TABLE TENNIS

HISTORY
The sport originated in Victorian England, where it was
played among the upper-class as an after-dinner parlour
game. It has been suggested that makeshift versions of the
game were developed by British military officers
in India (Gossima) around the 1860s or 1870s, who brought
it back with them. 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.
 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.
 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, and an unofficial world
championship was held in 1902. In those early days, the
scoring system was the same as in lawn tennis.
 Although both a "Table Tennis Association“
and a "Ping Pong Association" existed by 1910, a
new Table Tennis Association was founded in 1921,
and in 1926 renamed the English Table Tennis
Association. The International Table Tennis
Federation (ITTF) followed in 1926. London hosted
the first official World Championships in 1926. In
1933, the United States Table Tennis Association,
now called USA Table Tennis, was formed.
 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". 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. In the
1950s, paddles that used a rubber sheet combined with an underlying
sponge layer changed the game dramatically, introducing greater spin
and speed. These were introduced to Britain by sports goods
manufacturer S.W. Hancock Ltd. The use of speed glue beginning in the
mid 1980s 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.
DIFFERENT NAMES
 Ping Pong or Gossima
 Whiff Waff
 Indoor Tennis
 Pom-Pom
 Pim-Pam
 Royal Game
 Parlour Tennis
EQUIPMENTS

 Racket / Paddle

 Balls

 Table / Net
 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", 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.
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.
 BALL
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).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
The 40 mm ball was introduced after the end of the 2000 Summer Olympics; previously a 38 mm
ball was standard. 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.
 TABLE
The table is 2.74 m (9 ft) long,
1.525 m (5 ft) wide, and 76 cm (30
inch) high with a Masonite (a type of
hardboard) or similarly manufactured
timber, layered with a smooth, low-
friction coating. The table or playing
surface is divided into two halves by a
15.25 cm (6 inch) high net. An ITTF
approved table surface must be dark
coloured and matte.
 NET
 The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the
supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the
table.
 The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an
upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being
15.25cm outside the side line.
 The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above
the playing surface.
 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.
 BASIC SKILLS
Pen Hold
 The Penhold Grip is so-named because one grips the
racket similarly to the way one holds a writing
instrument .
 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 remain touching one another.
 SHAKEHAND
 The Shakehand grip (also called the
“Shakehands grip") is so-named because one
grips the racket similarly to the way one
performs a handshake.
 The grip is sometimes referred to as the "tennis

grip" or the "Western grip," although it has no

correlation to the Western grip used in tennis.
 The shakehand grip is traditionally popular
among players originating in Western nations
and South Asian nations.
 STANCE
 'A good ready position will enable you to move quickly into position and to stay balanced whilst
playing powerful strokes.'
 The stance in table tennis is also known as the 'ready position'. It is the position every player initially
adopts when receiving and returns to after playing a shot in order to be prepared to make the next
shot. It involves the feet being spaced wider than shoulder width and a partial crouch being adopted;
the crouch is an efficient posture for moving quickly from and also preloads the muscles enabling a
more dynamic movement.
 The upper torso is positioned slightly forward and the player is looking forwards. The racket is held
at the ready with a bent arm. The position should feel balanced and provide a solid base for striking
and quick lateral movement. Players may tailor their stance based upon their personal preferences,
and alter it during the game based upon the specific circumstances.
STARTING A GAME
According to ITTF rule 2.13.1, the first service is decided by lot,
normally a coin toss. 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 / SERVING
Basic Service Techniques
The following are the basic rules of service:
 The ball must be held above the table level in order for the
opponent and umpire to see it.
 The ball must be held in the palm of the hand with fingers
stretched, and tossed vertically at least six inches.
 The ball must be struck only on the way down.
 The ball must be struck behind the end line.
 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the
server's stationary free hand.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 RETURN
 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.

 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. 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.
 Basic Service Techniques
Imparting spin on these serves should be concentrated mostly on the wrist.
Backspin- just like pushing or chopping, a backspin serve is executed with
an open racket slicing the bottom of the ball.
Topspin- like driving, topspin serves can be done hitting with a flat racket,
or like looping, where the player grazes the top of the ball with a closed
racket for more spin.
Sidespin- simply hit the back of the ball in a left-to-right or right to-left
motion, as desired. To make the stroke easier, try holding the racket in front
of you and brushing the bottom of the ball in a pendulum motion.
 RULES
The Order of Play
 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.
 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.
 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.
 LET
The rally shall be a let :
 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
 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
 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
The rally shall be a let :
 If play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire;
 If the receiver is in wheelchair owing to a physical
disability and in service the ball, provided that the service
is otherwise correct
 After touching the receiver’s court returns in the
direction of the net
 Comes to rest on the receiver's court
 In singles, leaves the receiver’s court after touching it by
either of its sidelines
 Let
Play may be interrupted :
 To correct an error in the order of serving, receiving
or ends
 To introduce the “ Expedite System ”
 To warn or penalize a player or adviser
 Because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way
which could affect the outcome of the rally
 SCORING / POINT
 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point
 if an opponent fails to make a correct service;
 if an opponent fails to make a correct return;
 if, after he has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than
the net assembly before being struck by an opponent;
 if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his court,
after being struck by an opponent;
 if an opponent obstructs the ball;
 if an opponent deliberately strikes the ball twice in succession
 If an opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not
comply with the requirements
 If an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;
 If an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly;
 If an opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;
 If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the first
server and first receiver;
 As provided under the expedite system.
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. In competition play, matches are typically best of five or seven games.
 ALTERNATION OF SERVICE 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). 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
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.

Order of play, serving and receiving

 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.
 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.
 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.
 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. 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.
THANK YOU …