TABLE TENNIS

ESSENTIALS
EQUIPMENTS AND TERMINOLOGIES
WEEK 3 DAY 1
OBJECTIVES
• Describe table tennis’ equipment; and define the meaning of table
tennis’ terminologies.
• Know the importance of table tennis’ equipment and terminologies.
• Perform back-hand and fore-hand table tennis drill.
 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 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 table
• The playing surface shall be uniformly dark colored and matt,
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.
• 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 table
• A net is placed parallel to the end line and divides the table into
two equal courts.
• 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 bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close
as possible to the playing surface .
 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 may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade
shall be flat and rigid.
• A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered
with either ordinary pimpled rubber or sandwich rubber.
• The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of
a side of the blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red
on one side and black on the other.
• Before the start of a match and whenever he or she changes his
or her racket during a match a player shall show his or her
opponent and the umpire the racket he or she is about to use
and shall allow them to examine it.
 TERMINOLOGY
TERMS DEFINITIONS
ASSISTANT UMPIRE The person appointed to assist the umpire

BACKHAND Hitting the ball using the back side of the racket. Usually, the
racket is placed in front of the body, with the palm of the racket
facing the upper body, with the palm of the racket hand facing
the body of the player.

BLOCK Receiving the ball with less force, almost in a very still position

CLOSED RACKET POSITION When the racket’s hitting side is facing slightly downward

DEUCE When both teams reach a score of 10

DIAGONAL When the ball crosses the centerline, from the right/left half
side of the server’s court to the right/ left half side of the
receiver’s court.
 TERMINOLOGY
TERMS DEFINITIONS

DRIVE Faster than a push but not as hard as a smash, it is a controlled

way of striking the ball below the shoulder, usually without a
spin, preferably after it bounces off the table for a faster ball
movement
END LINE A line at either end of the playing surface, marking the limits of
the playing area

FAULT An error in service or Rally that results in a point for the

opponent

FOREHAND Way of hitting the ball where the palm of the hand holding the
racket is turned in the direction of the ball

FREE HAND A hand not carrying the racket

GRIP A manner by which the racket is held

LET A rally of which the result is not scored

 TERMINOLOGY
TERMS DEFINITIONS

LOB A return of the ball to the opponent at high level or almost

head level; a counter or defensive move

Loop Almost the same as the drive but imparts a spin, creating a loop
as the ball bounces of the table; similar to a love but with a
lower bounce
Obstructions When anything the player wears or carries touches the ball in
play while it is above or traveling toward the playing surface,
has not passed beyond his or her and line, has not touch his or
her court since it was last struck by the opponent

Open racket position When the table tennis rackets hitting side is facing a slightly
upward

Point A rally of which the result is scored

Push A strike of the ball at low level with the racket brushing
underneath it with less force; a counter or defensive move

Racket hand A hand carrying the racket

 TERMINOLOGY
TERMS DEFINITIONS

Rally When the ball is in play and is continually returned by the

players when one of the players fails to return the ball to the
opponents table or side, the rally ends; the ball must not
bounce back on the hitting players side of the court during the
rally

Receiver The player due to strike the ball second in a rally

Return of the service When the ball has been served, the receiver must return the
ball directly to the other side of the court (server-side), in such
a way that the opponent cannot retrieve or return it
Server The player due to strike the ball first in a rally

Service A movement done at the start of the rally

Smash A strike of the ball with more force, preferably after it reaches
the peak when it goes down to the level of the eyes
 TERMINOLOGY
Terms Definitions

Spin An act of rotating the ball in different directions (top spin,

under spin, side spin)

Straight A movement in which the ball does not cross the center line,
from the right or left hand side of the servers court to the left
or right left side of the servers court

Umpire The person appointed to control a match