This document provides information about the history, equipment, basics, strokes, and rules of table tennis. It outlines that the game evolved from badminton and lawn tennis in the 1880s. The key equipment includes a table tennis racket, table, and balls. It describes the basic grips, strokes including serves, returns, drives, pushes, blocks, and smashes. The rules section covers aspects of the table, net, serving, scoring, and order of play.

1. Email – contact@squareoffsports.com
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06/01/12 © Copyright M/S Square Off 2010

2. Table of Contents
06/01/12 © Copyright M/S Square Off 2010 2
History
Equipment
Basics
Rules
Start your play
Safety

3. History
• Evolved along with badminton and Lawn
tennis in 1880s
• Early version of game in 1890 had cloth
covered rubber ball, strung racket and
wooden fences around table
• Changes started in 1900 when celluloid ball
was used and name changed to ping-pong due
to sound of ball

4. History
• Ping Pong or
Gossima
• Table Tennis
• Whiff Waff
• Parlour Tennis
Games became popular and was known by
different names such as
• Indoor Tennis
• Pom-Pom
• Pim-Pam
• Royal Game

5. Equipment
1.Table Tennis Racket
3.Table
5.Balls

6. Equipment
• Table Tennis Racket
 A table tennis racket is made up of two distinct parts - a wooden blade
which incorporates the handle and table tennis rubbers affixed to each
side of the blade using special table tennis glue
 Most rackets are actually all very similar in size - about 15cm (6
inches) across and 25cm (10 inches) long including the handle.
.

7. Equipment
• 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.[15]
The table or playing surface is divided into two halves by a 15.25 cm
(6 inch) high net. An ITTF approved table surface must be in a green
or blue color..
.

8. Equipment
• Ball
 The international rules specify that the game is played with a light 2.7
gram, 40 mm diameter ball.
 The rules say that the ball shall bounce up 24–26 cm when dropped
from a height of 30.5 cm on to a standard steel block thereby having a
coefficient of restitution of 0.89 to 0.92.
 The 40 mm ball was introduced after the 2000 Olympic Games.

9. Basics
• Grips
– Pen Hold
• The penhold grip is so-named because one grips the
racket similarly to the way one holds a
writing instrument.
• The style of play among penhold players can vary
greatly from player to player.
• The most popular style, usually referred to as the
Chinese penhold style, involves curling the middle, ring,
and fourth finger on the back of the blade with the
three fingers always remain touching one another.

10. Basics
• Grips
– Shake hand
• The shakehand grip (also called the "shakehands grip")
is so-named because one grips the racket similarly to
the way one performs a handshake.
• The grip is sometimes referred to as the "tennis grip" or
the "Western grip," although it has no correlation to
the Western grip used in tennis.
• The shakehand grip is traditionally popular among
players originating in Western nations and South Asian
nations.

11. Basics
• Strokes
– The Drive
• Drives, a light topspin stroke that produces a low ball trajectory,
are the primary offensive strokes in table tennis.
• One employs drives to force errors and to set up winners. The
mastery of both the forehand and backhand drives is important
because it will give your opponent less options when using
attacking strokes of his/her own.
• In executing this and all other offensive strokes, the usage of the
entire body in unison is important for consistency and power. Keep
in the ready position until you are ready to execute the shot and
remain relaxed but responsive (this is very important).

12. Basics
• Strokes
– Forehand Drive
• Keep the upper arm close, but not flush, to the torso. The
forearm(form a rough 90 degree bend with the upper arm) should
be drawn back to the 3 o'clock position, and let the waist turn
naturally along with the arm(this is where relaxing is important).
• Shift your weight toward the right foot at the same time. While
shifting your weight back to your left foot, swing forward with a
slight upward motion, with the waist providing additional force in
the swing.
• Use the elbow as a pivot point; it should not move so much up and
down, but also should be allowed to move slightly forward in the
follow-through.
• Contact with the ball should be made slightly to the side of the
body after the top of the bounce.

13. Basics
• Strokes
– Forehand Drive
• Make sure the paddle is somewhat closed(or facing downwards at
an angle), and remains that way throughout the stroke. Follow-
through should finish when racket is parallel with the left shoulder.
Immediately return to the ready position. The left foot should be
slightly in front of the right for support.

14. Basics
• Strokes
– Backhand Drive
• From the ready position, the waist turns left with the racket
pointing towards the 9 o'clock position.
• When following through, contact with the ball is made in front of
the body, slightly after the top of the bounce. Let the elbow again
act as the pivot point, and snap the forearm forward in a slightly
upward direction.
• Make sure the paddle is closed. Follow-through should finish
naturally (about 12~1 o'clock) after contact with ball. The left foot
should be slightly ahead of the right.

15. Basics
• Strokes
– The Push
• Pushes are the basic backspin shots, used to change the pace of an
exchange or to return certain very low and close shots such as
backspin serves.
• A generally defensive shot, it allows placement anywhere on the
table that is difficult to attack when executed properly. All pushes
should be done with the right foot stepping in.
• The ball is contacted right after the bounce with an open racket.
How open the racket is depends on the intensity of backspin on
the ball. Heavier backspin requires a more open racket to return
over the net. Try to keep the ball low, varying the amount of
backspin and racket angle.

16. Basics
• Strokes
– Forehand Push
• Bring the racket slightly up and back, while keeping the elbow at
your waist. Bend the wrist back. Swing forward with a downward
motion, and when the racket reaches the ball snap the wrist
forward for extra racket speed.
• With an open racket, graze the bottom half of the ball. An ideal
contact point is right after the ball bounces. Never push a ball at
the top of the bounce, because the resulting return will pop the
ball high enough for the opponent to execute a smash. Try to hit
the ball in front and slightly to the right of your body. Follow
through forward and slightly down, and return to the ready
position.

17. Basics
• Strokes
– Backhand Push
• Bring the racket slightly up and back, close into your stomach
while cocking the wrist back. This time try to contact the ball
directly in front of your body, and remember to keep the elbow
still while the forearm and wrist move forward and down. Graze
the bottom of the ball and follow through.
– Block
• Blocking allows a player to use the opponent's force against
him/her, and is done immediately after the bounce so that
maximum control and speed are retained. Adjusting the racket
angle depends on the severity of topspin on the ball; the more
topspin there is, the more you should close the racket. Being
essentially a cut-down drive, there is very little backswing and
follow-through.

18. Basics
• Strokes
– The Smash
• The smash, or kill, is the put-away stroke of table tennis. Any ball
that is high enough and close enough to the opponent's side can
be smashed, although some opportunities are better than others.
• Smashing combines waist, forearm, and wrist movement to the
fullest extent. A good smash is very hard to return, but it can be
done. Do not dawdle after you have executed a smash. The ball is
contacted at the top of the bounce at its highest point.

19. Basics
• Strokes
– Forehand Smash
Similar to the drive, the key differences include:
• A longer backswing
• Greater weight transfer during swing
• Faster, more intense snapping of the forearm when contacting ball
• Depending on ball height and position, the racket is closed more
than usual to keep the ball in the court
• Longer follow-through, but don't forget to anticipate a possible
return!

20. Basics
• Strokes
– Backhand Smash
• Again, use the guidelines above and apply them to the
backhand drive. Be sure to snap the wrist more as you
contact the ball and finish in a long follow-through

21. Basics
• Strokes
– Basic Service Techniques
The following are the basic rules of service:
• The ball must be held above the table level in order for the
opponent and umpire to see it.
• The ball must be held in the palm of the hand with fingers
stretched, and tossed vertically at least six inches.
• The ball must be struck only on the way down.
• The ball must be struck behind the end line.

22. Basics
• Strokes
– Basic Service Techniques
Imparting spin on these serves should be concentrated
mostly on the wrist.
• Backspin- just like pushing or chopping, a backspin serve is
executed with an open racket slicing the bottom of the ball.
• Topspin- like driving, topspin serves can be done hitting with a flat
racket, or like looping, where the player grazes the top of the ball
with a closed racket for more spin.
• Sidespin- simply hit the back of the ball in a left-to-right or right-
to-left motion, as desired. To make the stroke easier, try holding
the racket in front of you and brushing the bottom of the ball in a
pendulum motion.

23. Rules
• The Table
– The upper surface of the table, known as the playing
surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m long and 1.525m
wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the
floor.
– The playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of
the tabletop.
– The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield
a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is
dropped on to it from a height of 30cm.
– The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and
matt, but with a white side line, 2cm wide, along each
2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each
1.525m edge.

24. Rules
• The Table
– The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical
net running parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous over
the whole area of each court.
– For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a
white centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the
centre line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court.

25. Rules
• The Net Assembly
– The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension
and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching
them to the table.
– The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each
end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits
of the post being 15.25cm outside the side line.
– The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be
15.25cm above the playing surface.
– The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as
close as possible to the playing surface and the ends of
the net shall be as close as possible to the supporting
posts.

26. Rules
• The Service
– Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of
the server's stationary free hand.
– The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards,
without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving
the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything
before being struck.
– As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first
his court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly,
touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch
successively the right half court of server and receiver.
– From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the
level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it
shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his doubles
partner or by anything they wear or carry.

27. Rules
• The Return
– The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it
passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's
court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.
• The Order of Play
– In singles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall
then make a return and thereafter server and receiver alternately
shall each make a return.
– In doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall
then make a return, the partner of the server shall then make a
return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a return and
thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make a return.
– When two players who are in wheelchairs due to a physical
disability are a pair playing doubles, the server shall first make a
service, the receiver shall then make a return but thereafter either
player of the disabled pair may make returns.

28. Rules
• A Let
– The rally shall be a let :
• if in service the ball, in passing over or around the net
assembly, touches it, provided the service is
otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the
receiver or his partner
• if the service is delivered when the receiving player or
pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver
nor his partner attempts to strike the ball
• if failure to make a service or a return or otherwise to
comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside
the control of the player

29. Rules
• A Let
– The rally shall be a let :
– if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire;
– if the receiver is in wheelchair owing to a physical disability
and in service the ball, provided that the service is
otherwise correct
» after touching the receiver’s court returns in the
direction of the net
» comes to rest on the receiver's court
» in singles leaves the receiver’s court after touching it by
either of its sidelines

30. Rules
• A Let
– Play may be interrupted
• to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving
or ends
• to introduce the expedite system
• to warn or penalise a player or adviser
• because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way
which could affect the outcome of the rally

31. Rules
• A Point
– Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point
– if an opponent fails to make a correct service;
– if an opponent fails to make a correct return;
– if, after he has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything
other than the net assembly before being struck by an opponent;
– if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without
touching his court, after being struck by an opponent;
– if an opponent obstructs the ball;
– if an opponent deliberately strikes the ball twice in succession

32. Rules
• A Point
– if an opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose
surface does not comply with the requirements
– if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, moves
the playing surface;
– if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, touches
the net assembly;
– if an opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;
– if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence
established by
– the first server and first receiver;
– as provided under the expedite system

33. Rules
• A Game
– A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points
unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the game shall
be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2
points.
• A Match
– A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.

34. Rules
• The Order of Serving, Receiving and End
– The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends
shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to
receive first or to start at a particular end.
– When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to
start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the
other choice.
– After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair
shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of
the game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the
expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and
receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1
point in turn.
– In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve
first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a
match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive
first; in subsequent games of the match, the first server having
been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to
him in the preceding game

35. Rules
• The Order of Serving, Receiving and End
– In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall
become the server and the partner of the previous server shall
become the receiver.
– The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the
next game of the match and in the last possible game of a doubles
match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of
receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.
– The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the
other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible
game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first
one player or pair scores 5 points

36. Rules
• Out of Order of Serving, Receiving or Ends
– If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted
by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume
with those players serving and receiving who should be server and
receiver respectively at the score that has been reached, according
to the sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in
doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right
to serve first in the game during which the error is discovered.
– If the players have not changed ends when they should have done
so, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is
discovered and shall resume with the players at the ends at which
they should be at the score that has been reached, according to the
sequence established at the beginning of the match.
– In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an
error shall be reckoned.

37. Start Your Play
• Warming up helps get your body ready for
the rapid coordinated moves that make
table tennis such an intensive sport.
• There are no special or unique exercises; it's
just like warming up before playing any
other sport
• A light jog, jump ropes, and various
stretches help loosen your muscles and get
you "in gear" for optimum performance.

38. Safety
• Warming up before play is important and will
reduce the chances of muscle and joint injuries. It
is ideal to start with general warm up like
stretching and jogging. Then spend some time on
specific warm up like playing gentle shots for the
first 2 -3 minutes with another player. Gradually
upping the pace and tempo.
• On an average, players need about 15 minutes to
warm up themselves. Cooling down after play is
important in preventing injuries. Avoid lying down
straight after play. It is good to walk around or just
do a few simple stretching exercises to cool down
and relax your body.

39. Start Your Game…..
06/01/12 © Copyright M/S Square Off 2010 39
References…
http://www.ittf.com
http://www.allabouttabletennis.com
http://www.ttfi.org
http://www.megaspin.net
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_tennis