History of Table Tennis

What is the original name of table tennis?

Ping-Pong

The game was invented in England in the early days of the 20th century and was originally called Ping-
Pong, a trade name. The name table tennis was adopted in 1921–22 when the old Ping-Pong Association
formed in 1902 was revived.

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 rackets. The
game takes place on a hard table divided by a net.

The 5 Basic Rules Of Playing Table Tennis

 No Hands On The Table. Leaning your hands on the table is not allowed in the sport.
 When Serving, The Ball Must Be Thrown 15mm.
 If The Ball Hits The Net On Service, You Should Serve Again.
 The Ball Must Be Held In A Flat Palm Above The Table.
 Rubber Colors.

According to the laws of table tennis, a player can win a game of table tennis by scoring 11 points - with
one point awarded for every infringement. Every player gets to serve twice in a row. The first to 11 points
is declared the winner.

How many sets are in table tennis?

A match is played best 3 of 5 games. For each game, the first player to reach 11 points wins that game,
however a game must be won by at least a two point margin. A point is scored after each ball is put into
play. The edges of the table are part of the legal table surface, but not the sides.

10 Key Tips to Advance Your Table Tennis Game

 Know what spin is on the ball.

 Compensate for the spin with your racket angle.
 Use your whole body when you stroke your forehand.
 Maintain a good ready position.
 Train your strokes until they are automatic.
 Use your own table tennis racket.
 Develop sidespin serves.

Basic techniques

There are four basic techniques that table tennis players must learn and practice to improve their level: a
good serve, a good return of serve, a good backhand, and a good forehand.

1. Table Tennis Grip

 In this table tennis grip, try to hold the bat in a way that you are shaking hands. Hold the
handle with three fingers i.e. middle finger, ring finger, and pinkie.

Then free your index finger and thumb. Place the index finger on the edge of the rubber on the
backhand side and thumb on the blade or rubber on the opposite side in such a way that forms a
V shape.

Earlier this grip was popular in European countries, but now this is popular in Asian countries as
well.
This is a convenient table tennis grip for a beginner.

Shakehand grip is of two types.

 Shallow Shakehand grip

 Deep Shakehand grip

2. Penhold Table Tennis Grip

In the Penhold grip, the index finger and thumb are curled around the edge of the paddle to form a ‘C’
shape and relax on one side of the rubber. The other three fingers act as support on the other side of the
rubber.

It is much like you are holding a pen. This grip is mainly popular with Asian players.

Penhold Grip is of three types.

1. Chinese Penhold Grip

2. Japanese or Korean Penhold Grip
3. Reverse Penhold Backhand Grip

4. Basic Strokes in Table Tennis

To develop basic table tennis skills, you need to strengthen four basic strokes. These are:

 Backhand Push
 Forehand Drive

 Backhand Drive

 Forehand Push
Table Tennis Terminology

‍ ACKHAND: A shot done with the racket to the left of the elbow for a right hander, the reverse for a
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lefthander.

F‍ OREHAND: A shot done with the racket to the right of elbow for a right hander, the reverse for a left
hander.

‍SPIN: The rotation of a ball. Topspin: Spin placed on a ball to allow it to curve down onto the table.
‍BACKSPIN: When the ball rotates backwards after being hit. It is also called as Underspin.

‍TOPSPIN: When the ball rotates backwards after being hit. It is also called as Underspin.

‍SIDESPIN: When the ball rotates sideways either on the left or right after being hit.

S‍ ERVE: The first shot, done by the server. It begins with the ball being thrown up from palm of hand and
struck by the racket.

‍RECEIVE: The return of a serve.

‍STROKE: Any shot used in the game, including the serve.

‍DRIVE: When the ball does not rotate but it is a plain shot by tapping the ball forward with the racket.

‍SMASH: A put away shot. Ball is hit with enough speed so the opponent can not make a return.

‍COUNTER- DRIVE: A drive made against a drive. Some players specialize in counter-driving.

‍ USH: A push is an underspin shot executed over the table, and usually close to the net. This is a passive
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shot that is used when it is impossible to attack a ball.

‍RACKET: Same as bat.

‍RALLY: The period in which the ball is in play.

‍BLADE: Wooden part of bat. Also called as ply.

‍SHAKEHAND GRIP: The most commonly used grip while playing Table Tennis.

‍PENHOLD GRIP: Also known as the Chinese grip. Used mainly by the Chinese & Koreans.

‍ ENHOLDER: A type of grip giving the best possible forehand but the most awkward backhand of the
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conventional grips.

‍REVERSE BACKHAND: The backhand stroke used by a penholder.

‍TOSS: Tossing the ball high in the air with the palm of the hand.

‍ IGH TOSS SERVE: When the serve is tossed minimum 5-6 ft. in the air. This serve is used as a great tactic
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by professional players as this serve has acted as a great weakness for many opponents. However,
mastering this serve is a great skill. Not doing it right could give away cheap points.

‍ LOCK: A quick, off the bounce return done from an aggressive topspin or drive by just holding the
B
racket in the ball's path.

‍ HOP: It’s a heavy underspin shot generally used by defensive players. It’s usually executed away from
C
the table and below the table top. A chop forces the ball to drop downwards when it hits an opponent’s
racket.

‍KILL: A put away shot. Ball is hit with enough speed so the opponent cannot make a return.

L‍ OB: A shot played far from the table where most of the shot returns are high in the air with generally 6
ft. above the table with no upper bar.
‍DEAD: A ball without any spin.

‍ EEP: A ball that lands deep on the table. A serve that will not bounce twice on the opponent's side of
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the table if given the chance is also considered deep.

‍DRIVE: The basic topspin shot executed close to the table. Also called a counter, counter drive, or smash.

L‍ OOP: The shot that currently dominates the sport. This is an extreme topspin shot. This curve allows the
player to hit the ball harder and still rely on the spin of the ball to cause the ball to dive down onto the
table. Also, a loop will 'skip' on the table top taking sharp changes in directions. A loop will also tend to
'pop' upwards when it strikes the opponents racket. The opponent has to deal with A curving ball, A ball
that changes directions when it hits the table, and A ball that will jump off his racket unpredictably
unless he compensates for spin. A loop will also counter heavy spin (topspin or underspin) from an
opponent. It can be executed above or below the table top, close or far away from the table.

‍ ROP SHOT: Short placement - very close to the net. A key point in making a drop shot is to not allow the
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ball to fall off the table after the first bounce. i.e. Drop shots should bounce at least twice on the
opponents side of the table before falling off.

‍ ROUND THE NET: When player hits the ball but not over the net. The ball lands on the opponent’s court
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from the side of the net. This is considered as a valid shot and it takes years of practice to master this
stroke.

‍FLAT: A ball that has no spin, usually travelling with good pace.

F‍ LICK OR FLIP: A shot generated over the table close to the net, usually with the power generated only
from the upper arm or the wrist. Used to start offense on a short ball.

‍CROSS- COURT: A ball that is hit diagonally from corner to corner.

‍DOWN THE LINE: A ball that is hit along the side of the table, parallel to the sidelines, is hit down the line