TABLE TENNIS

Table Tennis, is an indoor adaptation of the game of lawn tennis, played on

a table sized-court, with a small, very light, hollow celluloid ball and small wooden
rackets or paddles. It is also called “ping-pong.”
Table tennis like any other sport, is an educational process demanding
psychological and physiological attributes. It is still a question as to who first
invented table tennis as it is played today; neither is known which is its country of
origin.
Table tennis is now one of the most popular sports, possibly because
players of all ages can participate in a game which can be played all the year
round in almost any room which is large enough to take a table tennis table.

HISTORY
The exact origin of table tennis is not known, but the game became popular
in England and the United States popularized it under the trade name “Pingpong,”
and in the early 20th century the game became sensationally popular.
At the time, when a web-covered ball was used, the game was also called
“whiff-whaff” and “gossima.”
The racket originally was somewhat clumsy, paddle-shaped frame with a
dump head skin stretched tightly across it. This racket was superseded about
1902 by the wooden paddle with stippled rubber face, and about the same time
the celluloid bass was introduced.
In 1926, the International Table Tennis Federation was organized. In the same
year, international team competition was inaugurated when Lady Swaythling of
England donated the Swaythling Cup, which is like the Davis Cup in lawn tennis.
Probably the best-known player to win the world championship singles title in
table tennis was Fred Perry of England, who later won greater renown in lawn
tennis.
In 1950’s there was the introduction of a new stroke. It was really an exaggerated
topspin where there was a greater preparation, follow-through and wrist action.
The ball was given a finer touch and the stroke was nearer to the vertical plane. The
lop drive in simpler form had arrived. It had almost probably been first thought of
because players were getting used to their opponent’s services and were able to
return them such a position that the server could not follow-up a smash.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

The Table
The table shall be in surface rectangular, 2.74 m. in length and 1,52m I
width; it shall be supported so that it upper surface termed the surface, shall lie in
horizontal plane 760mm. Above the floor.

The Net
The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright
post 15.25 cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side
line. The top of the net along its whole length shall be 15.25 cm above the playing
surface and the bottom of the net shall be as close as possible to the playing
surface along its whole length and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible
to the supporting posts.

The Ball
The ball be spherical, with a diameter of 38mm. It shall be made of celluloid
or similar plastic, white, ad matt. It weighs 2.5 grams.

The Racket
The racket may be any of size, shape or weight. Its blade shall be flat and
rigid. At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural mood. An adhesive
layer, within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon
fiber, glass fiber or compressed paper but shall not be thicker that 2.5% of the
total thickness or 0.35 mm whichever is the smaller.

BASIC RULES
THE GAME
Table tennis players toss a coin to determine who serves first. The server
places the ball on the palm of the hand, throws it up vertically, and hits it with the
racket. Ehen throwing the ball, the server must keep the fingers straight and
together, and the thumb extended. The hand must be behind the end of the table
when the server hits the ball. The ball must bounce on the server’s side of the net,
clear the net, and bunce on the opponent’s side.

Rally
A rally is a period during which the ball is in play.
A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
A point is a rally in which the result is scored.
The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.
Free hand is the hand not carrying the racket.
A player strikes the ball if he touches it with the racket. A player strikes the ball if
he touches it with his racket held in the hand, or with his racket-hand below the
wrist.
A player volleys the ball if he strikes it in play when it has not touched his court
since last being struck by his opponent.
The server is the player due to strike the ball first in the rally. The receiver player,
due to strike the ball second in a rally.
The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.
The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain
duties. Anything the player wears a carries includes anything that he was wearing
or carrying at the start of rally.
The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net if it passes under or
outside the projection of the net assembly outside the table or if, in a return it is
truck after it has bounced back over the net. The end line shall be regarded as
extending indefinitely in both directions.

Service
Service shall begin with the ball resting on the palm of free hand, which
shall be stationary, open and flat with the fingers together and the thumb free.
The free hand, at the time of contact and of ball, shall be above the level of the
playing surface and behind the server’s end line.

The order to play

In singles, the server shall first make a good service; the receiver shall then
make a good return and thereafter, server and receiver alternatively shall each
make a good return.
A good return is when a ball having been served or returned in play shall be struck
so that it passes directly over or around the net touches the opponent’s court
either directly or after touching the net assembly.

A point
A point is won by a player when the opponent cannot hit the ball with a
racket over the net and onto the other side of the table. The winner is the player
or pair who first win scores 11 points, unless both players or pairs scores 10
points (called deuce). Then a game will be won by the first player or pair to gain a
two-point lead.
Unless the rally is a let, a player shall lose a point:
 If he fails to make a good service
 If a good service or a good return having been made by his opponent, he
fails to make a good return.
 If he volleys or obstructs the ball
 If he or his racket or anything that he warns or carries, moves the playing
surface.
 If his free hand touches the playing surface while the ball is I lay; strikes the
ball twice successively, touches the ball twice in his court successively,
strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not
comply with the specifications.
 If, as he serves, he or his partner stamps his foot.
 If in doubles, except in serving, he strikes the ball out of proper sequence
and
 If, under the Expedite System, he serves and the receiving player or pair
make thirteen or successive good returns.

A Match
A match shall consist of the best of three or the best of five games. Play
shall be continuous throughout, except that either player or pair is entitled to
claim an interval of not more than two minutes duration between successive
games.

The Choice of Ends the Service

The choice of ends and the right to serve or receive first in a match shall be
decided by a toss, provided that, if winner of the toss chooses the right to
serve or receive the loser to make a first choice, when the winner shall have
whichever choice is not made by the loser.