the player.[40] If the individual match or the team match has not
ended, any unused penalty points can be transferred to the next game of that
match.[33]

A game shall be won by the player first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10
points, when the game shall be won by the first player subsequently gaining a lead of 2
points. A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.[41] In competition
play, matches are typically best of five or seven games.

Alternation of services and ends

Service alternates between opponents every two points (regardless of winner of the
rally) until the end of the game, unless both players score ten points or the expedite
system is operated, when the sequences of serving and receiving stay the same but
each player serves for only one point in turn (Deuce).[42] The player serving first in a
game receives first in the next game of the match.

After each game, players switch sides of the table. In the last possible game of a match,
for example the seventh game in a best of seven matches, players change ends when
the first player scores five points, regardless of whose turn it is to serve. If the sequence
of serving and receiving is out of turn or the ends are not changed, points scored in the
wrong situation are still calculated and the game shall be resumed with the order at the
score that has been reached.

Doubles game

Service zone in doubles game

In addition to games between individual players, pairs may also play table tennis.
Singles and doubles are both played in international competition, including the Olympic
Games since 1988 and the Commonwealth Games since 2002.[43] In 2005, the ITTF
announced that doubles table tennis only was featured as a part of team events in the
2008 Olympics.

In doubles, all the rules of single play are applied except for the following.

Service

A line painted along the long axis of the table to create doubles courts bisects the
table. This line's only purpose is to facilitate the doubles service rule, which is
that service must originate from the right hand "box" in such a way that the first
bounce of the serve bounces once in said right hand box and then must bounce
at least once in the opponent side's right hand box (far left box for server), or the
receiving pair score a point.[35]

Order of play, serving and receiving

1. Players must hit the ball in turn. For example, if A is paired with B, X is paired
with Y, A is the server and X is the receiver. The order of play shall be
A→X→B→Y. The rally proceeds this way until one side fails to make a legal
return and the other side scores.[44]
 2. At each change of service, the previous receiver shall become the server and the
partner of the previous server shall become the receiver. For example, if the
previous order of play is A→X→B→Y, the order becomes X→B→Y→A after the
change of service.[42]
3. In the second or the latter games of a match, the game begins in reverse order of
play. For example, if the order of play is A→X→B→Y at beginning of the first
game, the order begins with X→A→Y→B or Y→B→X→A in the second game
depending on either X or Y being chosen as the first server of the game. That
means the first receiver of the game is the player who served to the first server of
the game in the preceding game. In each game of a doubles match, the pair
having the right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so. The receiving
pair, however, can only choose in the first game of the match.
4. When a pair reaches 5 points in the final game, the pairs must switch ends of the
table and change the receiver to reverse the order of play. For example, when
the last order of play before a pair score 5 points in the final game is
A→X→B→Y, the order after change shall be A→Y→B→X if A still has the
second serve. Otherwise, X is the next server and the order becomes
X→A→Y→B.

Expedite system

If a game is unfinished after 10 minutes' play and fewer than 18 points have been
scored, the expedite system is initiated.[39] The umpire interrupts the game, and the
game resumes with players serving for one point in turn. If the expedite system is
introduced while the ball is not in play, the previous receiver shall serve first. Under the
expedite system, the server must win the point before the opponent makes 13
consecutive returns or the point goes to the opponent. The system can also be initiated
at any time at the request of both players or pairs. Once introduced, the expedite
system remains in force until the end of the match. A rule to shorten the time of a
match, it is mainly seen in defensive players' games.

Grips

Though table tennis players grip their rackets in various ways, their grips can be
classified into two major families of styles, penhold and shakehand.[45] The rules of table
tennis do not prescribe the manner in which one must grip the racket, and numerous
grips are employed.

Penhold

The penhold grip is so-named because one grips the racket similarly to the way one
holds a writing instrument.[46] The style of play among penhold players can vary greatly
from player to player. The most popular style, usually referred to as the Chinese
penhold style, involves curling the middle, ring, and fourth finger on the back of the
blade with the three fingers always touching one another.[46] Chinese penholders favour
a round racket head, for a more over-the-table style of play. In contrast, another style,
sometimes referred to as the Japanese/Korean penhold grip, involves splaying those
three fingers out across the back of the racket, usually with all three fingers touching the
back of the racket, rather than stacked upon one another.[46] Sometimes a combination
of the two styles occurs, wherein the middle, ring and fourth fingers are straight, but still
stacked, or where all fingers may be touching the back of the racket, but are also in
contact with one another. Japanese and Korean penholders will often use a square-
headed racket for an away-from-the-table style of play. Traditionally these square-
headed rackets feature a block of cork on top of the handle, as well as a thin layer of
cork on the back of the racket, for increased grip and comfort. Penhold styles are
popular among players originating from East Asian countries such as China, Japan,
South Korea, and Taiwan.

Traditionally, penhold players use only one side of the racket to hit the ball during
normal play, and the side which is in contact with the last three fingers is generally not
used. This configuration is sometimes referred to as "traditional penhold" and is more
commonly found in square-headed racket styles. However, the Chinese developed a
technique in the 1990s in which a penholder uses both sides of the racket to hit the ball,
where the player produces a backhand stroke (most often topspin) known as a reverse
penhold backhand by turning the traditional side of the racket to face one's self, and
striking the ball with the opposite side of the racket. This stroke has greatly improved
and strengthened the penhold style both physically and psychologically, as it eliminates
the strategic weakness of the traditional penhold backhand.

Shakehand grip

Forehand

Backhand
Shakehand

The shakehand grip is so-named because the racket is grasped as if one is performing
a handshake.[47] Though it is sometimes referred to as the "tennis" or "Western" grip, it
bears no relation to the Western tennis grip, which was popularized on the West Coast
of the United States in which the racket is rotated 90°, and played with the wrist turned
so that on impact the knuckles face the target. In table tennis, "Western" refers to
Western nations, for this is the grip that players native to Europe and the Americas have
almost exclusively employed.

The shakehand grip's simplicity and versatility, coupled with the acceptance among top-
level Chinese trainers that the European style of play should be emulated and trained
against, has established it as a common grip even in China.[48] Many world class
European and East Asian players currently use the shakehand grip, and it is generally
accepted that shakehands is easier to learn than penholder, allowing a broader range of
playing styles both offensive and defensive.[49]

Seemiller

The Seemiller grip is named after the American table tennis champion Danny Seemiller,
who used it. It is achieved by placing the thumb and index finger on either side of the
bottom of the racquet head and holding the handle with the rest of the fingers. Since
only one side of the racquet is used to hit the ball, two contrasting rubber types can be
applied to the blade, offering the advantage of "twiddling" the racket to fool the
opponent. Seemiller paired inverted rubber with anti-spin rubber. Many players today
combine inverted and long-pipped rubber. The grip is considered exceptional for
blocking, especially on the backhand side, and for forehand loops of backspin balls. [50]
The Seemiller grip's popularity reached its apex in 1985 when four (Danny Seemiller,
Ricky Seemiller, Eric Boggan and Brian Masters) of the United States' five participants
in the World Championships used it.[50]

Types of strokes

Table tennis strokes generally break down into offensive and defensive categories.

Offensive strokes

Hit

Also known as speed drive, a direct hit on the ball propelling it forward back to the
opponent. This stroke differs from speed drives in other racket sports like tennis
because the racket is primarily perpendicular to the direction of the stroke and most of
the energy applied to the ball results in speed rather than spin, creating a shot that does
not arc much, but is fast enough that it can be difficult to return. A speed drive is used
mostly for keeping the ball in play, applying pressure on the opponent, and potentially
opening up an opportunity for a more powerful attack.
Loop

Perfected during the 1960s,[1][51] the loop is essentially the reverse of the chop. The
racket is parallel to the direction of the stroke ("closed") and the racket thus grazes the
ball, resulting in a large amount of topspin. A good loop drive will arc quite a bit, and
once striking the opponent's side of the table will jump forward, much like a kick serve in
tennis. Most professional players nowadays, such as Ding Ning, Timo Boll and Zhang
Jike, primarily use loop for offense.

Counter-hit

The counter-hit is usually a counterattack against drives, normally high loop drives. The
racket is held closed and near to the ball, which is hit with a short movement "off the
bounce" (immediately after hitting the table) so that the ball travels faster to the other
side. Kenta Matsudaira is known for primarily using counter-hit for offense.

Flip

When a player tries to attack a ball that has not bounced beyond the edge of the table,
the player does not have the room to wind up in a backswing. The ball may still be
attacked, however, and the resulting shot is called a flip because the backswing is
compressed into a quick wrist action. A flip is not a single stroke and can resemble
either a loop drive or a loop in its characteristics. What identifies the stroke is that the
backswing is compressed into a short wrist flick.

Smash

A player will typically execute a smash when the opponent has returned a ball that
bounces too high or too close to the net. It is nearly always done with a forehand stroke.
Smashing use rapid acceleration to impart as much speed on the ball as possible so
that the opponent cannot react in time. The racket is generally perpendicular to the
direction of the stroke. Because the speed is the main aim of this shot, the spin on the
ball is often minimal, although it can be applied as well. An offensive table tennis player
will think of a rally as a build-up to a winning smash. Smash is used more often with
penhold grip.

Defensive strokes

Push

The push (or "slice" in Asia) is usually used for keeping the point alive and creating
offensive opportunities. A push resembles a tennis slice: the racket cuts underneath the
ball, imparting backspin and causing the ball to float slowly to the other side of the table.
A push can be difficult to attack because the backspin on the ball causes it to drop
toward the table upon striking the opponent's racket. In order to attack a push, a player
must usually loop (if the push is long) or flip (if the push is short) the ball back over the
net. Often, the best option for beginners is to simply push the ball back again, resulting
in pushing rallies. Against good players, it may be the worst option because the
opponent will counter with a loop, putting the first player in a defensive position. Pushing
can have advantages in some circumstances, such as when the opponent makes easy
mistakes.

Chop

A chop is the defensive, backspin counterpart to the offensive loop drive. [52] A chop is
essentially a bigger, heavier push, taken well back from the table. The racket face
points primarily horizontally, perhaps a little bit upward, and the direction of the stroke is
straight down. The object of a defensive chop is to match the topspin of the opponent's
shot with backspin. A good chop will float nearly horizontally back to the table, in some
cases having so much backspin that the ball actually rises. Such a chop can be
extremely difficult to return due to its enormous amount of backspin. Some defensive
players can also impart no-spin or sidespin variations of the chop. Some famous
choppers include Joo Sae-hyuk and Wu Yang.

Block

A block is executed by simply placing the racket in front of the ball right after the ball
bounces; thus, the ball rebounds back toward the opponent with nearly as much energy
as it came in with. This requires precision, since the ball's spin, speed, and location all
influence the correct angle of a block. It is very possible for an opponent to execute a
perfect loop, drive, or smash, only to have the blocked shot come back just as fast. Due
to the power involved in offensive strokes, often an opponent simply cannot recover
quickly enough to return the blocked shot, especially if the block is aimed at an
unexpected side of the table. Blocks almost always produce the same spin as was
received, many times topspin.

Lob

The defensive lob propels the ball about five metres in height, only to land on the
opponent's side of the table with great amounts of spin.[53] The stroke itself consists of
lifting the ball to an enormous height before it falls back to the opponent's side of the
table. A lob can have nearly any kind of spin. Though the opponent may smash the ball
hard and fast, a good defensive lob could be more difficult to return due to the
unpredictability and heavy amounts of the spin on the ball.[53] Thus, though backed off
the table by tens of feet and running to reach the ball, a good defensive player can still
win the point using good lobs. Lob is used less frequently by professional players. A
notable exception is Michael Maze.

Effects of spin
Adding spin onto the ball causes major changes in table tennis gameplay. Although
nearly every stroke or serve creates some kind of spin, understanding the individual
types of spin allows players to defend against and use different spins effectively. [54]

4 phases in a backspin curve

Backspin

Backspin is where the bottom half of the ball is rotating away from the player, and is
imparted by striking the base of the ball with a downward movement. [54] At the
professional level, backspin is usually used defensively in order to keep the ball low. [55]
Backspin is commonly employed in service because it is harder to produce an offensive
return, though at the professional level most people serve sidespin with either backspin
or topspin. Due to the initial lift of the ball, there is a limit on how much speed with which
one can hit the ball without missing the opponent's side of the table. However, backspin
also makes it harder for the opponent to return the ball with great speed because of the
required angular precision of the return. Alterations are frequently made to regulations
regarding equipment in an effort to maintain a balance between defensive and offensive
spin choices.[citation needed] It is actually possible to smash with backspin offensively, but
only on high balls that are close to the net.

4 phases in a topspin curve

Topspin

The topspin stroke has a smaller influence on the first part of the ball-curve. Like the
backspin stroke, however, the axis of spin remains roughly perpendicular to the
trajectory of the ball thus allowing for the Magnus effect to dictate the subsequent
curvature. After the apex of the curve, the ball dips downwards as it approaches the
opposing side, before bouncing. On the bounce, the topspin will accelerate the ball,
much in the same way that a wheel which is already spinning would accelerate upon
making contact with the ground. When the opponent attempts to return the ball, the
topspin causes the ball to jump upwards and the opponent is forced to compensate for
the topspin by adjusting the angle of his or her racket. This is known as "closing the
racket".

The speed limitation of the topspin stroke is minor compared to the backspin stroke.
This stroke is the predominant technique used in professional competition because it
gives the opponent less time to respond. In table tennis topspin is regarded as an
offensive technique due to increased ball speed, lower bio-mechanical efficiency and
the pressure that it puts on the opponent by reducing reaction time. (It is possible to
play defensive topspin-lobs from far behind the table, but only highly skilled players use
this stroke with any tactical efficiency.) Topspin is the least common type of spin to be
found in service at the professional level, simply because it is much easier to attack a
top-spin ball that is not moving at high speed.

Sidespin

This type of spin is predominantly employed during service, wherein the contact angle
of the racket can be more easily varied. Unlike the two aforementioned techniques,
sidespin causes the ball to spin on an axis which is vertical, rather than horizontal. The
axis of rotation is still roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball. In this
circumstance, the Magnus effect will still dictate the curvature of the ball to some
degree. Another difference is that unlike backspin and topspin, sidespin will have
relatively very little effect on the bounce of the ball, much in the same way that a
spinning top would not travel left or right if its axis of rotation were exactly vertical. This
makes sidespin a useful weapon in service, because it is less easily recognized when
bouncing, and the ball "loses" less spin on the bounce. Sidespin can also be employed
in offensive rally strokes, often from a greater distance, as an adjunct to topspin or
backspin. This stroke is sometimes referred to as a "hook". The hook can even be used
in some extreme cases to circumvent the net when away from the table.

Corkspin

Players employ this type of spin almost exclusively when serving, but at the professional
level, it is also used from time to time in the lob. Unlike any of the techniques mentioned
above, corkspin (or "drill-spin") has the axis of spin relatively parallel to the ball's
trajectory, so that the Magnus effect has little or no effect on the trajectory of a cork-
spun ball: upon bouncing, the ball will dart right or left (according to the direction of the
spin), severely complicating the return. In theory this type of spin produces the most
obnoxious effects, but it is less strategically practical than sidespin or backspin,
because of the limitations that it imposes upon the opponent during their return. Aside
from the initial direction change when bouncing, unless it goes out of reach, the
opponent can counter with either topspin or backspin. A backspin stroke is similar in the
fact that the corkspin stroke has a lower maximum velocity, simply due to the contact
angle of the racket when producing the stroke. To impart a spin on the ball which is
parallel to its trajectory, the racket must be swung more or less perpendicular to the
trajectory of the ball, greatly limiting the forward momentum that the racket transfers to
the ball. Corkspin is almost always mixed with another variety of spin, since alone, it is
not only less effective but also harder to produce.

Competition

Competitive table tennis is popular in East Asia and Europe, and has been[vague] gaining
attention in the United States.[56] The most important international competitions are the
World Table Tennis Championships, the Table Tennis World Cup, the Olympics and the
ITTF World Tour. Continental competitions include the following:

 European Championships
 Europe Top-16
 the Asian Championships
 the Asian Games

Chinese players have won 60% of the men's World Championships since 1959;[57] in the
women's competition for the Corbillin Cup, Chinese players have won all but three of the
World Championships since 1971.[58] Other strong teams come from East Asia and
Europe, including countries such as Austria, Belarus, Germany, Hong Kong, Portugal,
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.[59]

There are also professional competitions at the clubs level; the respective leagues of
Austria, Belgium, China (specifically, the China Table Tennis Super League), France,
Germany and Russia are examples of the highest level. There are also some important
international club teams competitions such as the European Champions League and its
former competitor,[vague] the European Club Cup, where the top club teams from
European countries compete.