Ping pong rules | How to play table tennis, serve - teenflisports

Rules of ping pong How to play table tennis, serves🏓

Table tennis is a very fun and complete racket sport, but most people don't know the rules of ping pong . Table tennis is one of the most popular sports in Europe and especially in Asia. Most countries in the world have official ping pong teams, which even compete to represent their country in this racket sport at the Olympic Games. In addition, table tennis is very widespread at an amateur level, since it is simple, with little physical demand and can even be played with a dining table instead of the tennis table, a paper ball instead of the ball or a book in exchange for the ping pong racket.

The rules of table tennis have been advancing over the years. Learn about the history of ping pong to appreciate its origin and evolution. Many rules in the official table tennis regulations have changed, such as the material of the ping pong racket or the size of the ball. Also the scoring and serving system have been modified. It is a sport that is constantly changing, so in this article we compile the basic rules of how to play ping pong .

Contents

• What is ping pong or table tennis?
• Origin and history of ping pong
• The basic rules of ping pong or table tennis
• How do you play table tennis?
• The table, ball and racket of ping pong
• Scoring or scoring system according to the rules of ping pong
• Ping pong rules for serves
• acceleration rule in table tennis
• Choice of ping pong serve, return and sides
• Official ping pong competitions
• Frequently asked questions about the rules of ping pong

What is ping pong or table tennis?

Ping pong or table tennis is a racket sport that is played between two players or two couples, in case of double games. It is the Olympic sport with the largest number of practitioners in the world, 40 million players. The practice of this sport improves the capacity and reaction time, concentration and memory, among others. According to a NASA study, it is the most complicated sport that a person can practice professionally.

It originated in the 70s, in England. This sport has evolved over the years. Some of the most notable changes are the increase in the size of the ball or the reduction in the number of points per game, among others. There have been innovations that changed the style of play. For example, the Asian-style racket grip or the use of topspin . To play current ping pong , a wide variety of game systems are allowed, both offensive and defensive.

The International Table Tennis Federation ( ITTF ) is in charge of the rules of ping pong worldwide. This institution brings together more than 200 national organizations.

The name of ping-pong arose after hearing the bounce of the balls on the table.

Origin and history of ping pong

To talk about the ping pong rules we must first know its history. It originated in the late 19th century. It was on a rainy day, where some tennis players from an English club could not play tennis. Therefore, they decided to play in an indoor format . They took a square table and placed a rope in the middle, which separated both parts of the table, acting as a network.

Years later, Charles Bater made a version of the ping pong rules using cork balls. James Gibb, for his part, introduced rackets with 45 cm shafts.

At the beginning of the 20th century, ping-pong tournaments began to be held. In them, there were registered more than 300 participants. The aforementioned International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was founded in 1926. It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Table tennis rules evolution

Playing ping pong was very present in Eastern European countries. Even so, the Asians ended up implementing this sport in their respective countries. Japan was the first of them. In addition, they implemented one of the most important technical advances to play ping pong . Japanese players added a thin foam between the wood and the rubber of the racket. This foam improved comfort in the game for the players and increased the speed of the game.

In 1959, Rong Guotuan became the first Chinese athlete to win a World Cup. He was not the first to win it only in table tennis, but in any sport. From that moment, a Chinese supremacy was imposed in this sport that still lasts.

Its inclusion in the Olympic Games began to be proposed from the 1930s. However, it was not accepted as an Olympic discipline until 1981. Furthermore, it was not an official part of the Olympic Program until Seoul 1988.

After Sydney 2000, the balls within the rules of ping pong became larger. This was done with the aim of slowing down the game and thus making it more attractive for television broadcasts. The number of points needed to win a game was also reduced. It was reduced from 21 to 11 points. With this, more exciting matches were achieved.

The basic rules of ping pong or table tennis

Table tennis rules mainly govern equipment, serve (also called ping pong serve) and invalid moves. Know what the basic rules of ping pong are thanks to this summary.

• The basic equipment to play ping pong are two rackets, a table with a net that divides it in half, and balls.
• The ping pong table is rectangular with a length of 2.74 m and a width of 1.525 m. The table is located at a height of 76 cm from the ground.
• The rules of ping pong dictate that, for individual games, the white lines on the table mean nothing.
• The ping pong ball has a diameter of 40 mm and a weight of 2.7 g. It can be white or orange, but always matte.
• The time when the ball is in play is known as a rally.
• According to the rules of ping pong , a goal is a play whose result is recorded.
• It is not allowed to move the table or touch it with anything other than the paddle while the ball is in play.

How do you play table tennis?

• A ping pong serve is performed by placing the ball in the palm of the hand. It is thrown up and hit in such a way that it hits the first bounce on the serving player's side of the net.
• When the ping pong ball is in play the rally period begins. Each player hits the ball to pass it to the opponent's side.
• In pairs games, each player serves diagonally, from right to left.
• The first player to serve is determined randomly. Each player or pair will serve twice, then passing the serve to the opposing player or pair.
• The player or pair that starts on one side in one game must change sides in the next game of the match.
• Under the rules of ping pong , when a player hits the ball, it cannot bounce to their side.
• A player scores a point if the ball bounces two or more on the opponent's side. Also if the rival does not hit the ball, or the hit causes it to go out without the ball touching the table. Also, he earns a point if the opponent hits the ping pong ball and bounces first, on his side of the table.
• A game will be won by whoever reaches 11 points with a difference of 2 points over the opponent.

The table, ball and racket of ping pong

Ping pong rules for the table

According to the ping pong rules established by the ITTF, the surface of the table must be rectangular. This will have a length of 2.74 m and a width of 1.525 m. In addition, it must be located horizontally and parallel to the ground, 76 cm from it.

The surface for playing ping pong can be made of any material. This must provide a uniform bounce of about 23 cm when a regulation ball is dropped on it from a height of 30 cm. Color should be dark and uniform, with a 2 cm wide white lateral line along each 2.74 m edge. In addition, it will have a 2 cm wide white baseline along each 1.525 m edge. The table will be divided into two fields of equal size by a vertical net parallel to the bottom lines. This will be continuous throughout the area of ​​each field.

To play doubles ping pong , each court will be divided into two equal half-courts by a white center line 3mm wide. It must be parallel to the side lines.

Ball according to the rules of ping pong

The ball has a diameter of 40 mm and a weight of 2.7 g. It will be made of celluloid or a similar plastic material. The ITTF only allows orange or white colored balls. In 2015, the ITTF approved 74 models of balls for professional competitions.

ITTF table tennis rules stated that the ball should have a circumference between 36 and 38 mm in diameter. After the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the ITTF increased the diameter of the ball from 38 to 40 mm. This it was done in order to slow down gameplay and make it more attractive to viewers and TV broadcasts.

Rules for table tennis racket

A racket is used to hit the ball. According to the rules of ping pong , this can be any size, shape, or weight. However, the sheet must be flat and rigid. In addition, at least 85% of its thickness must be made of natural wood.

To follow the rules of table tennis , the side of the blade used to hit the ball can be covered in two ways:

• With normal spike rubber, with the spikes out. In addition, it will have a total thickness of no more than 2 mm.
• With sandwich rubber, with the spikes in or out. It shall have a total thickness not exceeding 4 mm.

The surface of the coating on the sides of the sheet shall be matte, red on one side and black on the other.

Scoring or scoring system according to the rules of ping pong

To play ping pong , the matches can be individual or double. After every 2 goals scored, the receiving couple will become the serving couple, and so on until the end of the game. This will happen unless both players or pairs have scored 10 points. It could also be overridden if the throttling rule is in effect. If these two situations occur, the order of service and reception will be the same. However, each player will serve only one point alternately.

Table tennis rules dictate that in each game of a doubles match, the pair that serves first will choose which of the two players will serve first. When the first game of a match starts, the receiving pair will decide which of the two players will receive first. In the following games, the first receiver will be the one who served in the previous game. In addition, at each change of ping pong serve, the previous receiver will become the server, and the previous server's partner will become the receiver.

According to the rules of ping pong , whoever serves first in one game, will be the one who receives in the next game. In the last possible game of a doubles match, the receiving pair will change their receiving order when the other pair scores 5 points. The player or pair that starts a game on one side of the table will start the next game of the match on the other side. In the last game of a match, the players will switch sides when one of the two participants scores 5 points.

Ping pong rules for serves

Ping pong serves begin with the ball on the open palm of the server's free hand. Then, he will throw the ball up as vertically as possible, so that it rises at least 16 cm after leaving. According to the rules of ping pong , the ball must land without touching anything before being hit. When the ball is falling, the server will hit it with the paddle. In this hit, the ball must first touch its own field. Then, you should directly touch the receiver's field.

The play will be canceled at the moment that, in the ping pong serves , the ball touches the whole of the net. This will be taking into account that the ping pong serve is correct. It will also be counted as a nil if the service is made when the receiver is not ready. This will be as long as neither the receiver nor his partner tries to hit the ball.

acceleration rule in table tennis

One of the rules of table tennis is that if a game has not finished after 10 minutes of duration, the acceleration rule will come into effect. This will happen unless 18 points or more have already been scored. This means that, from that moment on, each player will serve one point per turn until the end of the game. In the event that the receiving player or pair makes 13 correct returns in one play, the goal will be scored.

By the time the rule has come into effect in the match and is applied to the game, it will stand until the end.

Choice of ping pong serve, return and sides

According to the rules of ping pong , at the beginning of the game there will be a draw, where the winner can choose whether to serve or receive first. Or, on the contrary, you can choose which side of the table to play on. From there, the following situations occur:

• After 2 goals or points have been played, the receiver will become the server and, thus, until the end of the game. This will not happen when both players have scored 10 points or the Rush Rule is in effect .
• In each game of a doubles match, the pair that serves first will choose which of the two players will serve first. The rules of ping pong define that in the first game, the subtracting pair will decide who will subtract first. When subsequent games are played, the first receiver will serve in the previous game.
• In a doubles game, at each change in the ping pong serves , the previous receiver will become the server and vice versa.
• The player or pair that starts a game on one side of the table will start the next game on the opposite side.
• The rules of ping pong stipulate that in the last game of a match, players will switch sides when the first player scores 10 points .

Official ping pong competitions

• The main international ping pong competitions are:
• The World Championship . It takes place every two years.
• The Olympic Games . Four titles are disputed in this competition: men's singles, women's singles, men's and women's doubles.
• The World Cup . This competition annually brings together the champions of each continent and the best players of the moment.
• The  World Circuit ( World Tour ) . The competition is made up of a set of tournaments organized by the ITTF. These tournaments are held all over the world. In these, the highest level professional players in the world compete. The competition closes each season with the Final Phase ( World Tour Grand Finals ).

At the continental level there are other competitions, such as:

• The Latin American Championship
• Panamerican games
• The North American Championship
• asian games
• The European Championship.

Federated players are assigned a rating that reflects their level of play. This is useful for their distribution in different categories in competitions or tournaments. The classification system is different in each country. For international competitions, the ITTF not only governs the rules of table tennis , but also publishes a monthly ranking of the players. This ranking reflects a level based on the results of the players in official competitions.​

Frequently asked questions about the rules of ping pong

Where was table tennis invented?

Table tennis was invented in the 1970s in England. Some of the most notable changes over the years are the increase in the size of the ball or the reduction in the number of points per game. However, its origin dates back to the end of the 19th century on a rainy day, where some tennis players from an English club could not play tennis. Therefore, they decided to play in an indoor format.

How do you play ping pong?

Ping pong is played like this:

• When a player hits the ping pong ball, it cannot bounce on their side.
• A player scores a point if the ball bounces two or more on the opponent's side. Also if the rival does not hit the ball or hit it, it goes out without it touching the table.
• A game will be won by whoever reaches 11 points with a difference of two points over his opponent.

What are the rules of ping pong?

The rules of ping pong govern equipment, serves, and invalid moves. In summary, the table tennis regulations include that:

• The equipment is two rackets, a table with a net and balls.
• For individual games, the white lines on the table mean nothing.
• The table tennis regulations define that a goal is a play whose result is scored.
• It is not allowed to move the table or touch it with anything other than the paddle while the ball is in play.