1.

History of Table Tennis

Table tennis, also called (trademark) Ping-Pong, ball game similar in

principle to lawn tennis and played on a flat table divided into two equal
courts by a net fixed across its width at the middle. The object is to hit the
ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent’s half of the
table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly.
The lightweight hollow ball is propelled back and forth across the net by
small rackets (bats, or paddles) held by the players. The game is popular all
over the world. In most countries it is very highly organized as a competitive
sport, especially in Europe and Asia, particularly in China and Japan.

2. Table tennis equipments

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 TABLE
The table is 2.74 m (9.0 ft) long, 1.525 m (5.0 ft) wide, and 76 cm
(2.5 ft) high with any continuous material so long as the table yields a
uniform bounce of about 23 cm (9.1 in) when a standard ball is
dropped onto it from a height of 30 cm (11.8 in), or about 77%. The
table or playing surface is uniformly dark coloured and matte, divided
into two halves by a net at 15.25 cm (6.0 in) in height.
The ITTF approves only wooden tables or their derivates. Concrete
tables with a steel net or a solid concrete partition are sometimes available in outside public
spaces, such as parks.

PADDLE
A basic table tennis paddle (also known as a "Racket" or "bat") is used
by table tennis players. The table tennis paddle is usually made from
laminated wood covered with rubber on one or two sides depending on the
player's grip.

NET
This is stretched across the centter of the table by a cord attached to a post at
either end. It measures 6ft long and the ball must pass over it for a rally to
continue.
 3. Different types of table tennis GRIP

1) The Shakehand Grip Technique

The Shakehand Grip has actually evolved out of Western players and gradually got popular
among the European and Asian players too.
The technique got its name for the way one would normally do a handshake with another as this
grip-technique comprises holding the racket pretty much similar to a handshake.
This grip technique can be further divided into two sub-categories:
 The Shakehand deep grip
 The Shakehand shallow grip
The two TT grip techniques differ a little from one another and will certainly need you to
observe the differences closely to fully comprehend the differences.
a) Table Tennis Deep Shakehand Grip

In this style, a player usually positions one’s thumb on the racket’s

rubber. The technique is mostly used by players who don’t need
much of wrist flexibility and who are only looking for a tight hold
of the racket.
The grip style is best for players who prefer more of an accurate
attack than an attack with plenty of force. Also, there are times
when a player if not actually in a position to attack and the most one
can do in such a situation is accurately get the ball to the table
edges.
However, the grip style is ideal for both forehand and backhand. Also, one can easily switch
from side to side using this technique.
Also, a lot of aggressive players find this technique a lot effective in hitting the ball really
hard as this style hardly has to do anything with the wrist flexibility.
Pros
 Offers a tight hold of the racket
 Helps with an accurate attack
 Helps in accurately getting the ball to the table edges
 Ideal for both forehand and backhand
 Helps in hitting the ball really hard
Cons
 Crossover point

b) Table Tennis Shallow Shakehand Grip

The Shallow Shakehand grip is a common grip style among the
beginners for the reason that it offers amazing flexibility of wrist which
eventually improves your ability to spin the ball while executing the serves or
loops.
Also, it helps you return the ball to your opponent more conveniently and
efficiently.
Most importantly, the grip allows you exert more force on the ball and this
is the reason that it can be perfectly used for both forehand and backhand
strokes. This, in turn, makes a lot of room for a player to attack the ball with the same strength
from any position.
Pros
 Offers flexibility of wrist
 Improves your ability to spin the ball
 Helps you return the ball efficiently
 Helps you exert more force on the ball
 Perfect for both forehand and backhand strokes
 Helps in attacking the ball with the same strength from any position
Cons
Crossover ppoin

2) The Table Tennis Penhold Grip

Another hugely popular way of holding the racket is the Penhold Grip and it has 3 variations
such as the Japanese/Korean grip, the reverse backhand grip, and the Chinese grip.The reason the
grip technique is called the Penhold Grip is that it is similar to the way one would actually
hold a pen while writing with the index finger and the thumb at the front of the handle and the
rest folded behind the head of the racket.
a) Chinese Penhold Grip

Asian table tennis players use the Chinese Penhold grip a lot wherein
one would hold one’s racket in a way so as to get the blade faced
towards the ground. Also, it is pretty suitable for players who like to
stay really close to the table.
The Chinese Penhold grip offers more flexibility than the Shakehand
grips do and this will eventually allow you to spin the ball brilliantly in the attacking strokes.
Also, it is largely effective in the serves.
Also, it helps a player easily block and push the ball on the backhand side as it offers brilliant
freedom of bending one’s wrist for forehand strokes as well as backhand strokes. Also, it largely
helps a player from ever being locked away by crossover point.
Pros
 Ideal for players who stay really close to the table
 Helps to spin the ball brilliantly in the attacking strokes
 Largely effective in the serves
 Helps in easily blocking and pushing the ball on the backhand side
 Offers brilliant freedom of bending one’s wrist
 Reduces the possibility of a Crossover point
Cons
 Not ideal for backhand topspin on a constant basis

b) Japanese/Korean Penhold Grip

Unlike the Chinese grip, the fingers on the back of the racket are
instead placed straight in the Korean grip. This technique of
holding the racket allows you to execute the forehand strokes with
more power and also, it helps a player to conveniently attack a ball
even from a spot far from the table.
However, the fact that one has to keep the fingers on the back of the
racket straight tends to limit the blade movement and it gets a bit challenging to position the
racket in various angles in order to reach the ball.
The technique can be a little difficult for beginners to master.
Pros
 Helps to execute the forehand strokes with more power
 Helps to conveniently attack a ball even from a spot far from the table
Cons
 Limited blade movement
 Positioning the racket in various angles is challenging

c) Reverse Backhand Grip

Unlike the normal Penhold grip which uses the same paddle side for both forehand and backhand
strokes, the Reverse Backhand Grip even uses the paddle’s backside.
This helps a player break out of the difficulty in using the backhand topspin on a constant basis
as in the Chinese grip. This makes it pretty ideal for attacking short balls.

4. Rules and regulation of table tennis

The Table
The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m long
and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the floor. The playing surface
shall not include the vertical sides of the tabletop. The playing surface may be of any material
and shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a
height of 30cm. The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matte, but with a white
side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m
edge. The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel
with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.  For doubles, each
court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel
with the side lines; the centre line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court. 

The Net Assembly

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 attached to the supporting posts from top to bottom. 

The Ball
The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm. The ball shall weigh 2.7g. The ball shall be
made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt. 

The Racket
 The racket can be any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.    
 The surface covering material shall be matt and bright red on one side and black on the
other.     
 At least 85% of the blade thickness shall be of natural wood.

Definitions
 A rally is the period which the ball is in play.             
 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.     
 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.   
 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in the rally.
 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes
anywhere other then between the net and the net post or between the net and the playing surface. 

The Service
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 or her 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 or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry. As soon as the ball has been
projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and
the net.
The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite upward
extension. It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire
can be satisfied that he or she complies with the requirements of the Laws, and either may decide
that a service is incorrect. If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the
legality of a service he or she may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the
server; but any subsequent service by that player or his or her doubles partner which is not
clearly legal shall be considered incorrect. Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements
for a correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical
disability. 
 The Return
The ball, having been served or returned shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net
assembly and touches the opponents court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

The Order of Play
In singles the server shall make a first service and the receiver shall make a return
and thereafter 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.

A 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 or she 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 or her court or beyond his or her end line without touching his
or her 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 of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5; 
 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 (2.15.4). 
 If both players or pairs are in a wheelchair due to a physical disability and 
 His or her opponent does not maintain a minimum contact with the seat or cushion(s),
with the back of the thigh, when the ball is struck; 
 His or her opponent touches the table with either hand before striking the ball; 
 His or her opponent's footrest or foot touches the floor during play. 
 As provided under the order of play (2.8.3). 

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

A Match
A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games