Terms:
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Rally – the period when the ball is in play.
Server – the player who strikes the ball first in a rally.
Receiver – the player who strikes the ball second.
Serve – the first ball strike of a rally.
Let – a serve that hits the net. No point is scored and the serve is re-done.
Serving:
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When the ball is hit on the serve, it bounces first in the server’s side of the table,
and then bounces on the opponent’s side of the table.
In doubles, the ball must touch on the right-hand side of the server’s court, and
then diagonally opposite court.
A player serves for five points. After five points, it is the opponent’s turn to serve.
Serving sequence for doubles:
- - Team #1, Player A
- - Team #2, Player A
- - Team #1, Player B
- - Team #2, player B
- - then repeat
Games are played to 21 points. You must win by two points or more.
At the end of a game, players switch ends of the table.
Scoring:
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A player scores one point when:
- - the opponent fails to make a good service.
- - the opponent fails to make a good return.
- - Meaning: one point is scored on every serve.
Examples of failing to make a good return:
- - The ball lands out of bounds (off the table).
- - The ball bounces more than one time before being returned.
- - The ball is returned by hitting it in the air before it bounces on the
table.
- - Hitting the ball by anything other than the paddle.
- - If you touch the net.
- - If you hit the ball two times in succession.
Table tennis is a sport that is interesting and diverse enough to have its own set of fun
and amazing facts. Here is a partial list.
Did you know...
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...the current superpowers(1998) of international table tennis include Sweden,
China, Germany, Belgium, and South Korea.
...back in the days of unregulated rackets, all sorts of strange materials were at
the tables. Among the stranger ones include: 5 inch think sponge, pure wood,
and sandpaper.
...the name ping-pong™ is trademarked by Parker Brothers, who wanted a huge
sum of money from USATT for the rights to that name. In response, the
community gave the sport its own name: table tennis.
...certain world-class players can put up to 9000rpm of spin on table tennis balls.
...table tennis balls aren't really hollow. They are pressurized slightly with a gas.
...more than 30 table tennis companies exist around the world, making a full line
of accessories from paddles to warm-up suits.
...in Europe and Asia, table tennis is big business and is very popular overall.
Top players are endorsed just like players are endorsed in USA by shoe and
apparel companies.
...certain governments(like Sweden and China), actually pay their top players just
to practice.
...in China, most children are evaluated for certain inherent talents early on. If
they are found to be particularly proficient at something, like gymnastics or table
tennis, they receive rigorous training in that area.
...the ping-pong diplomacy was preceded by a secret trip by Henry Kissinger to
China, and was followed by a first-ever presidential trip to China(by Nixon).
References:
Lynn’s Table Tennis. http://www.callnetuk.com/home/tabletennis/
Midgley, Ruth. ed. Rules of the Game. (1977). Paddington Press Ltd. New York, NY.
Thinkquest Home Page. http://library.thinkquest.org/20570/facts.html