TABLE TENNIS

(Intro)

Hello! For today’s video, I am going to show you the basic skills and strategies in
playing table tennis. I am also going to introduce to you the basic equipment that I will
be using during the demonstration. So let’s go~

Before anything else, what is table tennis?

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 solid rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net.
Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as follows: players must allow a ball
played toward them to bounce once on their side of the table and must return it so that it
bounces on the opposite side at least once. A point is scored when a player fails to
return the ball within the rules.

EQUIPMENT

1. Ball – The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40 mm (millimetres) and 2.7
grams in weight, and can be made of celluloid or any similar plastic material. The color
can be white, orange, or matt.

2. Racket or Paddle – The table tennis paddle may be of any size, shape, or weight but
the blade shall be flat and rigid. It is usually made from laminated wood covered with
rubber on one or two sides, depending on the player’s grip.

3. Wide Table – Table tennis is played on a wide table that is nine feet long and five feet
wide and is two and above the ground. There is a net that is hung six inches above the
table. Disclaimer: the table used in this video is just for demonstration purposes and this
is not the actual table being used when playing table tennis, I have to improvise since
we do not have that in our home.

BASIC SKILLS/STRATEGIES AND CHALLENGES

1. Shakehand Grip - In the kind of grip, the player has three fingers wrapped around the
blade, with their index finger touching the edge of the rubber, and the edge of the blade
tucked into the crease between their thumb and index finger. The placement of the edge
of the blade within the natural V of the hand is crucial for wrist flexibility and control.

2. Penhold Grip - In the basic penhold grip, the edge of the blade is tucked into the V of
the hand, between the thumb and fingers, and the index fingers and thumb are curled
around the blade, resting on the rubber.
3. Ready position/stance - A good ready position will enable you to move quickly into
position and to stay balanced whilst playing powerful strokes. Your feet should be
slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Your knees should be bent. Your upper body
should lean forward from the waist, so that your head is slightly in front of your knees –
this should bring your weight onto the balls of your feet.
4. Forehand Shot - A forehand shot is essentially hitting the ball with your hand's most
natural position. For instance, a right-hander would hit the ball from the right side of his
body, while a left-hander would hit from the left side.

5. Backhand Shot - A backhand shot involves turning your arm slightly across your body
to hit the ball.  Position your body square to the line of play – this means both feet
should point diagonally towards your opponent. Knees bent, body crouched (leaning
forwards), both arms out in front of you with a slight bend at the elbow. Once you’re
ready to hit the ball, move your arm towards the ball.

6. Legal Service – For the legal serve, I am going to show you how it is done since I do
not have a pingpong table. First, the ball must rest on an open hand palm. Then it must
be tossed up at least 6 inches and struck so the ball first bounces on the server's side
and then the opponent's side. If the serve is legal except that it touches the net, it is
called a let serve. Let serves are not scored and are reserved.

*NOTE: Service can be regarded as the most important stroke in table tennis since it
provides the only situation in which the player has total control over how and where to
play the ball. Moreover, service return can be regarded as the second most important
stroke in table tennis since this is the first opportunity, in any rally, for the receiver to
play the ball. (insert pics)

GENERAL RULES OF THE GAME

- You have to hit the ball with the racket or paddle held in the hand over the net.

- Striking the ball before it bounces is not allowed.

- Whoever commits a mistake loses a point.

- A game is won by being the first player or pair to win 11 points, and be at least 2
points ahead of their opponent. If both players have won 10 points, then the first player
to get a 2 point lead wins the game.

- A match consists of the best two of three games.

(END)
“The weaknesses may not always be where you expect them. For example, if you
decide that it is the backhand which is weak, it may not be the stroke itself but rather
poor tactics or weakness caused by a certain style of play.”