Table Tennis

Table tennis is an indoor game for two or four players who use a small wooden racket to hit a hollow celluloid ball
over a net stretched across the table.
History
Like most other sports, table tennis had humble beginnings as a “parlor game,” open to anyone with access to a table,
paddle, and ball. The game began in the 1880s, when lawn tennis players adapted their game to play indoors during the
winter.

Ping-Pong is a trademark name for table tennis and associated equipment. The name “Ping-Pong” was invented by
the English firm J. Jaques and Son at the end of the 1800s and later trademarked in the United States by Parker
Brothers, the board game company.

The game quickly caught on, and as early as 1901, tournaments were being conducted with over 300 participants.
The Ping-Pong Association was formed but was renamed The Table Tennis Association in 1922.

Equipment
Racket – also called bats or paddles, "racket" is the official ITTF term for the instrument used to hit the ball. Table
tennis rackets are made of plywood and covered in pimpled or inverted rubber with a thin layer of sponge in
between. The combination of sponge, pimpled rubber and plywood allows the ball to travel at maximum speed and
is conducive to adding spin to the ball, although many players today prefer inverted rubber because it is resistant to
spins, allowing for effective defensive shots. Most rackets have a long handle but the Japanese racket has a raised
handle and the Chinese racket a much shortened handle, allowing for varying ways of gripping the racket.

Ping Pong ball – international regulations require a table tennis ball to be 40 mm in diameter and made from
hollow celluloid. The required diameter was changed from 38 mm in 2003 in an attempt to slow the ball down,
causing controversy amongst some Chinese players who are famed for their ability to spin the ball so fast, a return
is impossible. The colour of the ball used depends upon the colour of the table but is usually the colour that stands
out most effectively against the table. The quality of ball is denoted by a number of stars: one, two or three. Three
star balls are the most expensive but are very good quality and will last a lot longer than balls with one star.

Table – official table tennis tables are 2.74 m in length, 1.525 m wide and 0.7 m high. Tables are made from a
manufactured timber and covered in a smooth coating to reduce friction, allowing the ball to have maximum
bounce. A white line borders the table and divides it lengthwise, marking the right hand and left hand half of each
side.

Net – the net stretches across the middle of the table and should be 15.25 cm high.

Clothing – there is no specific uniform required for table tennis, although in official competitions teams will wear
clothes representative of their countries’ colours. Loose, non-reflective clothing is recommended and footwear
should allow good ankle control and quick movements, as opposed to trainers that are specifically designed for
running.

Terminologies
Anti-spin A smooth rubber with very low surface friction, used to defend against excessive spin or to confuse the
opponent. This type of rubber deactivates spin and speed, returning a "dead" ball.

Assistant Umpire The person appointed to assist the umpire with certain decisions.

Backhand A shot executed where the back of your hand is pointing towards the opponent, to the left of the elbow
for a right handed player and vice versa for a left handed player.

Backspin A type of spin used mostly on defensive shots. When you chop down on the ball, you produce backspin.
The bottom of the ball will move away from you.

Bat An alternative name for the racket.

Blade The wooden part of the racket.

Block A topspin shot played close to the table with the racket making contact with the ball just after it bounces.

Blocker A style of play where use of the block is the primary stroke.

Chop A defensive return of a topspin stroke played with backspin, usually well away from the table.

Chopper A style of play where use of the chop is the primary stroke.

Chop Block A stroke played close to the table where the racket makes contact with the ball (just after it bounces)
with a fast downward vertical motion to create backspin. Made popular by Jan-Ove Waldner.

Closed Racket A stroke played with the striking surface of the racket angled downwards, eg. a topspin stroke
or block.

Counter-loop A loop stroke played in response to a loop stroke from your opponent.

Counter-smash A smash stroke played in response to a smash stroke from your opponent.

Cross-court A stroke that's hit diagonally from corner to corner.

Crossover Point The area in which the player has no obvious choice of forehand or backhand. For a right handed
player, the crossover point is roughly in line with the right hip.

Dead ball A stroke played which returns the ball with very little, or no spin.

Deep Playing any shot which causes the ball to bounce very near to your opponent’s end of the table.

Double Bounce When the ball bounces twice on one side of the table before a return is made, causing that player
to lose the point.

Doubles A game of table tennis where two people play on each side and alternate turns at striking the ball.

Down the line A stroke that's played where the ball travels parallel to the sidelines of the table.

Drive A stroke played close to the table with your racket arm moving forward and slightly upwards in the
direction that the ball is going to travel.
Drop shot A shot which drops very short over the net on your opponent's side of the table. Usually played when
your opponent is positioned away from the table.

Early Playing a stroke (during a rally) that makes contact with the ball just after it bounces.

Expedite A rule which comes into operation if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes play (or at any earlier time
at the request of both players or pairs). Thereafter, each player shall serve for one point in turn and if the receiving
player or pair makes 13 returns, the receiver shall score a point.

Flat Playing a stroke with minimum topspin so that the ball travels very low over the net.

Flip A stroke played close to the table where you hit over the back or top of ball, using a loose wrist action to
impart topspin.

Float A stroke played which returns the ball with very little, or no spin. Particularly used by players who use a
defensive style of play in order to deceive their opponent.

Forehand A shot executed where the palm of your hand is facing your opponent, to the right side of the elbow for
a right handed player and vice versa for a left handed player.

Free Hand The hand not holding the racket.

Funny Bat / Racket See Long Pimples

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

Gluing-up The act of affixing table tennis rubbers to the blade with table tennis glue (particularly with "speed"
glue which was repeated at regular intervals in order to increase the playing speed of the rubber, but this is no
longer permitted).

Handicap Event An event in a tournament where players are graded or ranked according to ability so that they
can compete equally. The weaker player will not have to score as many points as the stronger player to win a game.

Heavy Used to describe excessive spin.

High Toss Serve A serve where the ball is thrown high into the air. This helps the server to increase the amount of
spin and speed imparted onto the ball.

ITTF International Table Tennis Federation - the international governing body for the sport of table tennis.

Inverted rubber The most common racket covering. It consists of a sheet of rubber on top of a layer of sponge.
The pimples (pips) face inward, so the playing surface is smooth.

Junk Bat / Racket See Long Pimples

Kill An aggressive shot hit with too much speed for the opponent to return it.

Late Playing a stroke (during a rally) that makes contact with the ball when the ball is descending rather than
rising.

Let A rally where the result is not scored.

Let Serve If the ball touches the net, provided the service is otherwise good, the serve is replayed - or - if your
opponent is not ready, the serve is replayed.

Loaded Used to describe excessive spin.

Lob A defensive shot used against high-speed shots, where the ball is returned very high in the air.

Long Playing any shot which causes the ball to bounce very near to your opponent's end of the table.

Long Pimples (Pips) A type of racket covering. A sheet of rubber on top of a layer of sponge. The pimples (pips)
face outwards, so the playing surface is pimpled. Depending on the length and hardness of the pimples, unusual
types of spin can be imparted.

Loop An attacking stroke where excessive topspin is imparted onto the ball. This enables you to hit the ball
harder as the topspin will help you keep the ball in play.

Looper A style of play where use of the loop is the primary stroke.

Loose return A return shot that is either too high, too long, has insufficient spin or a combination of these and
therefore makes it easy for your opponent to attack or kill.

Match A match consists of the best of any odd number of games (usually 3, 5 or 7).

Multi-ball A training method that minimizes wasted time by using a continuous supply of table tennis balls instead
of just one ball.

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

Open Racket A stroke played with the striking surface of the racket angled upwards, eg. a push or backspin shot.

Paddle An alternative name for the racket.

Penhold A style of grip in which the racket handle is held between the thumb and forefinger. Used mainly by
Asian players.

Pimples A type of racket covering. A sheet of rubber on top of a layer of sponge. The pimples (pips) face
outwards, so the playing surface is pimpled. Depending on the length and hardness of the pimples, unusual types of
spin can be imparted.

Ping Pong A trademarked name in USA. Often used interchangeably with table tennis by the general public.

Playing Surface The upper surface of a table tennis table which lies in a horizontal plane 76cm (2ft 6in) above
the floor.

Point A unit of scoring in table tennis. A rally where the result is scored.

Push A backspin shot usually executed over the playing surface.

RacketThe equipment used to hit the ball. Comprises of a wooden blade with rubbers affixed to it.

Racket hand The hand that is holding the racket.

Rally The period during which the ball is in play.

Ranking / Rating A method of evaluating the playing abilities of different players in relation to each other.

Ranking Event An event in which the results will be used to calculate a player's ranking.

Receiver The player due to strike the ball second in a rally.

Referee The person appointed to control a tournament.

Re-glue The act of affixing table tennis rubbers to the blade with table tennis glue (particularly with "speed"
glue which was repeated at regular intervals in order to increase the playing speed of the rubber, but this is no
longer permitted).

Reverse rubber The most common racket covering. It consists of a sheet of rubber on top of a layer of sponge.
The pimples (pips) face inward, so the playing surface is smooth.

Rubber The racket covering. Sometimes refers only to the rubber on top of a sponge base.

Sandwich Rubber A type of racket covering. A racket covering with pimples inwards or outwards on top of a
layer of sponge, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4mm.

Server The player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

Service The start of a point where one player strikes the ball.

Shake hand A style of grip in which the racket handle is held in the palm of your hand so that the start of the
racket head fits snugly into the "V" shape formed by your thumb and first finger - similar to shaking hands with
another person.

Short Playing any shot which causes the ball to bounce very near to the net and, if not hit by your opponent,
would bounce at least twice on the table.

Short pimples A type of racket covering. A sheet of rubber on top of a layer of sponge. The pimples (pips) face
outwards, so the playing surface is pimpled. Depending on the length and hardness of the pimples, unusual types of
spin can be imparted.

Sidespin A type of spin imparted onto the ball causing it to move left or right before and after it strikes the
playing surface.

Smash An aggressive shot hit with speed, often in response to a high bouncing return.

Speed Glue A type of glue used to affix table tennis rubbers to the blade. Previously used at regular intervals in
order to increase the playing speed of the rubber, but this is no longer permitted.

Spin The rotation of the ball. A player can impart spin onto the ball by using a brushing action with the racket
surface.

Sponge A type of racket covering used in sandwich rubbers. It is used under a sheet of rubber with pimples.
First seen in 1952 when Japan's Hiroji Satoh astonished the world with his unexpected victory in the men's singles
of the World Championship that year.
Strike Touching the ball in play with your racket, held in your racket hand, or with your racket hand below the
wrist.

Stroke Any shot used by a player in a game.

Sweet spot The portion of the racket (usually near the centre) which produces the best response.

Third ball attack The stroke played by the server after the opponent's return of the serve. Because the serve can be
used to make attacking difficult for the opponent, the third ball is frequently the first strong attacking stroke in any
table tennis rally.

Tight Playing any shot which makes it difficult for your opponent to attack.

Topspin A type of spin imparted onto the ball causing it to arc over the net and down onto the table surface.

Twiddle The act of turning the racket in your hand in order to use different sides of the racket to strike the ball.
Usually only used by players who have different rubbers on each side of their racket in order to deceive their
opponent. video demonstration of twiddling

Umpire The person appointed to control a match.

Underspin A type of spin used mostly on defensive shots. When you chop down on the ball, you produce
underspin. The bottom of the ball will move away from you.

Volley Hitting the ball before it bounces on your side of the table. A player who volleys the ball generally loses the
point.

Basic Rules of Table Tennis

1. The right to choose the order of serving, receiving, and ends shall be decided by a toss of coin/lot and the
winner may choose to serve or to receive first, or to start at a particular end.
2. After two 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.

Service
1. Service starts with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server’s stationary free hand behind the
end line and above the level of the playing surface. He or she, then, throws the ball upward. As the ball is
falling, the server strikes it so that it touches his or her court first and then, after passing over the net,
touches the receiver’s court. In doubles, the ball should touch the right half court of server and receiver.
2. In doubles, the pair having the right to serve the first shall choose which of them will do so. In the first
game of a match, the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first.
3. At each change of service, the previous receiver shall become the first server and the partner of the previous
server shall become the first receiver.
 4. The ball and the racket shall be above the level of the table from the last moment at which the ball is
stationary before being projected until it is struck.
5. When the ball is struck, it shall be behind the server’s end line but not farther back than the part of the
server’s body, other than his or her arm, head, or leg, which is farthest from his or her end line.

Let – A let shall be called:

1. When the service is delivered while the receiver is not yet ready provided he or she does not attempt to
strike the ball.
2. If the play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire to correct error in serving or receiving ends,
3. If the failure is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player,
4. If a served ball is obstructed by the receiver or partner, or
5. If the ball becomes fractured in play, affecting the player’s return.

Scoring
1. A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points. If both players score 10 points, the first
player or pair to score two more points than the other player or pair wins
2. A match shall consist of a best of three out of five games.

Point – the player gains a point if:

1. The opponent fails to make a good service
2. The opponent fails to make a good return,
3. He or she, his or her racket, or anything that he or she wears touches the net or its upper support while the
ball is in play.
4. The ball passes beyond his or her end line without touching his or her court after being struck by his or her
opponent,
5. His or her opponent obstructs the ball,
6. His or her opponent strikes the ball successively at least twice,
7. His or her opponent strikes the ball with the side of the racket blade,
8. His or her opponent moves the playing surface,
9. His or her opponent’s free hand touches the net assembly, or
10. His or her opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface.

Officiating at a table tennis match

 Officials
1. Referee – is responsible for interpreting the rules and regulations and assigning and replacing match
officials.
2. Umpire – checks the availability of equipment and playing conditions and reports any deficiency to the
referee.
3. Scorer – records the score in accordance with the rules
 Duties and responsibilities
Referee
1. Decides each rally as a point or a let
2. Calls the score in accordance with specific procedures
3. Introduces the most efficient system at the appropriate time
4. Maintains the continuity of play
5. Takes action for breaches of the behavior regulations
Umpire
1. Randomly takes a ball to be used in play in accordance with the rules
2. Conducts the draw for choice of servng, receiving, and ends
3. Controls order of service, receiving, and ends, and corrects any errors therein.
Mechanics in Officiating
1. The referee shall call the score as soon as the ball is out of play at the completion of a rally.
2. In calling the score, the number of points scored by the server shall be called first, followed by the number
of points scored by the receiver.
3. At the beginning of a game, and upon change of server, the referee shall point to the next server.
4. At the end of the game, the umpire shall announce the winning player, then read the number of points
scored by the winner, followed by the number of points scored by the losing player.
5. In addition to calling the score, the umpire may use hand signals to indicate his or her decisions.
6. When a point has been scored, the umpire raises his or her hand at shoulder level and points to the player
who earned the score.
7. When a player is formally warned for bad behavior, a yellow marker shall be placed on or near the score
indicator.

References

Copacio, H. P., Lugue, V. R., Ramirez, V. E., Darilag, A. G., Mequi, A. H., Vergara, L. A., . . . Reyes, G. (2014). Our World of
MAPEH. Quezon City: Vibal Group, Inc.

Equipment – talkTableTennis. (n.d.). Retrieved from talkTableTennis Equipment Comments:

http://www.talktabletennis.co.uk/guides/table_tennis_equipment.html

Table Tennis And How To Play The Game. Facts And Information About Ping Pong. (n.d.). Retrieved from Table Tennis And
How To Play The Game. Facts And Information About Ping Pong.: http://www.athleticscholarships.net/other-sports-
table-tennis.htm

Table Tennis Terminology - A Glossary of Table Tennis Terms. (n.d.). Retrieved from AllAboutTableTennis.com:
http://www.allabouttabletennis.com/table-tennis-terminology.html