Table Tennis
Table tennis is the most popular racket sport in the world, with over 300 million active members of governing associations worldwide. The game is controlled by the International table tennis federation (ITTF), founded in 1926. Since 1988, table tennis has been an Olympic sport which includes four event categories. From 1988 until 2004, these were: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles. Since 2008 the doubles have been replaced by the team events.
The server must strike the ball such that it bounces once on his or her half of the table, and then bounces at least one time on the opponent's half. If the ball strikes the net but does not strike the opponent's half of the table, then a point is awarded to the opponent. However, if the ball hits the net, but nevertheless goes over and bounces on the other side, it is called a let (or net-in). Play stops, and the ball must be served again.
If the service is "good", then the receiver must make a "good" return by hitting the ball back over the net after it bounces once on their side of the table, but before it bounces a second time. Returning the serve is one of the most difficult parts of the game, as the server's first move is often the least predictable and thus most advantageous shot due to the numerous spin and speed choices at his or her disposal.
Rules of Table Tennis
If he fails to make good return.
If anything he wears or carries should touch the playing surface while the ball is in play.
If his free hand should touch the playing surface while the ball is in play
Table tennis is the most popular racket sport in the world, with over 300 million active members of governing associations worldwide. The game is controlled by the International table tennis federation (ITTF), founded in 1926. Since 1988, table tennis has been an Olympic sport which includes four event categories. From 1988 until 2004, these were: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles and women's doubles. Since 2008 the doubles have been replaced by the team events.
EQUIPMENTS
Ball
The international rules specify that the game is played with a light 2.7 gram, 40 mm diameter ball. Generally, it is the most-used ball.
Table
The table is 2.74 m (9 ft) long, 1.525 m (5 ft) wide, and 76 cm (30 inch) high with a Masonite (a type of hardboard) or similarly manufactured timber, layered with a smooth, low-friction coating. The table or playing surface is divided into two halves by a 15.25 cm (6 inch) high net. The table surface is often in a green, blue or red color.
Racket
Players are equipped with a laminated wooden racket covered with rubber on one or two sides depending on the grip of the player. This is called either a paddle, racket, blade or a bat depending on where in the world the game is being played.Service
In game play, the player serving the ball commences a point. The player stands with the ball held in the palm of the freehand, with the hand behind the endline of the table and higher than the surface of the table. The racket is held in the other hand, the racket hand, and the server tosses the ball directly upward without spin, at least 16 centimeters (approximately 6 inches) high, and strikes the ball with the racket on the ball's descent. In casual (non-tournament) games, many players do not toss the ball upward, however this is technically illegal and can give the serving player an unfair advantage. The ball must remain behind the endline and above the height of the table at all times during the service. The server cannot use his body or clothing to obstruct sight of the ball; the opponent and the umpire must have a clear view of the ball at all times, if the ball is interfered with in any way the players must replay the point.The server must strike the ball such that it bounces once on his or her half of the table, and then bounces at least one time on the opponent's half. If the ball strikes the net but does not strike the opponent's half of the table, then a point is awarded to the opponent. However, if the ball hits the net, but nevertheless goes over and bounces on the other side, it is called a let (or net-in). Play stops, and the ball must be served again.
If the service is "good", then the receiver must make a "good" return by hitting the ball back over the net after it bounces once on their side of the table, but before it bounces a second time. Returning the serve is one of the most difficult parts of the game, as the server's first move is often the least predictable and thus most advantageous shot due to the numerous spin and speed choices at his or her disposal.
Hitting The Ball
Any hitting of the ball must be done such that the ball passes over or around the net.If the ball does not hit the table it is legal to hit with your paddle and is out of play.If a player cannot return a legal hit over (or around) the net so that the ball bounces on the opposite side of the table, the player loses the point.Rules of Table Tennis
- The table should be 9 feet (274 cm.) long and five feet (152.5 cm.) wide. It should be 2 feet, 6 inches (76 cm) above the floor. It should lie in a horizontal plane.
- The upper surface of the table is the plying ground and should be of non-reflecting dark colour.
- The playing surface should be divided in to two courts of equal size by a net running parallel to the end lines. The net should be 6 feet in length and 6 inches above the playing surface.
- The ball should be round. It should be made of white celluloid but not brightly reflecting.
- The weight should not be more than 37 grains or less than 30 grains.
- The bat may by of any size, shape or weight. Its surface should not be dark and non-reflecting.
- The choice of ends and service is decided by toss. The player who wins has the first choice of either. The other player gets the other.
- After five points the striker-out becomes the server and the server becomes the striker-out. The ends are also changed.
- If side and service have not been changed, the error should be remedied at once, but the score already made shall not be affected.
- The server should first make good service, the striker out shall then make good return, and thereafter server and striker-out shall each alternately make a good return.
- The server should project the ball by hand only, without imparting it spin-up into the air. The ball should then be struck so that it touches first the server’s court, and when passing directly over the net, touches the striker-out’s court.
- In doubles, the ball shall touch first the server’s right half- court or the centre line or his side of the net and then, passing directly over or around the net, touch the receiver’s right half- court or the center line of his side of the net.
- A player shall loss the point:
If he fails to make good return.
If anything he wears or carries should touch the playing surface while the ball is in play.
If his free hand should touch the playing surface while the ball is in play
- A game is won by the player who first wins 21 points.
- If both players score 20 points simultaneously, the winner shall be the one who wins two points more than his revel.
Scoring
Points are awarded to the opponent for any of several errors in play:- Allowing the ball to bounce on one's own side more than once immediately after the serve
- Double hitting the ball. Note that the hand above the wrist (of the hand that is holding the racket) is considered part of the racket and making a good return off one's hand or fingers is allowed, but hitting one's hand or fingers and then subsequently hitting the racket is a double strike and an error.
- Allowing the ball to strike anything other than the racket (see above for definition of the racket)
- Causing the ball not to bounce on the opponent's half (i.e., not making a "good" return)
- Placing one's free hand on the playing surface
- Moving the playing surface
- Offering and failing to make a good serve (i.e., making a service toss and failing to strike the ball fairly into play)
- Making an illegal serve: (e.g., one preceded by a player's hiding the ball or his failing to toss the ball at least 16 centimeters (six inches) in the air,or not serving across the court[when playing double])
- Hitting the net with racket or any body part
- Obstructing the ball
- The ball is considered out of bounds if: It touches a wall, ceiling, the opponent's body, or is stopped by any outside force except the opponents racket.
- If you throw the racket at the other player you are disqualified (or if you intentionally hurl your racket to the ground out of frustration, you will most likely get a red card, which disqualifies you from the rest of your unplayed matches in that tournament.)