JENALIN C.

ADORA BSBA-HRM II/BLOCK III

TABLE TENNIS

WHAT IS TABLE TENNIS?

Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a
lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid
rackets. It takes place on a hard table divided by a net.

HISTORY OF TABLE TENNIS

THE ORIGINS OF TABLE TABLE
It was in England, in the late 19th century, that table tennis made its appearance. Taking inspiration
from lawn tennis, the first players belonged to middle-class Victorian society. The first game would
have been played using a champagne cork as a ball, cigar boxes as bats and books for the net. At that
point, table tennis was seen as a mere distraction for the wealthy classes. In 1890, Englishman David
Foster, attracted by its wide appeal, introduced the first game of tennis on a table. In 1897, the first
national championships were organised in Hungary. Following a trip to the United States, in 1901
James Gibb brought back the first celluloid ball, which was a lot lighter than the rubber balls. A year
later, in 1902, E.C. Gould, a British enthusiast of the game, introduced the first bats covered in rubber
and rubberized pimples. It was game on for the history of table tennis!

THE FIRST TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENTS

Following on from the success of the first public tournaments at Queen’s Hall in London, it was in
1902 that the first official World Championship took place. The sport enjoyed increased growth and
the British Table Tennis Federation was created. The first European Championships were
subsequently organised in 1907. Everything stepped up a gear in the 1920s. The Table Tennis
Association was created in England in 1921, followed by the International Federation in 1926. The
World Championships between the different countries were held in London in 1926 and the French
Table Tennis Federation saw the light of day in 1927. The French would participate for the first time in
Budapest in 1929. The history of table tennis is coloured by a great many champions, including the
Austro-Briton Richard Bergmann, Franco-Polish player Aloizy Ehrilich and the Romanian Angelica
Rozeanu.

THE RISE OF TABLE TENNIS IN ASIA

In the 1950s, table tennis became integral to the countries of Asia. The Japanese excelled at the
World Team Championships between 1954 and 1959. This domination was bolstered by the
introduction of foam, which transformed classic bats. The Japanese have provided several world
champions, including the likes of Hiroji Sato, distinguishing themselves with their impressive results in
1956 in Tokyo. The sixties heralded the arrival of Chinese supremacy, punctuated by Zhuand Zedong’s
triple world champion titles in 1961, 1963 and 1965. It was during this period that ping-pong
diplomacy was developed, which contributed to the improvement in Sino-American relations. In 1977,
during the World Championships in Birmingham, the first “Chinese service” was used. The service
went from being seen as a mere serve to becoming a strategic element of the game. As such, Asia’s
place in the history of table tennis went on to become absolutely critical to the progress of this
international sport.

TABLE TENNIS, THE MOST PRACTISED SPORT IN THE WORLD

Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988 in Seoul. The first gold medals were awarded to
the female Chinese player Chen Jing and the male Korean player Yoo Nam-kyu. The sport gradually
turned professional with the emergence of the Pro Tour in 1996. The practice has remained
dominated by the Asian players since 1995, including Wang Liqin, triple world champion and world
number 1 for numerous years. Today, table tennis is the most practised sport in Asia. In Europe, table
tennis comprises champions like Belgian player Jean-Michel Saive, the German Timo Boll and the
Dane Michael Maze. In 2016, Chinese players Ma Long, Fan Zhendong, Xu Xin and Zhang Jike and
German player Dimitrij Ovtcharov were leading the world ranking. In 2005, the number of players in
the world was estimated to be over 260-million. The International Table Tennis Federation embraces
more than 200 nations and 33-million members. Competitions, club tournaments or championships
are organized the world over. In June 2016, France boasted 207,213 members. The history of table
tennis is today expressed through a constantly evolving infatuation, coloured by the many benefits of
regular practice.

EQUIPMENT OF TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis relies on simple equipment: a table, bats and balls. Indoor tables are favoured for gentle
indoor practice. Outdoor tables, which are a lot more solid and durable, are perfect for outdoor
games, without risk of damage. Protective Cornilleau covers provide additional protection. For
professionals, competition tables provide a level of solidity that can withstand anything. Meantime,
foam rubber bats with rubbers provide both precision and control. From beginner, to expert or
professional, there are numerous ball models to suit all kinds of games.

The history of table tennis is all the richer for its developments. Today’s most popular sport in the
world, it is constantly bringing together players from all walks of life.

BASIC SKILLS IN TABLE TENNIS

The basic table tennis skills are forehand and backhand hits, pushes, flicks, loops, spinning the ball,
and serving. Forehand hits, backhand hits, and serving are the most fundamental skills a table tennis
player needs to know.

SPINS
There are three basic types of spins: the topspin, the backspin, and the side-spin. The physics behind
each spin is nearly the same – as the ball rotates in midair, differences in air pressure between the
top, back and side of the ball causes the ball to curve and dip.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HANDLING THE TABLE TENNIS PADDLE

There are two grip styles: shake-hand and pen hold. In the shake-hand grip, you hold the handle as if
you are shaking hands with it. In the pen hold grip, you hold the handle as if you were using it as a
pen. Shake-hand rackets have rubber on both sides.

RULES OF TABLE TENNIS

1. GAMES ARE PLAYED TO 11 POINTS
A Game is played to 11 points. A Game must be won by two points. A Match is generally the best
three of five Games.

2. ALTERNATE SERVES EVERY TWO POINTS

Each side of the table alternates serving two points at a time. EXCEPTION: After tied 10-10 (“deuce”),
service alternates at every point. Can you lose on a serve in ping pong? Yes! There is no separate rule
for serving on Game Point.

3. TOSS THE BALL STRAIGHT UP WHEN SERVING

How do you serve the ball in ping pong? Hold the ball in your open palm, behind your end of the
table. Toss at least 6” straight up, and strike it on the way down. It must hit your side of the table and
then the other side. NOTE: Once the ball leaves the server’s hand it is in play, and so counts as the
receiver’s point if the ball is missed or mis-hit.

4. THE SERVE CAN LAND ANYWHERE IN SINGLES

There is no restriction on where the ball lands on your side or your opponent’s side of the table. It can
bounce two or more times on your opponent’s side (if so, that’s your point), bounce over the side, or
even hit the edge.
5. DOUBLES SERVES MUST GO RIGHT COURT TO RIGHT COURT
The serve must bounce in the server’s right court, and receiver’s right court (NOTE: landing on center
line is fair). Doubles partners switch places after their team serves twice.

6. A SERVE THAT TOUCHES THE NET ON THE WAY OVER IS A “LET”

Can the ball hit the net in ping pong? Yes, during a RALLY, if it touches the top of the net and then
otherwise lands as a legitimate hit. BUT not when serving. If a served ball hits the net on the way over
and otherwise legally bounces in play, it’s a “let” serve and is done over. There is no limit on how
many times this can happen.

7. ALTERNATE HITTING IN A DOUBLES RALLY

Doubles partners must alternate hitting balls in a rally, no matter where the ball lands on the table.

8. VOLLEYS ARE NOT ALLOWED

Can you hit the ball before it bounces in ping pong? No. In regular tennis you may “volley” the ball
(hitting the ball before it bounces on your side of the net). But in table tennis, this results in a point for
your opponent. NOTE: When your opponent hits a ball that sails over your end of the table without
touching it and then hits you or your paddle, that is still your point.

9. IF YOUR HIT BOUNCES BACK OVER THE NET BY ITSELF IT IS YOUR POINT
If you hit the ball in a rally or on a serve and it bounces back over the net after hitting your opponent’s
side of the table (due to extreme spin), without your opponent touching it, that is your point.

10. TOUCHING THE BALL WITH YOUR PADDLE HAND IS ALLOWED

What happens if the ball hits your finger or hand during a ping pong rally? If the ball touches your
PADDLE hand and otherwise results in a legal hit, there is no rule violation and play shall continue as
normal. Your paddle hand includes all fingers and hand area below the wrist. But what if the ball
touches a player’s body anywhere else during a ping pong rally? You may not touch the ball with your
non-paddle hand for any reason. It will result in a point for your opponent. BUT if your opponent’s hit
sails over your side of the table without touching it, and hits any part of you or your paddle, that is
still your point.

11. YOU MAY NOT TOUCH THE TABLE WITH YOUR NON-PADDLE HAND
You may touch the ball or the table with your paddle hand (after reaching in to return a short serve,
for example), or other parts of your body. NOTE: If the table moves at all from your touching it during
a rally, that is your opponent’s point.

12. AN “EDGE” BALL BOUNCING OFF THE HORIZONTAL TABLE TOP SURFACE IS GOOD
An otherwise legal serve or hit may contact the top edge of the horizontal table top surface and be
counted as valid, even if it bounces sidewise. The vertical sides of the table are NOT part of the legal
playing surface.

13. HONOR SYSTEM APPLIES TO DISAGREEMENTS

If no referee is present during a match and the players disagree on a certain call, the “honor system”
applies and the players should find a way to agree, or play the point over. Ping pong carries a tradition
of fierce but fair play. Help us keep it that way!