WARREN CENTRAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPT.

TABLE TENNIS/PING PONG

HISTORY OF THE SPORT: Table Tennis probably had its origin during the latter part of the 19 th century but no one is sure about the identity of the person who actually invented the game. Because of its close similarity to tennis it is entirely possible that several people could have developed the idea of playing a game fashioned after tennis but on a much smaller scale. The name Ping Pong (a sound derived from the sound of the ball striking the paddle and table) was used by Parker Brothers as a trade make for the sale of the game in stores. EQUIPMENT: Table, net, bats and ball. The table shall be rectangular, 9ft X 5ft. the height from the floor being 30 inches. There shall be a white line along the side termed the side line and a white line along each and termed the end line. For Doubles play there shall be a white line the length of the table dividing the table in half, and termed the center line. The center line in no way affects singles play. The net shall be 6 feet long and be placed across the center of the table. The lower part should be just above the surface of the table and the top should be 6 inches from the surface of the table. The bat or paddle may be of any size, shape or weight. Most are round or square and made of plywood, the face being covered with sandpaper or pimpled rubber. More recently developed and used are the bats with a sponge rubber over the wood face and then an outer cover of pimpled rubber with the smooth side out, developed by the Japanese and called the sandwich bat. RULES OF THE GAME: Choice of ends/serve: Determined by chance, coin toss and spin paddle. Scoring: A game shall be won by the player who first wins 21 points. If both teams have 20 points, then the winner of the game shall be the one who first wins two points more than the opponent. The serving order changes at 20 all. Serving: The order of serving shall be: partner A of the starting team shall serve 5 points, then partner As of the opposing team shall serve 5 points. Partner B of the starting team shall then serve 5 points, and then partner B of the opposing team shall serve 5 points. Partners change sides with each other after serving. Teams change ends of the table after each game. Receivers serve first on the next game and a match shall consist of two out of three games. Order of Play: In doubles the server shall first make a good serve, the receiver shall make a good return, and the partner of the server shall make a good return, then the partner of the receiver shall make a good return. The server shall make a good return, and there after each player shall alternately make a good return continuing the above sequence.

Let: A let means that the ball is declared out of play, with no player to be awarded that point. A let is declared if a serve touches the net and is otherwise good or if the receiver is not ready. Loss of Points: A player shall lose a point if: A. Player fails to make a good serve. B. Player fails to make a good return. C. If their bat or person touches the net while the ball is in play. D. If their free hand touch the table. E. If there is a let and the ball bounce twice on his side before returning it. F. If they volley the ball. G. If they play out of order.

Missed Serve: If a player in attempting to serve should miss the ball altogether, it is a lost point because the ball was in play from the moment it left the servers hand and a good serve has not been made. In Doubles; play the serve must be made from the right side of the servers end to the right side of the receivers end. In Singles; the center line is ignored.

Grip: Shake hands, bat is held with thumb and forefinger on blade or face of bat: The other three fingers curled around the handle. To make forehand strokes, extend the forefinger across the back of the bat to provide steadiness and better touch. Some people like two finger extended for the forehand stroke. To make backhand strokes, most players reverse the position of the thumb and forefinger. The thumb moves up so it lies down the center of the bat to give support while the forefinger drops down to the edge of the blade to avoid coming in contact with the ball on impact.

Ready Position: Your attitude should be relaxed and comfortable, yet alert. Feet comfortably spaced, knees slightly bent. You rest on the balls of the feet, prepared for anything. The distance away from the table to stand is one which best suits your height and reach. To find this, take up the attitude described, crouched square to the table, holding the bat/paddle with the playing arm extended downward and forward. How adjust your position in relation to the table until you are just able to touch its edge with the edge of your bat/paddle.

TYPES OF STROKES: Push: The simple push is the basic stroke. It can safely be used as a counter to any stroke or when sparring for an opening. It is the foundation of nearly all the strokes. It is played from the sideways-stance so the body does not impede the stroke. With the forearm horizontal and the bat tilted slightly back at the top, the paddle should be moved steadily forward and slightly down. As the paddle moves forward the body weight transfers from back foot to front foot. Always think of the paddle as an extension of the arm, allowing your movements to follow through to their natural extension after the ball is contacted. Practicing push strokes alternating from forehand to backhand is the best way of getting used to moving the feet efficiently into their correct position.

Service: Must always be made from palm of the free hand. The ball must rest on the palm without being cupped or pinched by the fingers. The fingers are held together and flat with the thumb held free. The ball is tossed into the air with no spin and as nearly vertical as possible. The ball should be struck as it descends from the peak of its toss and the bats position at the time must be behind the end of the table or an imaginary continuation of the table. The ball must first touch the service side of the table, Passover the net, touch the receivers side before the receiver side of the table, pass over the net, touch the receivers side before the receiver can return it. If the server misses it altogether then they automatically loose a point.

Chop: A Defensive Stroke: slows attack, it can be made forehand or backhand. Sideways stance, weight on back foot, transfers to the front foot as your paddle contacts the ball. Begin approach with paddle shoulder high, aiming to make contact at about waist height when the ball is dropping, knees and trunk should bend as the arm movement progresses forward and downward. The point of contact is behind and below the center of the ball, follow through, ending about knee height. The face of the paddle is slightly open, go for length with your chop shots as a return mid-table is a gift to opponents.

Topspin Curve: The main attacking stroke. Can be forehand or backhand from sideways stance. For the forehand stroke, the arm movement starts from a position behind the body, with the paddle held about waist height. Point of contact should be when the ball has reached a position approximately level with your body, by which time your paddle should be a little above waist height, tilted slightly forward at the top of the blade. The playing arm is then moved forward and upward, the paddle brushing the top of the ball to impart topspin, then continuing to the full natural extension of its follow through which is near head height and in front of the body. The shoulders should finish parallel to the net, backhand movements are similar to the forehand. The feet position is reversed. However, contact is usually made a little earlier and the wrist may be turned on contact to give the topspin a boost. Most players favor the forehand side. Begin this stroke slowly, gradually building up speed until you develop a really effective stroke.