Table Tennis (Ping pong)

set- up for the competition

table set with net and racket

standard dimension of table for table tennis

Table tennis also known as PingPong is one of the interesting indoor game in the Olympics. The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is the highest governing body for this sports founded in 1926.

The game takes place on a hard table equally divided by a net. The game can played by two or four player. The players hit the lightweight ball (usually white or orange in color) using their racket. The players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounce on the opposite side. Point are score when foul or errors and a player fails to return the ball within the rules.

The sports required skills, quickness and demand reactions to the ball. A skilled player can impart several varieties of spin to the ball, altering its trajectory and limiting an opponent's option to great advantage.

The ball used in table tennis has a diameter of 40mm (formely 38 mm), is made of celluloid, and is hollow. The three star rating on the ball usually implies a top quality ball, in relation to its bounce, roundness and their respective consistency between balls of the sme make and type.

The standard size of the table used in the game have a dimension of 2.74m (9ft) long, 1.525 m (5ft) wide and 76 cm (30 inch) high with a Masonite ( a type of hardboard) or equivalent materials/ timber, layered with a smooth, low friction coating. The table surface usually green or blue in color. The table is divided equally into halves by a 15.25 cm (6 inch.) high net.

In the new rules by the ITTF, the player first score 11 points or more with ahead of two points or more is the winner of the game. Players alternate serves every two points. In case of deuce (score 10-10) the players will alternate serve, the winner is then the first person to gain a two points advantage over his/her opponent. Previously the first player to gain 21 points (except deuce occurs) won the game.