Basics of Table Tennis

Table tennis informally also known as "ping pong" is a very popular Olympic game for two challenging players or four players opposing team match. It is almost like tennis in over-all concept, except there is a difference in rule. To enjoy this game all the way, one must have an understanding on how it is basically played. It is a sport for everyone in every leisure time, as long as the ergonomic dimensions of the table tennis is convenient to the maneuvers of a child.

Table tennis consists of a table with the following dimensions: 9 feet x 5 feet, painted/ colored green, blue or black. The ball is hollow, lightweight and made of firm plastic material 40 millimeters in diameter. A net stretches along half the section of the table, crosswise with a height of 15 centimeters.

Rackets for table tennis is about 10 centimeters in length covered with rough rubber on both sides to soften the impact of the ball. Bare rackets with no rubber covering are not allowed because it prevents the ball from spinning. While it is a requirement, some coatings are not acceptable.

The enjoyable part of table tennis playing is executing strategies and techniques in spinning the ball with speed and strategy. But before getting the knack of advanced techniques, here are the basic rules of table tennis:

Before starting a game without bias on who will serve the ball, a nice coin toss can settle it. The ball must be tactically tossed to a height of 6 inches, let it land on the first half of his table, over the net. If it does not get through the net, opponent gains a point.

However, if it hits the net but slips through to the opponent's other half of table, then the game must stop and ball must be served again. This is called "let." Every "let" will not penalize a player. For every good service, the opponent must let the ball bounce once into the table before hitting it again to return it to the opposite direction to the opponent.

The scoring happens after every error of each players based on the following instances:

1. When a player lets the ball bounce on his table twice, then the other gets scored

2. Failure to hit the ball once it successfully landed and bounced on one's side

3. When hitting to return the ball and it bounced on one's area instead on the other side, then the opponent gets score

4. Hitting the ball with hands accidentally is acceptable, but hitting it again to the racket means a double strike. When a player commits double strike, his opponent gets scored.

5. If the return is not good and it did not bounce to the opponent's half side, then it is an error.

6. One must let the ball bounce his half table area before hitting to return the ball. Failure to do so is an error and will give opponent a point.

Successful hit and return of ping-pong balls happen after series of practice, when the hands get full coordination with the body movement. Graceful and smooth hits will give the ball a nice bounce inside the table. As the mastery begins to build up, players can hit extensively for up to a speed of 110 km/hr and it will not go wrong unless it is an awkward and bad move.

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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