Table tennis, also called ping-pong, provides indoor recreation for people of all ages. Many schools and youth clubs have table tennis tables, which can be used by two or four players.
A table tennis table is divided into halves by a low net. A white centre line
further divides the surface of the table into four courts, which are used when
playing doubles.
There are two ways to hold a table
tennis racket. The shake-handsgrip is used by
most players in Western countries.
The
International Table Tennis Federation is the governing body for all
international table tennis associations. The role of the ITTF includes
overseeing rules and regulations and seeking technological improvement for the
sport of table tennis.
Useful links
World Ranking - ITTF
World Top 20 Table Tennis Ranking
World Table Tennis Championships Medalists
Table Tennis Guide
How to Hold Table Tennis Rackets
Table Tennis Grip
Expert Table Tennis
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| Table Tennis Bats |
Table tennis, or ping-pong, is a lively indoor game that resembles a miniature version of tennis. The players use rackets, which are often called bats or paddles, to hit a ball back and forth over a net that stretches across a table. They score points by hitting the ball so their opponent or opponents cannot return it. Table tennis may be played by two or four persons. If two persons play, the game is called singles. If four play, the game is called doubles.
Table tennis developed in England during
the late 1800's. Today, it is a popular form of recreation and an international
sport. Players from more than 100 countries belong to the International Table
Tennis Federation (ITTF). The ITTF holds a world championship tournament every
two years.
Equipment for table tennis consists of a table, net, rackets, and ball. The table
measures 274 centimetres long, 152.5 centimetres wide, and 76 centimetres high.
Most tables are dark green with a white line along the edges. A white centre
line runs the length of the table. The centre line divides the table into courts that are used for doubles. The
net, which is suspended between two posts, extends across the width of the
table at its centre. The net measures 15.25 centimetres high.
The rackets may be any shape, size, or
weight. All are made of wood and are covered with pimpled or smooth sponge.
Each side must be of a uniform dark colour, though the sides may be different
colours. The covering material cannot be more than 4 millimetres thick on either
side of the racket.
The ball is round and hollow and made of
celluloid. It measures 38 millimetres in diameter and weighs 2.5 grams.
How the game is played. 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. When 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 bounce on the opponent's side.
For a good return, a player must hit the
ball after one bounce so that it clears the net and bounces on the opponent's
court. Volleying (hitting the
ball before it bounces) is not allowed. Play continues until one person misses
the ball, hits it off the table, or hits it into the net. When a player fails
to make a good serve or a good return, the opponent scores a point. After
every five points, the other player serves.
The player who first scores 21 points wins
the game. However, the winner must have at least a two-point lead. If both
players score 20 points, they alternate serving after each point until one
person leads by 2 points. A match consists of either two out of three games or
three out of five games.
When playing doubles, the server must serve
from his or her right-hand court into the opponents' right- hand court. The
teammates must alternate in hitting the ball on the returns.
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