Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is an exciting sport that can be played by 2 or 4 players. Even beginners can become very skilled in no time; professional table tennis is a real show. This article contains the basic rules of ping pong, along with some tips for winning.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Playing Ping Pong
Step 1. Find someone to play with
Chances are you want to start with someone at your level or slightly more experienced than you, and preferably someone who is not aggressively competitive. This way, you can have fun learning how to play. You can play one-on-one, or in teams of 2, or doubles. And you want someone with regular rackets, balls and a table in case you don't own them!
- If you have the hand-eye coordination of a three-legged blind dog, you may want to start by practicing against a wall and familiarizing yourself with how the racquet and ball work. For the record, it's best on a table leaning against a wall.
- Play or practice with orange or white balls 40mm in diameter. The table should be 2, 74 m long, 1,525 m wide and at a height of 0, 76 m from the ground. Ping pong rackets don't have a regulated size, actually. The smaller rackets are not easy to use and the larger ones are too heavy and uncomfortable. But they must be made of wood and rubber and the competition rackets must have 2 colors.
Step 2. Learn to hold the racket
There are 2 common gripping styles: pen and handshake. Regardless of your grip, it is important that it is loose to allow your wrist to move freely. Clenching your fist on the handle, much of your strength in responses will come from the arm, not from the wrist, and you will not have the necessary accuracy. No taking is an exact science:
With the pen grip, you basically hold the racket like a pen. With that handshake, put your hand on the handle as if you want to squeeze his hand, and then wrap your fingers loosely around it. The main part here is to do what comes naturally to you
Step 3. Decide who beats first
According to the official rules of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the choice of who beats first is "by lot" (throwing a coin, odd-even …), and the winner can choose who beats first or which side of the table prefers. If the winner chooses whether to hit or receive, the opponent can choose the court, and vice versa.
In most friendlies, however, the serve is determined by a quick dribble, usually having each player say a letter of the word P-I-N-G with each hit. Once the word P-I-N-G is completed, the person who wins the dribble beats first or chooses their side of the table
Step 4. Service
The ball should be thrown from your free hand vertically from at least 16 cm, and then hit with the racket so that it does first a bounce on your side of the table and then go over the net and hit your opponent's side.
- If you are playing one-on-one, the batter can serve anywhere on the opponent's court, and the opponent should then respond. When playing doubles, you and your partner serve in turns, starting with the person on the right, and the ball must bounce first to the right side of your court and then to the opposite side of the opponent's court.
- The serve passes to the opponent every 2 points. After 2 runs have been scored, your opponent - or in doubles, the person from the opposing team on the opposite side from the batter - taps the serve. After another 2 points, it's the turn of the previous hitter (or in doubles, his partner).
- If the ball hits the net on an otherwise valid serve, the serve is called a let, and is repeated without scoring. After 2 consecutive lets, the opponent receives the point. On the final point, the person who is losing should beat.
Step 5. Reply
After a serve or return, the ball could be sent on or around the net anywhere on the opponent's court. The ball must be hit after bouncing on its side, but before it bounces again or hits the floor or any object other than the table.
If the ball hits the net after a return but manages to get past it and hit the opponent's court, the ball is still in play and your opponent must respond
Step 6. Score points
A point is awarded for any dribble that is not a let, and any player can score regardless of who they hit. Essentially:
- If your serve goes to the net, leaves the table without hitting the opponent's court, or (in doubles) hits the loose side of the opponent's court, the receiving player or team scores a point.
- If you do not respond validly (as described above - the ball hits the net or does not enter the opponent's court), a point goes to your opponent.
- If you receive a valid serve or respond by hitting the ball more than once with the racket or touching it with your body, one point is awarded to your opponent. Note that if your opponent's serve or return doesn't hit your side of the table, you get a point even if the ball hits you or catches it after it crosses the back of the table.
- If you touch the table with your free hand or move it, your opponent gets a point.
Step 7. Win the game
Many prefer to go up to 21 or 15 (changing hitter every 5 points), which is fine for friendlies. The official rules, however, state to get to 11 (alternating the service every 2 points). To win, you need to have a 2-point advantage. If players or teams tie 10-10 or 20-20, for example, the normal service order proceeds, but alternates with each point instead of every 2.
Step 8. Play again
In official competitions, matches are won by the player or team that wins 2 out of 3 matches. Players change sides after each match, and also in the third (if necessary) when a player or team scores 5 points.
The team or player to hit first also changes with each game. Generally, we tend to guarantee the same conditions. No player should have an advantage
Part 2 of 3: Developing the Techniques
Step 1. Practice consistently
You can quickly become a good player by training regularly. The most important things to train in the beginning are to keep your eyes on the ball, work on the right timing and keep the ball low.
- From the very first time you take a racket, you should make a real effort to follow the ball with your eyes, from the serve to the moment you hit it, and so on.
- Your timing will improve with training - you just have to get used to it - but it helps to listen and watch the ball carefully.
- Keeping the ball low - without hitting the net - is probably the most complicated skill for beginners to achieve. It is also one of the most important, as a high ball makes it easy for your opponent to dunk. Try to keep the racket as horizontal as possible and use your wrist to energize the ball and aim. Generally, the faster the ball, the easier it is to keep it low.
Step 2. Develop straight and reverse solids
You need to be able to hit the ball from all sides of your body if you want to be good at table tennis, and it's usually not practical to switch hands, so get comfortable with both forehand and backhands.
Step 3. Learn the spin shots
Just tap your wrist from side to side or from top to bottom when the ball is hit. To make it rotate, give it an effect in the opposite direction to the one with which it arrives. If you have some free time, train against a wall, experimenting with what works best for you.
Think about swinging the ball - hitting it from below as it comes down towards you. This will make it rotate, slow down and give it a new trajectory. Practice both forehand and backhand
Step 4. Crush on your opponent's high answers
The dunk consists of hitting the ball with enough force to hopefully make a response impossible. It is a powerful weapon, but at first it can be difficult to use accurately, and at first you could only crush against the net or well away from the opponent's field. Keep trying, though. You will be able to learn.
It is no different from volleyball. When you hit, it is virtually impossible for your opponent to keep the ball in play. It will be one of the most useful skills once learned - and the most frustrating for your opponent
Step 5. Develop a lethal service
Fast or high-impact serve can become the key to your game as you take on better players. With a simple serve, you risk not being able to handle your opponent's response. A simple serve gives him time to take a run and crush on you without you even noticing.
Speed is certainly important as you face stronger and stronger opponents, but you need to maintain your aim and accuracy. As you improve, you will be able to predict where the ball will go and how it will react to each shot
Step 6. Dismiss your opponent
As the difficulty increases, you cannot simply expect your opponent to make a mistake, even by hitting the ball hard. You have to force him to fail by taking control of the game and making your opponent move a lot. If you managed to hit on one side and then immediately on the other, you could prevent him from reaching the ball. Even feints, for example giving the illusion of a dunk and then hitting softly, or pulling once to the right and once to the left for a while before 2 or 3 consecutive hits to the right only, can throw your opponent off balance and put you in the condition of crushing.
Part 3 of 3: Getting serious
Step 1. Do like the pros
Professional players generally lag a little behind the table, and as the speed of trading increases, you too may appreciate this technique. The ball arrives so fast and forcefully that distance from the table is the only way to respond. And if your opponent prefers a side, you should prefer it too.
In addition to the location, they also sometimes have different equipment. There are a variety of table tennis rackets available, and while the cheap mall ones are suitable for the amateur level, over time you may want to purchase your own custom racquet
Step 2. Choose your strategy
After playing for a while, you will automatically notice your weaknesses and strengths. So you will choose a strategy that values your strengths and hides your weaknesses. Here are 4 common playing styles:
- Control players. As their name implies, they want to be in control at all times and therefore rarely take risks. They don't crush too often and are on the safe side.
- Defense players. This type of player tries to make his opponent make mistakes rather than focusing on his own game.
- Attacking players. This player is usually quite aggressive, focusing on spin and consistency. He knows how to target and spin the ball very well.
- Power players. Don't mess with them, they mainly rely on speed to put the opponent in difficulty.
Step 3. Study your opponent
By playing, you will be able to understand the type of player you are facing. It usually prefers a certain type of response and always reverts to a predefined play style. Here are some elements to keep an eye on:
- The counterdriver hit (against topspin) is achieved by firm contact with the ball (almost without effect) at the highest point of the bounce. A player who favors this shot is more easily defeated with medium-height shots - forcing him to decide quickly between forehand and backhand.
- The “chop” occurs when the bottom of the ball is hit during the descent. The amount of effect may vary. To respond to such a roll, stay in the center and most of all be patient. The alternation of your shots will prevent them from being predictable and easy to retort.
- The "blockers" are defense players. They don't like to attack, so make them do it. Switch between short and long shots, and change your style. Don't use all your strength, so they have to do it.
- The "loop" is a shot that starts from your legs, with your shoulders down, and ends in a dunk with an effect facing slightly upwards. If you run into this player, be aggressive. Have him play defense, that's generally not his forte.
- Players who hold the racket like a pen generally have much more powerful forehands than backhands. However, knowing this, they usually develop excellent leg movement. You will have to force a very wide backhand and vary a lot so that they don't know where to stand relative to the table.
Step 4. Keep some techniques as aces up your sleeve
Regardless of your opponent, it's a good idea to have a couple of back-up plans. The surprise effect is incredibly important in this sport. Use it and the victory will be yours.
- Be sure to vary spin and hits. For good players you will be an open book and they will know exactly what you are going to do. They see how you prefer to hit the ball, where you prefer to hit it and how you handle different situations. To avoid this reading, vary your style. Vary the effects, the height you give to the ball and the speed of your shots. Keep them on guard.
- Try to direct the ball out of your opponent's "strength area". If you are facing an opponent with the "handshake" grip, his area of force is within an arm of his forehand and close to the body on his backhand. Playing in the middle and then a lot outside (on purpose) can exploit his weaknesses. But don't take this guide at face value - look for the weaknesses yourself!
Step 5. Do your homework
Ping pong is taken very seriously in certain circles. If you are looking for some inspiration, search the online videos - tutorials, championships, etc. Maybe your next destination will be the Olympics!
- Ping pong is a game that requires hours of training. Look for teams or leagues in your area, or a group of friends who are interested and looking for competition. Not requiring any special initial skills, it is usually not difficult to find people willing to play.
- If you are serious, you will play to the best of your ability when you are full of energy and snappy. For this reason, always get enough sleep and eat right! You need all your senses to be 100%.
Advice
- You can play alone by placing the table against a wall. The wall (possibly concrete) will make the ball bounce, allowing you to increase the strength of your shot.
- As far as possible, avoid playing outdoors, as the wind can deflect the ball. It could be irritating to see the ball land in a different spot than you expected. You may decide to play in a gym or large room where the wind can't spoil the game.
- When you hit hard, you give the ball a diagonal trajectory. The result will be greater distance, but there will still be enough strength for a good shot.
- Some amateur players modify the rules so that the serve must come out of the back (and not the side) of the table for it to be valid. Another "fundamental rule" is: if your serve bounces twice on your opponent's court, the point is yours. These changes can be useful to make the serve less decisive in the game in order to practice more dribbling.
- Practice hitting on the fly; it will drive your opponents crazy.
- Did you know that sportsmanship is also necessary in this game? Don't forget to smile at your opponent, and apologize when you knock the ball out or throw it too far. Yes, it is important.
- Practice in the mirror and swing your hand.
Warnings
- Make sure you have agreed the rules with your opponent before a friendly match. Different people sometimes use different rules, and by making it clear before playing, arguments can be avoided.
- Getting hit by a ping pong ball can be painful. It can leave bruises (especially be careful when playing "killer pong").
- More experienced players may not take you seriously when you hear the game called "ping pong" instead of "table tennis".
