Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is an exciting and fast-paced sport. Let’s dive into the basic rules of table tennis:
Equipment:
Table Tennis Table: The game is played on a rectangular table measuring 2.74 meters (9 feet) long and 1.53 meters (5 feet) wide. The table is divided into two halves by a net suspended at a height of 15.25 centimeters (6 inches).
Table Tennis Racquet (Paddle): The racquet (commonly called a paddle) is approximately 17 centimeters long and 15 centimeters wide. It is primarily made of wood and has rubber surfaces on both sides (black and red) to apply and negate spin.
Table Tennis Ball: The ball is spherical, weighs about 2.7 grams, and has a diameter of 40 millimeters.
Serving and Service Rules:
A table tennis match begins with a coin toss. The winner chooses to serve, receive, or select the side of the table.
The server must hold the ball with an open palm, toss it up, and strike it so that it bounces first on their side of the table before crossing the net to the opponent’s side.
The receiver returns the ball by hitting it over the net into the opponent’s half. If the receiver attempts to return the ball before it bounces, a foul is called.
In singles, the server can serve to any part of the table, while in doubles, the service must travel diagonally across the table.
Scoring:
A game is won by the first player/team to reach 11 points with a lead of at least 2 points.
If the score is tied at 10-10 (known as “deuce”), the service changes after every point until one player/team gains a 2-point lead.
A match consists of the top three games out of a possible five.
Gameplay:
Players take turns serving, and the receiver must return the ball.
The ball must bounce once on each side of the table during a rally.
The objective is to win points by striking the ball back onto the opponent’s half.
If the opponent fails to make a legal return, the serving player wins the point.
Remember to practice your serves, work on your footwork, and enjoy the fast-paced action of table tennis!