Table Tennis Rules Explained. Useful Information on Great Sport with Small Equipment

Table tennis is a dynamic kind of sport that helps to develop the reaction, attention, and motor activity. Although the game was originally developed in England in the 19th century, it obtained an official status in 1988 only when table tennis became an Olympic sport. In those days, players had to earn 30 points to win a match. Similar tendencies can be found even at present because numerous amateurs can play to 21 points.

Table tennis is extremely popular in Asian countries, which explains that fact that all the international competitions are mainly won by Asian players. It is also common that some people call the game ‘ping pong’. The name appeared to imitate the sounds of the bouncing ball. Nowadays, however, the term ‘table tennis’ is said to be more common. That is why the given article is going to present everything about table tennis.

Main Rules

According to the official rules of table tennis, a full match consists of 7 sets where a player or a team of players should win 4 of them to win in a match (the best-of-7 system). At the same time, every set is played until one of the players gets 11 points provided the difference between his score and that of his opponent/opponents is 2 and more points. If the score is 10:11, the players should keep playing until they reach the necessary margin. For example, a set can end with the final score of 15:17, 13:11, and so on.

After every set, the opponents must switch the ends of the tennis table. If the player should play the 7th set to determine a winner, they should switch the ends after one of them gains 5 points. After this, the set should be continued.

A ping pong match can be played either between two players or between two teams with two players in each (so-called double table tennis). Any rally starts with serving. Serving can be done only when the racket and the ball are behind the table (in a vertical plane) and above its surface. A player who is going to serve should keep the ball in an open palm of a free hand and throw the ball up no less than 16 cm. When the ball is moving downwards, the ball may hit it with the racket. Serving is said to be successful if the player manages to forward the ball in such a way that it firstly grounds his own table end, goes over the net, and bounces at the opponent’s table end. If the ball touches the net (even if this fact did not change its direction), serving must be repeated. After serving, every following hit should be made in such a manner that the ball should land on the opponent’s table end.

The right to serve first (or the right to choose a table end) is determined by a coin toss. Then, the serving right moves from one player to the other after every 2 points (rallies). The rally is being played until one of the players fails to return the ball to the opponent’s end according to the official rules. In this case, a point is gained by a player who managed to make the previous successful shot.

There is a certain list of mistakes that can result in losing some points. Thus, they are as follows:

• improper serve (for instance, if the ball is thrown up at 5 cm);
• serving mistake (for example, serving is proper itself but the ball reaches the net and goes outside the table);
• the ball lands twice on the server’s end;
• a player makes the ball touches his own table end (in all the other cases except for serving);
• a player hits the ball twice (even if it was done with two different elements);
• a player fails to direct the ball onto the opponent’s table end;
• a player hits the ball sent by his opponent before it touches the table;
• a player moves the table or touches it with his free hand.

In conclusion, there are some additions that can be quite important for the game. Thus, if a player sends the ball (not serving) to the opponent’s end and the ball touches the net, the game should be continued if the ball touches the net and lands on the opponent’s table end. At the same time, if a player directs the ball according to the rules and his opponent fails to send it back, he does not earn a point should he touch the table with his free hand even after the hit.

Doubles Rules

When it comes to doubles, the tennis table should be divided into two equal vertical parts with a white line that should cross the net perpendicularly. In this case, a server should make the ball land firstly on the right zone of his own end and then land on the left zone of the opponents’ end. In other words, serving should be done diagonally.

Once a rally starts, partners should hit the ball in turns. With this, there is still a similarity with single matches where the right to serve goes to opponents after every two points earned. At the same time, partners of the same team should change the zones at their table end.

Table Tennis to 21 Points

As it has been previously mentioned, some amateur tournaments can prescribe that a set consists of 21 points. At this point, it is not necessary to think that the given table tennis variation has more various rules. No, the scoring system is the only difference. Here, the right to serve is also decided by a coin toss. The serving procedure itself is governed by the same requirements (position of the racket, open palm, height of a throw, and so on). Points are also earned if an opponent makes a mistake. Moreover, if a set has a score of 20:20, the set should be continued unless the difference of 2 points is achieved. This is the same situation as with a score of 10:10.

Equipment

The table. The table surface should have the following dimensions: 2.74 m long and 1.525 m long. The table surface should be 76 cm above the floor level. It can be made of any materials but the surface must be matt. The table edges should be covered with two end lines that are parallel to the net and two sidelines that are perpendicular to it. The lines should be 2 cm wide. When it comes to doubles, the 3-mm line should be drawn to divide the table into two parts. This is done to create zones that are very important for doubles.

The net. It should rise 15.25 cm above the table surface. The net should divide the table into two equal parts. It is attached to two posts of the same height.

The ball. It should be matt and of either the white or the orange color. Its diameter should be 38 mm and weight – 2.5 g. Each of the opposing players chooses a few balls before entering the game court. After that, it is up to a referee to choose the ball for the match.

The racket. There are no strict limitations concerning the shape and the size of the racket. However, there are still certain requirements that implicitly influence this situation. Thus, the ‘working surface’ of the rackets should be firm and flat, with a wooden core that is 85% of the racket overall thickness. It is this rule that prevents people from playing with huge items.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the racket rubber surface. The players may use both pimpled and layered rubber. With this, the pimpled rubber should not be thicker than 2 mm, the layered rubber – no thicker than 4 mm. According to the rules of the Olympic games, it is prohibited to use various kinds of glue that can increase the ball speed.

Prior to the beginning of a match, the players should present their rackets to each other and to the referee for checking. The same procedure arises if it happens that a player is forced to change the racket during the match.

Table Tennis Skills

There are two ways of how the players may shoot the ball with their rackets. The first one is just by applying defensive shots without any attacking attempts. Usually, beginners start with this kind of shots. The second kind is represented by attacking shots. In this case, it is necessary to shoot the ball tangentially to send the ball in a necessary direction and make it rotate. A type of rotation depends on the racket angle and the stroke direction.

Now, let us get familiar with the basic types of shots applied by tennis players.

Blocking. Here, the ball is shot after it rises above the table. The racket should be placed parallel to the net in order to create a so-called wall. When the ball hits this racket, it should be sent back to the opponent’s end. To make this shot, it is necessary to straighten arms towards the ball.

The given skill has some disadvantages, too. It is impossible to use the push to send the ball with a high speed. Moreover, it can be used only when the ball is above the table. When it crosses the vertical plane of the table, it is necessary to shoot the ball differently. Beginners should understand that it will take a few days to master this skill.

Lob is another defensive shot. It is used by a player when his opponent makes him play far from the table. The lob is represented by a long and high shot, which will take a few seconds for the ball to reach the opponent’s end. This is done for a defensive player to win some time to recover his position. Although the skill seems to be quite easy, it is really difficult to make the ball follow the required path and reach the table.

Loop. This is an attacking shot, during which you should move your racket forward and upwards. The racket should touch the ball tangentially to spin it. To send the ball strongly, it is necessary to move your body together with the hand. Also, it is necessary to use the loop when the ball is in its highest point after a bounce.

Chop is an attacking shot that is opposite to the loop. The difference manifests itself in the fact that the hand with the racket should move forward and downwards this time. In this case, a player makes the ball spin backward, which contributes to creating certain difficulties for the opponent.

Smash is the final attacking shot that is more likely to result in earning a point. This skill is used by a player when the ball bounces unusually high above the table. After this, an attacking player uses all his power to make the ball land on the opponent’s table end and bounce as far as possible making it extremely difficult for the opponent to return the ball.