TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis, also called (trademark) Ping-Pong, ball game similar in principle to lawn tennis and played on a flat table divided into two equal courts by a net fixed across its width at the middle. The object is to hit the ball so that it goes over the net and bounces on the opponent’s half of the table in such a way that the opponent cannot reach it or return it correctly. The lightweight hollow ball is propelled back and forth across the net by small rackets (bats, or paddles) held by the players. The game is popular all over the world. In most countries it is very highly organized as a competitive sport, especially in Europe and Asia, particularly in China and Japan.

History

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. The original association had broken up about 1905, though apparently the game continued to be played in parts of England outside London and by the 1920s was being played in many countries. Led by representatives of Germany, Hungary, and England, the Fédération Internationale de Tennis de Table (International Table Tennis Federation) was founded in 1926, the founding members being England, Sweden, Hungary, India, Denmark, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and Wales. By the mid-1990s more than 165 national associations were members.

The first world championships were held in London in 1926, and from then until 1939 the game was dominated by players from central Europe, the men’s team event being won nine times by Hungary and twice by Czechoslovakia. In the mid-1950s Asia emerged as a breeding ground of champions, and from that time the men’s team event has been won by either Japan or China, as has the women’s event, though to a lesser extent; North Korea also became an international force. In 1980 the first World Cup was held, and Guo Yuehua of China won the $12,500 first prize. Table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988, with singles and doubles competition for men and women.

The Game

Table tennis equipment is relatively simple and inexpensive. The table is rectangular, 9 feet by 5 feet (2.7 metres by 1.5 metres), its upper surface a level plane 30 inches (76 cm) above the floor. The net is 6 feet (1.8 metres) long, and its upper edge along the whole length is 6 inches (15.25 cm) above the playing surface. The ball, which is spherical and hollow, was once made of white celluloid. Since 1969 a plastic similar to celluloid has been used. The ball, which may be coloured white, yellow, or orange, weighs about 0.09 ounce (2.7 grams) and has a diameter of about 1.6 inches (4 cm). The blade of a racket, or bat, is usually made of wood, is flat and rigid, and may be covered with a thin layer of ordinary stippled, or pimpled, rubber, which may be laid over a thin layer of sponge rubberand may have the pimples reversed. Whatever combination is used, each of the two sides of a paddle must be different in colour. The racket may be any size, weight, or shape.

table tennis serveServeThe ball and racket must be behind and above the table during the serve. From the upturned palm of the server’s motionless free hand, the ball is tossed upward and struck as it falls so that it first hits the server’s half of the table, travels over (or around) the net, and then hits the opponent’s half of the table.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

table tennis driveForehand driveThe drive is executed close to the table so the ball may be struck at the peak of its arc. The object is speed instead of spin, so the player hits through the ball, which is directed slightly downward over the net in a low arc.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

table tennis loopForehand loopLoop shots are executed away from the table and when the ball is on its way down. The player swings upward while “brushing” or grazing the upper half of the ball with a closed racket face (the top of the blade tipped toward the net). This imparts topspin to the ball.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

table tennis chopForehand chopThe forehand chop is executed away from the table and when the ball is on its way down. The player, standing in a square-on position, swings downward while “brushing” or grazing the lower half of the ball with an open racket face (the top of the blade tipped away from the net). This imparts backspin to the ball. A quick, smooth follow-through is desirable.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

table tennis backchopBackhand chopThe backhand chop is executed away from the table and when the ball is on its way down. The player, in a half-turn stance, swings downward while “brushing” or grazing the lower half of the ball with an open racket face (the top of the blade tipped away from the net). This imparts backspin to the ball. A quick, smooth follow-through is desirable.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

A match consists of the best of any odd numbers of games, each game being won by the player who first reaches 11 points or who, after 10 points each, wins two clear points ahead. A point is scored when the server fails to make a good service, when either player fails to make a good return, or when either player commits a specified infraction (e.g., touches the playing surface with a free hand while the ball is in play). Service changes hands after every two points until 10-all is reached, when it changes after every subsequent point.

The serve is made from behind the end of the table, the server tossing the ball upward from the palm of the free hand and striking it as it descends so that it first bounces on the server’s own court and then, passing over the net, bounces on the opponent’s court. In serving, no spin may be imparted to the ball by the fingers. This was not always so. Finger spin, especially in the United States, reached a stage where the experts could produce untakable services and the game became farcical. Finger spin was universally banned in 1937.

Interest to the spectator lies in observing the ability of one player to defeat another by well-thought-out strategy. Increasing the speed of the game, slowing it down, varying the direction of or imparting different spin or pace to the ball, and employing gentle drop shots over the net when the opponent is out of position are some of the tactics that may be used to support the strategy planned.

Slow or defensive play at one time was so dominant that, at the 1936 world championships in Prague, an hour was needed to decide a single point. Play is now restricted. If a game is unfinished 15 minutes after it has begun, the rest of that game and the remaining games of the match proceed under the Expedite System. Thereafter if the service and 13 following strokes of the server are returned by the receiver, the server loses the point. The service changes after each point.

Table tennis may be played with one player at each end of the table or with two players at each end who may be both men or both women or one of each. Worldwide, the women’s game is comparable in organization to the men’s, and women take part in world championships and all other organized events. Table tennis as well as being fully organized is also extremely popular as a recreational game and is so played in all types of sports clubs, social clubs, and game rooms, in the home, and even out-of-doors when conditions are reasonably calm.

SOURCE: HOW TO PLAY TABLE TENNIS

9 reasons why table tennis is the best sport in the world

1. Any age can play (and win)

All ages play table tennis. Go to any club and you’ll find young and old. But the best thing is that different ages compete equally with each other.

A 78-year-old can beat a 28-year-old. A 10-year-old can make a grown man cry. Table tennis is not all about ‘power’. You need good technique, good touch and good tactics to win.

Players with less physical strength (young and old) can compete equally with players in peak physical condition and give them a good thrashing!

2. Money doesn’t matter

It doesn’t cost much to play table tennis. You can get a good starter bat for £20-£30 and away you go.

Actually I’d say table tennis is a “classless” sport. Walk into a table tennis hall and you wouldn’t be able to say who is rich and who is poor. We all look equally naff in our sweaty t-shirts, baggy shorts or tracksuit bottoms.

No one cares about your background, whether you’re a millionaire or have no job at all. All that matters in the table tennis hall is table tennis.

3. Table tennis promotes international peace

Ok, I may be overstating things here, but table tennis is a truly international sport. Everyone plays it.

Over the past few years I have coached players from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, India, France, Singapore, USA, China, Canada, Germany, Poland, Russia, Australia, Romania, Czech Republic, Iran, South Africa, Belgium and more…

My knowledge of other countries and cultures has broadened. I feel a warmth to my overseas friends and part of an international community.

Want world peace? Give all our politicians and diplomats a bat and get them to play table tennis together.

4. Table tennis is flippin’ hard

If you’re looking for something easy, try one of those sports with the big rackets and huge courts (e.g. tennis, squash or badminton). It’s harder to miss than actually get the ball in court!

Table tennis is much tougher. We play with small bats and a small ball on a small table. The margin for error is tiny. Get you bat angle or contact or placement slightly wrong and you have messed up.

Table tennis is difficult. It’s addictive. It challenges your brain. It challenges your body. It takes a long time to get really good at it. If you want a proper sporting challenge, table tennis is the sport for you.

5. Table tennis is humbling

No matter how good you think you’re getting at table tennis, there’s always a higher standard player who can make you feel like a beginner.

Table tennis isn’t a sport for egos, as we all know that there is a stronger player who can make us look silly.

How do we deal with this? We respect each other. We encourage each other. We learn from stronger players.

When we win, we don’t over-celebrate in the other player’s face. No, just a modest handshake, a nod of the head and an internal sense of relief. Next time, the result might not be so good!

6. Table tennis makes you feel like a ninja

Table is fast. Super-fast. The ball can travel up to 100kph.

In other racket sports the ball also moves fast.

But here’s the difference…

In table tennis, players are very close to each other (only 3 metres apart). This makes everything feel so much faster.

You need quick feet, quick reactions and a quick brain. You basically need the speed and coordination of a ninja warrior.

There are few things more satisfying in life than taking part in a fast table tennis rally, where you and your opponent are playing awesome topspin shots and the ball is switched from side to side and somehow you manage to summon all your ninja strength to finish the point with a beautiful forehand topspin down the line.

NINJA POWER!

7. Table tennis is great for the brain

There is an increasing body of evidence that suggests playing table tennis keeps your brain healthy.

Secretly, we table tennis players know our brains are a bit sharper compared to the cavemen grunting away in other racket sports. But now science seems to be backing up our suspicions.

It’s all to do with stimulating the hippocampus in your brain apparently. I’m not really too sure what this means. I’m not a scientist. But I trust scientists. And if they say table tennis is good for the brain, I’m not going to argue with them.

8. Table tennis is the perfect stress-relief

Life can be stressful. School, work, relationships, family – at some point or another things can all get a bit too much.

Enter table tennis (or to be fair, any sport).

You pick up your table tennis bat, start hitting a few balls and for a couple of hours forget all about your worries.

But it’s more than that. When you exercise, endorphins are released, which trigger a positive feeling in your body.

By the time you finish your table tennis work-out, you feel great and have a renewed vigour to tackle life’s problems. Thank you table tennis.

9. You can play anywhere

Table tennis is a sport on the rise. Tables are springing up everywhere. Tables in parks. Tables is bars. Tables in shopping centres. Tables in train stations. Tables in conference halls. Tables in sports centres. And of course, lots of tables in table tennis clubs all over the world.

There is always somewhere to play table tennis (click here to find a venue near you).

Even if there isn’t a table near you, you can improvise. You just need some sort of wooden surface and something which resembles a net.

The picture above shows an example. This is my household. The kids and I are having an impromptu game of “knock down the plastic cups” on the dining room table, with three books for a net.

The boy is five and the girl is one.

The plastic cups took a battering.

-MARK CHRISTIAN CASTILLANO