INTRODUCTION TO TABLE TENNIS

• Table tennis is the most popular racket game in the world
• Ping pong


  Another name for table tennis
• Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988
• Table tennis became the largest participated indoor game in the world
• Table Tennis

  • A tennis-like skill sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth using a bat/paddle or racket
  • The game is played on a table divided by a net
  • Players must allow a ball toward them with one bounce on their table and must return it by bouncing on the opponent's table
  • A player scores a point if the opposing players fail to properly return the ball to the other side of the table
  • Each player has two attempts in serving
• Table tennis originated in England


  Late 1800s
• Table tennis

  The indoor version of the game Lawn Tennis
• David Foster

  The English man who invented table tennis in the 1980s, calling it "Tennis on the table"
• Names used for table tennis

  • Ping-Pong
  • Gossima
  • Whiff Whaff
  • Parlour Tennis
  • Indoor Tennis
  • Pom-Pom
  • Pim –Pam
  • Netto
  • Royal Game
  • Tennis de Salon
• John Jaques and St Ltd of London released their Gossima Games


  1901
• Ping-pong


  The name used for the game played with expensive Jaques equipment, while other manufacturers called it table tennis
• James Gibb introduced celluloid balls which were ideal for the game


  1901
• The first table tennis world championship tournament was played in London

  1927
• Olympic table tennis was first played in Seoul, South Korea


  1988
• The International Table Tennis Federation (IITF) instituted several changes in the rules
• David Foster


  Introduced the actual game done on a table in July 1890 with strung rackets, 30mm covered rubber ball, a small wooden perimeter fence with side nets to catch the stray balls
• Emma Barker


  Filed an American patent under the name of Indoor Tennis on January 21, 1981, with a net fixture at the center and a racket with a strap
• John Jaques


  Registered the game under the name of Gossima on July 16, 1891, using a Vellum Drum Battledores (Racket), a 50 mm webbed cork ball, and a 30 cm high net
• Hamley Brothers


  Trademarked a ping pong name on September 20, 1900
• Slazenger & Sons


  Registered a "whiff-whaff" as a "New game" on December 31, 1900, in London England
• Table tennis equipment

  • Tables, nets, rackets, and balls
  • Inexpensive and easy to set up
  • Very safe for younger students/players
• Table dimensions

  • Length: 274 cm
  • Width: 152.5 cm
  • Height: 76 cm
  • Net height: 15.25 cm
  • Net overhang: 15.25 cm
• Masonite

  A type of hardboard used for the table surface
• An ITTF approved table surface must be in a green or blue color
• Racket


  • Also called paddle, bat, and blade
  • The American table tennis player uses the term "paddle", in Europe it is called "bat" and the official term from ITTF is "racket"
  • The average size of the blade is approximately 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) long and 6 inches (15 cm) wide
• Table tennis ball

  White or orange celluloid-made, with a matte finish, measuring exactly 40 mm in diameter and weighing exactly 2.7 grams, preferably with 3 stars
• Grip


  • One of the most important things to master in table tennis, as it is the player's main weapon of defense
  • The two basic types of grip are the shakehand grip and the penhold grip
• Shakehand grip


  • The most widely known grip in Western countries, also called the "western grip"
  • The thumb, middle ring, and little fingers are touching the handle of the racket while the index finger is placed on the rubber pointing laterally sideward
• Varieties of the shakehand grip

  • Traditional Chinese Grip
  • Japanese or Korean Grip
  • Reverse penhold backhand grip
• Penhold grip


  The thumb and the index finger are in front of the racket handle, while the remaining three fingers are at the back of the racket support
• Basic racket angles

  • Neutral (the racket is in the vertical position, the "ready" position)
  • Closed (the face of the racket is facing low toward the ground, used for topspin play and blocking)
  • Open (the face of the racket is facing forward or up, used for push strokes and backspin plays)