The Basics of Table Tennis

Originally intended as a recreational form of exercise for the upper classes in Victorian-era England, the sport was initially called ping pong until being renamed table tennis in 1922. During the sport’s early years, it was mostly played and controlled by Europeans, particularly Hungarians. However, table tennis gained widespread popularity in Asia following its introduction to the continent in the 1950s. Asia has since served as a breeding ground for some of the world’s top players.

Table tennis games can be played individually or in teams. It has categories of singles, doubles, mixed doubles, and team competitions based on gender. The game requires a high level of concentration and quick reflexes.

The game is played on a nine-by-five-foot rectangular table with a green or dark blue surface. A small net much like a tennis net is strung across the table, dividing it in two and extending a bit beyond the table on each side. Although the regulations do not stipulate a specific size, the paddles, also known as rackets or bats, are typically around 15 centimeters across and made of rubber-coated plywood. The 40-millimeter-diameter ball is constructed of cellulose and is durable and lightweight. Typically, the balls are either white or yellow.

In serious table tennis competitions, a coin flip decides who serves. The player strikes the ball beyond the table’s edge and bounces it once on their side of the table, with the goal of getting the ball to land in the opponent’s court. If a serve hits the net and does not cross over into the opposing court, the opponent earns a point. If a serve touches the net but lands on the opponent’s side of the table, it is deemed a “let” and is played over.

The opponent must return a ball after it bounces once by hitting it directly over the net into the opposing court. The players then alternate between playing the ball and letting it bounce on the opposing player’s side of the table until a player commits an error.

In table tennis, the objective is to strike the ball so that the opponent does not successfully return it, earning the player a point. By adjusting the ball’s pace, angle, and spin, players can expand their range and variety of shots. Using different types of strokes can dramatically improve a player’s game. Strokes are divided into two categories: attacking, which includes smashes, loops, counter-hits, and flicks, and defensive strokes, which are pushes, chops, blocks, and lobs.

If the ball makes contact with the net but does not land on the opponent’s half, or if the ball makes contact with the net but does not touch the table, the opponent scores a point. Additionally, the opponent may receive a point if the player strikes the ball outside the playing area or if the ball makes contact with any part of the player’s body while attempting a shot.

A player wins the game by scoring 11 points. Each player receives two consecutive serves. A player must win by two points after the score is tied at ten points each.

Players alternate serves every two points regardless of the points scored. They also alternate playing sides of the table following each game. In addition, players must switch sides in the fifth or seventh game when “for the match” when the first player scores five points.