BRIEF HISTORY OF TABLE TENNIS faster and Japan took four champions in 1952
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS using this type of paddles.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
I. History
This chapter will introduce the brief history
and present information about table tennis. The
benefits of this sport will also introduced here.
Brief History
1. Table tennis is commonly recognized to have
started in England although there are different
opinions.
2. It is commonly accepted that table tennis
originated from tennis in 1800s. When the weather
was too poor to play tennis outside, some people
used rubber or cork balls and constructed an
imitation of tennis to play on a table as a game
3. In 1890, a player brought back a toy ball made of
celluloid from the United States to England and
used it in table tennis activities. Because the
celluloid ball sounds like ping and pong when it is
hit with the paddle, it was also called Ping Pong.
4. In the beginning of 1900s, table tennis spread to
other European and Asian countries.
5. In 1901, the game was also known as “whiff-
whaff”, “flim-fam” and “gossima” which were the
trade names of balls given by the Jacques and son,
Parker brothers who are the manufacturers of
sporting goods. Later, the game was named “ping-
pong”, derived from the sound made by the ball
when it hits the racket and table.
6. After 1918 when World War I ended, table tennis
gained popularity in Europe and so many countries
began to establish table tennis associations. At the
same time, competitions in table tennis increased
among these countries while people invented and
improved equipment. As the skill and competition
level improved, players decided that they needed to
organize a governing body for table tennis.
7. In December of 1926, the International Table
Tennis Federation and competition rules for playing
table tennis were established. Table tennis thus
became an official international sport.
8. From 1920s through 1950s, European countries
took the leadership of table tennis in the world. The
game was slow and the major style was defensive
play.
9. In the 1950s, the sponge paddle was invented in
Japan. This new invention made the shots much
10. In the beginning of 1960s, China became a
leading table tennis country.
Table Tennis Overview
Professional Table Tennis is played on a
hard table which is divided by the net. Players
stand opposite to each other, and hit a lightweight
ball with a small round bat across the table.
Spinning the ball makes the chances of hitting the
ball a lot less. So, players tend to spin the ball
before serving it to the opponent.
Table tennis is played as singles as well as
doubles. It is played in both men’s and women’s
category. Table tennis is played by the rules set by
the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Participating Countries
Table tennis is not confined to England
only. It is an Olympic sport and is played by many
countries. Unlike any other sport, table tennis is
governed by different governing bodies
responsible for that particular continent’s table
tennis.
The top most governing bodies, apart from
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), are
European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) for Europe
and USA Table Tennis (USATT) for United States.
Below you could find the name of a few countries,
out of more than 100 odd countries that take part
in table tennis tournaments.
II. Fundamental skills and Technique
This chapter will introduce the Fundamental
basic skills and technique in playing table tennis.
This will help the students to know how to execute
and play the sport. It also includes the proper
gripping and racket control. Proper gripping is
important because it controls the angle of the
racket to have a good speed and spin of the ball.
A. Grip and Racket Control
Holding the racket determine how you play
the game. Two basic grip is recommended.
1. Orthodox or shake-hand grip
 This is popularly used worldwide. Grasps
the racket as if to shake hands with it. It
gives you the best forehand and backhand.
How to execute?
 Place your index finger on the side of the
paddle /racket directly facing the body. (See
Image)
 The thumb should rest on top of other
fingers.
 Grip the handle with middle, ring and the
pinky finger encircling it.
2. Penhold Grip
This is similar to holding a pen between the
thumb and forefinger. The forefinger and
thumb reach over the shoulders of the
blade, with the other fingers spread over the
back. Only one side of the racket is used for
both forehand and backhand shots. This is
the second most popular type of grip.
How to execute?
 Grip the paddle the same way you would
grip a pen
 Place the thumb and index finger in front of
the handle.
 The middle, ring and the pinky fingers
curled around back of the racket for support.
3. Seemiller Grip
Danny Seemiller used this grip and hence
its named after him. This is another one of
the minor grips used. This unorthodox grip
uses one side to hit both the backhand and
forehand shots. This grip is similar to the
shakehand grip except for the index and
thumb fingers.
How to execute?
 Do the shakehand grip.
 Instead of placing the index finger on the
side of the racket, place the tip of forefinger
near the edge of the bat.
 Ensure that both the thumb and index finger
are grasping either side of the paddle.
B. Stance and Footwork
Proper stance and footwork in serving or
receiving are just as important in learning table
tennis as they are in tennis, badminton, or any
sport skill that requires a constantly alert player.
1. Beginner’s Stance in Serving- Face slightly to
the right side with feet well apart and the left foot
forward. Be in position about 1 ½ to 2 ft. directly
behind the center line of own court.
2. Stance in Receiving- Position is about 2 to 2 ½
feet directly in the back of the center line of own
court. Feet are well apart, knees slightly bent and
body inclined forward in ready position.
3. For Forehand Strokes – The left foot and left
shoulder point approx. toward the table.
4. For Backhand Strokes - The right foot and
shoulder should point approx. toward the table.
C. Serving
1. Top spin serve
With either a forehand or backhand stroke,
the ball is put into play by projecting it upward from
the flat free hand. As the ball hit the racket, which is
swung forward and upward meets descending it,
and the racket face is closed (facing upward from
the tabletop and net).
2. Backspin serve
The ball is struck with a downward, forward
motion of the racket. The racket face is open
(facing upward from the tabletop and net).
D. Strokes
1. Push Shots- the basic defensive shot.
2. Forehand/Backhand Drive
3. Forehand/ Backhand Chop- this is primarily a
defensive stroke.
4. Smash Shot- is used on a higher than the net
bounce--- the higher the better. It is high straight
forward and downward without spin on the
opponent’s court. This is an offensive stroke.
III. Facilities and Equipment
This chapter will introduce the facilities and
equipment used in playing table tennis. It includes
rackets, ball, table and the net. This equipment will
help the students to have a better understanding
and executing on how to play table tennis.
1. TABLE
 Constructed of ¾ -inch (1.9cm) thick fine
plywood; 9 ft. (2.74 m.) in length and 5 feet
(1.52 m) in width.
 Playing surface: should be dark (usually
green and non-reflecting) and should lie in
horizontal plane 2 ft. 6 in. (76cm.) above the
 floor. Sidelines and endlines are white and
should be ½ to ¾ in. (2 cm.) wide. The
centerline is also white, but only 1/8 to 1.4
inch (3mm) wide.
2. THE NET
 Light in texture and stretched across center
of table and attached to the outside by
vertical standards.
 Net should be from 6 to 6 ¾ inches above
the table.
3. THE BALL
 is small, celluloid, spherical, white or yellow
in color, 40 mm in diameter, and 2.5 g. in
weight.
 is fragile but quite hard to break unless
stepped on.
 The ITTF approved standard ball has a
uniformed bounce. If it is dropped from a
height of 12 inches (30.5 cm) on a plywood,
it should bounce up to 8 ¾ to 9 ¾ inches
(22 to 25 cm)
4. RACKET OR PADDLE
 a wooden rubber faced racket (as mandated
by the rules)
 The striking surface of the racket must be
covered with a pimpled rubber facing inward
and outward.
 A single layer of cellular (sponge) rubber
may be located underneath the rubber
surface.
 The two surface of the blade shall be black
on one side and bright red on the other side.
I. CORRECT WAY OF HOLDING A RACKET
This chapter will introduce the correct and
proper way of holding a table tennis racket. It will
demonstrate the proper gripping when playing table
tennis.
1. Proper holding of racket and the type of grip
used.
Here’s how you must hold a table tennis racket.
 Hold the bat handle just like a mike is held,
the fingers wrapped around and the thumb
closing the fist
 Now open up your index finger and thumb
 Push your hand up the handle so that there
is no gap between your bat padding and
middle finger
 Firmly place your index finger of the
backhand rubber
 Rest your thumb on your middle finger,
towards the forehand rubber
 The final position is when your middle, ring
and pinky finger are wrapped around the
handle, the thumb closing the fist and the
index finger firmly places on the backhand
side providing support.
II. DEMONSTRATION OF DIFFERENT
STROKES IN TABLE TENNIS.
4 basic strokes when playing table.
 Forehand drive
 The forehand drive is one of the four basic
table tennis strokes. The other three are
the backhand drive, backhand push and
forehand push.
 The forehand drive is an attacking stroke
played with a small amount of topspin. It is
a drive shot and not a topspin loop!
 The forehand drive is played against long
or medium length topspin or float balls.
You can’t play a forehand drive off a short
ball (that would be a flick) and you can’t
play a forehand drive off a backspin ball
(that would go into the net).
 The forehand drive is usually played from
the forehand side but players are also
encouraged to use their forehand drive
against balls that come to their middle.
Advanced players will even sometimes
move around to play a forehand drive from
their backhand side, if they see the ball
early enough!
 Backhand Drive
 The backhand drive is one of the four basic
table tennis strokes. The other three are the
forehand drive, backhand push and
forehand push.
 The backhand drive is an attacking stroke
played with a small amount of topspin. It is a
drive shot and not a topspin loop!
 The backhand drive is played against long
or medium length topspin or float balls. You
can’t play a backhand drive off a short ball
(that would be a flick) and you can’t play a
backhand drive off a backspin ball (that
would go into the net).
 The backhand drive is primarily played from
the backhand side. Players are generally
not encouraged to play backhand shots
from their forehand side as this can lead to
poor technique and their forehand is usually
stronger.
 Backhand Push
 The backhand push is one of the four basic
table tennis strokes. The other three are
the forehand drive, backhand
drive and forehand push.
 The backhand push is a defensive stroke
played with a small amount of backspin.
 The backhand push is usually played
against short and low, backspin or float
balls, although beginners that have not
developed a loop (or open up shot) can play
a push off a longer ball. At the intermediate
stage any long balls should be attacked and
any balls that are short but high should be
flicked or hit.
 The backhand push is primarily played from
the backhand side of the table. Only rarely
will a player play a backhand push from
their forehand side.
 Forehand Push
 The forehand push is one of the four basic
table tennis strokes. The other three are
the forehand drive, backhand drive and
backhand push.
 The forehand push is a defensive stroke
played with a small amount of backspin.
 The forehand push is usually played
against short and low, backspin or float
balls, although beginners that have not
developed a loop (or open up shot) can
play a push off a longer ball. At the
intermediate stage any long balls should
be attacked and any balls that are short but
high should be flicked or hit.
 The forehand push is primarily played from
the forehand side. Only rarely will a player
play a forehand push from their backhand
side.
III. BASIC RULES AND REGULATIONS
 The objective of the game is to hit the ball
with the racket or paddle held in the hand
over the net. The ball must strike on the
server’s side of the court before striking the
top of the table on the opponent’s court.
 Striking the ball before it bounces is not
allowed.
 Whoever commits a mistake loses a point
and your opponent gains a point.
 A player or pair first scoring eleven (11)
points is the winner of the game, unless
both players or pairs score 10 points, the
game shall be won by the first player or pair
subsequently gaining a lead of two points.
 A match is won in a three out of five games.
The Service
A good service is delivered by projecting the ball
from the free hand and the projection starts from
above the playing surface. The ball must be resting
on the palm of free hand, which is flat, and the
thumb free of the fingers. As it starts to descend,
the ball is struck so that it touches the server’s
court first and then, passing directly over or around
the net, touches the receiver’s court.
A good return of a served ball must be struck by the
receiver on the first bounce so that it passes
directly over or around the net and touches directly
on top of the opponent’s court.
A Point - A point is awarded to the opponent in the
following circumstances:
1. Failure to make a good service, unless a let is
declared.
2. Failure to make a good return of a good
service or a good return made by the
opponent, unless a let is declared.
3. If the player, the racket, or anything that the
player wears or carries touches the net or its
support while the ball is in play.
4. If the player’s free hand touches the playing
surface while the ball is in play.
 5. If, before the ball in play has passed over the The Order of Serving, Receiving, and Ends
endlines or sidelines, not yet having touched
1. The right to choose the initial order of serving,
the playing surface on the player’s side of the
receiving, and ends shall be decided by lot and the
table after being struck by the opponent, it
winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to
comes in contact with the player or anything
start at a particular end
the player wears or carries.
6. If a player strikes the ball twice in succession. 2. When one player or pair has chosen to serve or
7. If the server (or partner) stamps a foot during to receive first or to start at a particular end, the
the service. other player or pair shall have the other choice.
A Let - A let ball, which is then replayed, is called in 3. After each two points have been scored, the
the following cases: receiving player or pair shall become the serving
player or pair and so on until the end of the game,
1. If the served ball, in passing over the net,
unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the
touches it or its support, provided that the
expedite system is in operation, when the
service would otherwise have been good or
sequences of serving and receiving shall be the
volleyed by the receiver.
same but each player shall serve for only one point
2. If a service is delivered when the receiver is
in turn.
not ready, provided always that the receiver
may not be deemed unready if an attempt to 4. In each game of doubles match, the pair having
strike at the ball is made. the right to serve first shall choose which of them
3. If either player is prevented by an accident will do so and in the first game of a match, the
not under his or her control from serving a receiving pair shall decide which of them will
good service or making a good return. receive first; in subsequent games of the match, the
first server having been chosen, the first receiver
Scoring - A point is scored by the side that makes
shall be the player who served to him in the
the last successful return prior to the end of a rally.
preceding game.
In an unsuccessful return the ball is missed, struck
with the side of a racket blade having an illegal 5. In doubles, at each change of service the
surface, hit off the table, sent into the net, or hit previous receiver shall become the server and the
onto the player’s own half of the court on the return. partner of the previous server shall become the
Failure to make a good serve also scores a point receiver.
for the opponent unless it is a let.
6. The player or pair serving first in a game shall
In Play receive first in the next game of the match and in
the last possible game of a doubles match the pair
The ball is in play from the moment it is projected
due to the receive next shall change their order of
from the hand in service until one of the following
receiving when first one pair scores five points.
has occurred:
7. The player or pair starting at one end in a game
1. it has touched one court twice consecutively.
shall start at the other end in the next game of the
2. It has, except in service, touched each court
match and in the last possible game of a match the
alternately without having been struck by the
players or pairs shall change ends when first one
racket immediately.
player or pair scores five points.
3. It has been struck by either player more than
once consecutively
4. It has touched either player or anything that
the player wears or carries, except the racket
or racket hand below the waist.
5. On the volley it comes in contact with the
racket or the racket hand below the wrist. 6.
It has touched any object other than the net
and supports.