MODULE 7: CHAPTER V: INDIVIDUAL & DUAL SPORTS

A. Table Tennis
 Definition
 Brief History
 Common Terms Used for Playing Table Tennis
 Basic Skills in Playing Table Tennis
 Rules of the Table Tennis
WEEK: 7
TIME ALLOTMENT: 2 Hours

OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this module, the students shall be able to:
1. Discuss briefly the definition of Table Tennis;
2. Trace the history of the game; and
3. Identify the term used in the game.

LEARNING CONTENT:

INDIVIDUAL & DUAL SPORTS

Introduction

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.

Discussion

A. Table Tennis

 Brief 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 Federation 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.

 Common Terms Used for Playing Table Tennis.

1. Backhand, when you hit the ball swinging with the back of your hand going towards the
ball.
2. Forehand, when you hit the ball swinging with the palm of your hand going towards the
ball.
3. Backspin, when you slice the ball with a motion that causes it to spin backwards.
4. Topspin, when you slice the ball with a motion that causes it to spin forwards.
5. Dead, when you hit the ball with no spin.
6. Smash, when you hit the ball really hard, can also be called a kill shot.
7. Lob, a very high shot.
8. Rally, when you have a rally it means to hit the ball back a forth to each other.

9. Let, if something goes wrong and you have to replay the point.
10. Heavy, if a shot is heavy then it just means it has a lot of spin.

 Basic Skills in Table Tennis

To become an excellent table tennis player, one needs to master and to get table
tennis technical efficiently. These skills are the primary strokes that form the foundation of
the table tennis. Without them, it will be tough to succeed in this game. Some people get to
master them before they start playing the table tennis. However, this is not a prerequisite
since one can develop the skill as he continues practicing the game. Mostly we start teaching
the backhand drive because it helps the player to master good offensive skills which can be
incorporated with others before one learn the complicated defensive push strokes.

1). Backhand Push -most people say that backhand push is the most straightforward drive
of the all table tennis drives. We are going to categorize position one should take to play the
backhand push excellently.

2). Forehand Drive-the forehand drive is Brocken into four parts which you should master
to have an excellent play.
 3). Backhand Drive- Some of the players say that playing backhand drive is hander. This
can be because the backswing in it is different from the others. We are also going to
divide it into four categories and discuss what it entails.

4). Forehand Push- most of the beginners find this drive to be the hardest one to play in
table tennis drives. Most beginners struggle to master its move ad it can be more
discouraging if two first time players are playing together. It is also analyzed into four
categories.

 Rules of the Table Tennis

1. Games are played to 11 points- a game is played to 11 points. A game must be won
by two points. A Match is generally the best three of five Games.

2. Alternate serves every two points- each side of the table alternates serving two points
at a time. EXCEPTION: After tied 10-10 (“deuce”), service alternates at every point. Can
you lose on a serve in ping pong? Yes! There is no separate rule for serving on Game
Point.

3. Toss the ball straight up when serving- How do you serve the ball in ping pong? Hold
the ball in your open palm, behind your end of the table. Toss at least 6” straight up, and
strike it on the way down. It must hit your side of the table and then the other side.
NOTE: Once the ball leaves the server’s hand it is in play, and so counts as the receiver’s
point if the ball is missed or mis-hit.

4. The serve can land anywhere in singles-there is no restriction on where the ball lands
on your side or your opponent’s side of the table. It can bounce two or more times on
your opponent’s side (if so, that’s your point), bounce over the side, or even hit the edge.

5. Doubles serves must go right court to right court- the serve must bounce in the
server’s right court, and receiver’s right court (NOTE: landing on center line is fair).
Doubles partners switch places after their team serves twice.

6. A Serve that touches the net on the way over is a “Let”- Can the ball hit the net in
ping pong? Yes, during a RALLY, if it touches the top of the net and then otherwise lands
as a legitimate hit. BUT not when serving. If a served ball hits the net on the way over
and otherwise legally bounces in play, it’s a “let” serve and is done over. There is no limit
on how many times this can happen.
 7. Alternate hitting in a doubles rally- Doubles partners must alternate hitting balls in a
rally, no matter where the ball lands on the table.

8. Volleys are not allowed - can you hit the ball before it bounces in ping pong? No. In
regular tennis you may “volley” the ball (hitting the ball before it bounces on your side
of the net). But in table tennis, this results in a point for your opponent. NOTE: When
your opponent hits a ball that sails over your end of the table without touching it and
then hits you or your paddle that is still your point.

9. If your hit bounces back over the net by itself it is your point- if you hit the ball in
a rally or on a serve and it bounces back over the net after hitting your opponent’s side
of the table (due to extreme spin), without your opponent touching it, that is your point.

10. Touching the ball with your paddle hand is allowed-what happens if the ball hits
your finger or hand during a ping pong rally? If the ball touches your PADDLE hand and
otherwise results in a legal hit, there is no rule violation and play shall continue as normal.
Your paddle hand includes all fingers and hand area below the wrist. But what if the ball
touches a player’s body anywhere else during a ping pong rally? You may not touch the
table with your non-paddle hand for any reason. It will result in a point for your opponent.
BUT if your opponent’s hit sails over your side of the table without touching it, and hits
any part of you or your paddle, that is still your point.

11. You may not touch the table with your non-paddle hand- you may touch the ball
or the table with your paddle hand (after reaching in to return a short serve, for example),
or other parts of your body. NOTE: If the table moves at all from you’re touching it during
a rally that is your opponent’s point.

12. An “edge” ball bouncing off the horizontal table top surface is good- an otherwise
legal serve or hit may contact the top edge of the horizontal table top surface and be
counted as valid, even if it bounces sidewise. The vertical sides of the table are NOT part
of the legal playing surface.

13. Honor system applies to disagreements- If no referee is present during a match and
the players disagree on a certain call, the “honor system” applies and the players should
find a way to agree, or play the point over. Ping pong carries a tradition of fierce but fair
play.

Summary

Table Tennis began as a mild social diversion. It was probably played with improvised
equipment in England, during the last quarter of the 19th century. Though table tennis
evolved, along with badminton and lawn tennis, from ancient game of tennis.

An intense game of table tennis stimulates mental alertness and concentration and
develops mental acuity.

REFERENCE:

1. Tulio, D. D., Ph.D. (2004). Individual, Dual Sports, Aglipay St., Mandaluyong City.

Congratulations for finishing the Module 7! Keep up the good work.

MAY D. BUISEL
Instructor

Reviewed/Approved:

AIZA P. RUMAUAC, CPA MICHAEL D. ALMAZAN, LPT, MBM

LILY MAE M. KIMAYONG, MBA JADE A. BUISEL, ECE, REE

ANGELO K. LAHINA, LPT, MAT ABRAHAM G. UCOL