Ninh explains the Rules of Table Tennis Table Tennis, otherwise known as ‘Ping Pong’,
is a game played as singles (where one person plays against one person) or doubles (where
two people play against two people). The object of the game is for your team to
win 3 sets faster than the opposing team. To win a set, you must score 11 points and
be at least two points ahead. If the scores are 10-10 for example, the game
carries on until one player or pair has a two point lead.
Okay then, so how do you score these points? To score a point, you must aim to hit a small
ball with your bat (otherwise known as a paddle) over the net and onto your opponent’s side
of the table without the opponent returning the favour.
The table is 274cm long x 152.5cm wide, and the net is 15.25cm above the table surface.
There is a centreline that divides the table, but this is used in doubles only.
To start the game, a player must serve with the ball in his open palm behind the table.
The ball must travel at least 6 inches in the air and bounce once on each side of the
table for a serve to be legal. If the ball is hit onto the edge of the table
- this counts. The opponent will then try and return the
ball and make you miss hitting the ball back. This can go back and forth and is known as
a ‘rally’. Hitting the ball over a net onto the table
so that your opponent can’t return it, sounds simple enough, but in table tennis - it’s
very easy to lose points.
There’s a lot of things you can’t do in table tennis
You cannot hit the ball directly onto the ground outside the area of play.
You cannot hit the ball twice in succession. You cannot allow the ball to bounce more than
once. You cannot hit the ball before it has bounced
on your side of the table. You cannot hit the ball into the net and for
it to land on your half of the table. You cannot touch the ball with any part of
your body except with the bat. You cannot put your non playing hand on the
table. In doubles, you cannot hit the ball out of
turn. and as earlier mentioned; you must serve the
ball legally. If you commit any of these errors, this results
in your opponents being awarded a point. Once a player or a pair has won 11 points
and is at least 2 points ahead, they win a set.
First player or pair to win 3 sets faster than their opponent … wins.
Now that’s basically table tennis in a nutshell, but there’s a few things you’ll need to
understand before playing or going to a game.
For example …
Service In singles only, the ball can be served anywhere
on the table. In doubles however, the ball must touch the
opposite corners of the table and partners must alternate serves.
Each player (or pair) is given two serves before your opponent is awarded next two serves.
This goes back and forth until either a set is won, or you reach Deuce.
Deuce This where a score is tied (typically 10-10)
and each team now requires a two point lead to win. The only difference now is that you
only get one serve each as opposed to two. The first player or pair to get a two point
lead, wins the set.
Out of turn (doubles)
In doubles only, you and your partner must hit the ball alternately.
If a player hits the ball twice in succession during a rally – they have played out of
turn and the opponent is awarded the point.
As you can tell, Table Tennis is an extremely fast sport and you’ll need good reflexes
to play it properly, but over time, the rules will become easy and it’s a fun sport to
play. If you have found this video at all helpful,
please like, share and subscribe. It takes me ages to make one of these things
and good karma is very much appreciated. Be sure to follow me on twitter also, but
in the meantime, enjoy Table Tennis!
Ninh Ly, www.ninh.co.uk, @NinhLyUK