Table tennis

"Ping-pong" redirects here. For other uses, seePing-pong (disambiguation).

Table tennis

Table tennis at Liga Pro
Highestgoverning body	ITTF
First played	19th century, England
Characteristics
Contact	No
Team members	Singles or doubles
Type	Racquet sport,indoor
Equipment	Poly, 40 mm (1.57 in), 2.7 g (0.095 oz)
Glossary	Glossary of table tennis
Presence
Olympic	Since1988
Paralympic	Since inaugural1960 Summer Paralympics

Table tennis(also known asping-pongorwhiff-whaff) is aracket sportderived fromtennisbut distinguished by its playing surface being atop a stationary table, rather than the court on which players stand. Either individually or in teams of two, players take alternating turns returning a light, hollow ball over the table's net onto the opposing half of the court using smallracketsuntil they fail to do so, which results in a point for the opponent. Play is fast, requiring quick reaction and constant attention, and is characterized by an emphasis on spin relative to other ball sports, which can heavily affect the ball's trajectory.

Owed to its small minimum playing area, its ability to be played indoors in all climates, and relative accessibility of equipment, table tennis is enjoyed worldwide not just as a competitive sport, but as a common recreational pastime among players of all levels and ages.

Table tennis has been anOlympic sportsince1988,with event categories in both men's and women's singles, and men's and women's teams since replacing doubles in2008.

Table tennis is governed by theInternational Table Tennis Federation(ITTF), founded in 1926, and specifies the official rules in the ITTF handbook.ITTF currently includes 226 member associations worldwide.

History

Parker Brothers Ping-Pong game

The sport originated inVictorian England,where it was played among the upper-class as an after-dinnerparlour game.It has been suggested that makeshift versions of the game were developed by British military officers inIndiaaround the 1860s or 1870s, who brought it back with them.A row of books stood up along the center of the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to continuously hit a golf-ball.In 1883, British sporting goods companySlazengerfiled a patent for a net for table tennis.

The name "ping-pong" was in wide use before British manufacturerJ. Jaques & Son Ltdtrademarkedit in 1901. The name "ping-pong" then came to describe the game played using the rather expensive Jaques's equipment, with other manufacturers calling it table tennis. A similar situation arose in the United States, where Jaques sold the rights to the "ping-pong" name toParker Brothers.Parker Brothers then enforced its trademark for the term in the 1920s, making the various associations change their names to "table tennis" instead of the more common, but trademarked, term.

The next major innovation was by James W. Gibb, a British table tennis enthusiast, who discovered noveltycelluloidballs on a trip to the US in 1901 and found them ideal for the game. This was followed by E.C. Goode who, in 1901, invented the modern version of the racket by fixing a sheet of pimpled, or stippled,rubberto the wooden blade. Table tennis was growing in popularity by 1901 to the extent that tournaments were being organized, books were being written on the subject,and an unofficial world championship was held in 1902. In those early days, the scoring system was the same as inlawn tennis.

Although both a "Table Tennis Association" and a "Ping Pong Association" existed by 1910,a newTable Tennis Associationwas founded in 1921, and renamed theEnglish Table Tennis Associationin 1926.TheInternational Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) followed in 1926.London hosted the first officialWorld Championshipsin 1926. In 1933, theUnited States Table Tennis Association,now called USA Table Tennis, was formed.

In the 1930s,Edgar Snowcommented inRed Star Over Chinathat the Communist forces in theChinese Civil Warhad a "passion for the English game of table tennis" which he found "bizarre".On the other hand, the popularity of the sport waned in the 1930s Soviet Union, partly because of the promotion of team and military sports, and partly because of a theory that the game had adverse health effects.

In the 1950s, paddles that used a rubber sheet combined with an underlying sponge layer changed the game dramatically,introducing greater spin and speed.These were introduced to Britain by sports goods manufacturer S.W. Hancock Ltd. The use ofspeed gluebeginning in the mid-1980s increased the spin and speed even further, resulting in changes to the equipment to "slow the game down". Table tennis was introduced as an Olympic sport at theOlympics in 1988.

Rules and regulations

The official rules and regulations are specified in the ITTF handbook, which was first published in 1927. The current (fiftieth) version was published in 2022.

Rule changes

Assortment of 40 mm table tennis balls

After the2000 OlympicsinSydney,the ITTF instituted several rule changes that were aimed at making table tennis more viable as a televised spectator sport.First, the older 38 mm (1.50 in) balls were officially replaced by 40 mm (1.57 in) balls in October 2000.This increased the ball's air resistance and effectively slowed down the game. By that time, players had begun increasing the thickness of the fastspongelayer on their paddles, which made the game excessively fast and difficult to watch on television. A few months later, the ITTF changed from a 21-point to an 11-point scoring system (and the serve rotation was reduced from five points to two), effective in September 2001.This was intended to make games more fast-paced and exciting. The ITTF also changed the rules on service to prevent a player from hiding the ball during service, in order to increase the average length of rallies and to reduce the server's advantage, effective in 2002.For the opponent to have time to realize a serve is taking place, the ball must be tossed a minimum of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in the air. The ITTF states that all events after July 2014 are played with a new poly material ball.

Equipment

Ball

Table Tennis Plastic Balls 40+ mm with ITTF approval

The international rules specify that the game is played with a sphere having a mass of 2.7 grams (0.095 oz) and a diameter of 40 millimetres (1.57 in).The rules say that the ball shall bounce up 24–26 cm (9.4–10.2 in) when dropped from a height of 30.5 cm (12.0 in) onto a standard steel block thereby having acoefficient of restitutionof 0.89 to 0.92. As of 2015, balls are now made of a polymer instead ofcelluloid,colored white or orange, with amattefinish. The choice of ball color is made according to the table color and its surroundings. For example, a white ball is easier to see on a green or blue table than it is on a grey table. Manufacturers often indicate the quality of the ball with a star rating system, usually from one to three, three being the highest grade. As this system is not standard across manufacturers, the only way a ball may be used in official competition is upon ITTF approval(the ITTF approval can be seen printed on the ball).

The 40 mm ball was introduced after the end of the2000 Summer Olympics;previously a 38 mm ball was standard.This created some controversies.Vladimir Samsonov,the World No. 1 table tennis professional at the time, threatened to pull out of the World Cup, which was scheduled to debut the new regulation ball on 12 October 2000.

Table

Diagram of a table tennis table showing the official dimensions

The table is 2.74 m (9.0 ft) long, 1.525 m (5.0 ft) wide, and 76 cm (2.5 ft) high with any continuous material so long as the table yields a uniform bounce of about 23 cm (9.1 in) when a standard ball is dropped onto it from a height of 30 cm (11.8 in), or about77%.The table or playing surface is uniformly dark colored and matte, divided into two halves by a net at 15.25 cm (6.0 in) in height. TheITTFapproves only wooden tables or their derivates. Concrete tables with a steel net or a solid concrete partition are sometimes available in outside public spaces, such as parks.

Playing area

ITTF regulations require a playing space of at least 14 m (45.9 ft) long by 7 m (23.0 ft) wide, and a height clearance of at least 5 m (16.4 ft).For wheelchair events, the minimums are 8 m (26.2 ft) long and 6 m (19.7 ft) wide.

Racket

Main article:Table tennis racket

India'sManika Batrahits the ball. She specialises in playing long-pimples on her backhand, a rubber which is not often played by top players.

Players are equipped with a laminated wooden racket covered withrubberon one or two sides depending on the grip of the player. The ITTF uses the term "racket",though "bat" is common in Britain, and "paddle" in the U.S. and Canada.

The wooden portion of the racket, often referred to as the "blade", commonly features anywhere between one and seven plies of wood, though cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aluminum fiber, and Kevlar are sometimes used. According to the ITTF regulations, at least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood.Common wood types includebalsa,limba,cypress,andhinoki,which is popular in Japan. The average size of the blade is about 17 centimetres (6.7 in) long and 15 centimetres (5.9 in) wide. Although the official restrictions only focus on the flatness and rigidity of the blade itself, these dimensions are optimal for most play styles.

Table tennis regulations allow differentrubber surfaceson each side of the racket.Various types of surfaces provide various levels of spin or speed, and in some cases they nullify spin. For example, a player may have a rubber that provides much spin on one side of their racket, and one that provides no spin on the other. By flipping the racket in play, different types of returns are possible. To help a player distinguish between the rubber used by his opposing player, international rules specify that one side must be black while the other side must be a bright color clearly distinguishable from black and from the color of the ball.The player has the right to inspect their opponent's racket before a match to see the type of rubber used and what color it is. Despite high-speed play and rapid exchanges, a player can see clearly what side of the racket was used to hit the ball. Current rules state that, unless damaged in play, the racket cannot be exchanged for another racket at any time during a match.

Gameplay

Competitive table tennis

Starting a game

According to ITTF rule 2.13.1, the first service is decided by lot,normally acoin toss.It is also common for one player (or the umpire/scorer) to hide the ball in one or the other hand, usually hidden under the table, allowing the other player to guess which hand the ball is in. The correct or incorrect guess gives the "winner" the option to choose to serve, receive, or to choose which side of the table to use. (A common but non-sanctioned method is for the players to play the ball back and forth three times and then play out the point. This is commonly referred to as "serve to play", "rally to serve", "play for serve", or "volley for serve". Another common method is referred to as "Ping for serve" or "Pinging for serve" where players will begin playing by hitting or bouncing the ball and playing a rally spelling out the word ping P-I-N-G with each hit then playing out the point for service).

Service and return

Service by professionalRussianplayerAlexander Shibaev

In game play, the player serving the ball commences a play.The server first stands with the ball held on the open palm of the hand not carrying the paddle, called the freehand, and tosses the ball directly upward without spin, at least 16 cm (6.3 in) high.The server strikes the ball with the racket on the ball's descent so that it first touches the server's court, and then touches directly the receiver's court without touching the net assembly. In casual games, many players do not toss the ball upward; however, this is technically illegal and can give the serving player an unfair advantage.

The ball must remain behind the endline and above the playing surface of the table at all times during the service. The server's body or clothing cannot be used to obstruct sight of the ball; the opponent and the umpire must have a clear view of the ball at all times. If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service they may first interrupt play and give a warning to the server. If the serve is a clear failure or is doubted again by the umpire after the warning, the receiver scores a point.

If the service is "good", then the receiver must make a "good" return by hitting the ball back before it bounces a second time on receiver's side of the table so that the ball passes the net and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.Thereafter, the server and receiver must alternately make a return until the rally is over. Returning the serve is one of the most difficult parts of the game, as the server's first move is often the least predictable and thus most advantageous shot due to the numerous spin and speed choices at the server's disposal.

Let

A let is a rally of which the result is not scored, and is called in the following circumstances:

• The ball touches the net in service (service), provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the player on the receiving side. Obstruction means a player touches the ball when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface, not having touched the player's court since last being struck by the player.
• When the player on the receiving side is not ready and the service is delivered.
• Player's failure to make a service or a return or to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player.
• Play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

A let is also called foul service, if the ball hits the server's side of the table, if the ball does not pass further than the edge, and if the ball hits the table edge and hits the net.

Scoring

Table tennis umpire

A point is scored by the player for any of several results of the rally:

• The opponent fails to make a correct service or return.
• After making a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by the opponent.
• The ball passes over the player's court or beyond their end line without touching their court, after being struck by the opponent.
• The opponent obstructs the ball.
• The opponent strikes the ball twice successively. The hand that is holding the racket counts as part of the racket and that making a good return off one's hand or fingers is allowed. It is not a fault if the ball accidentally hits one's hand or fingers and then subsequently hits the racket.
• The opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface is not covered with rubber.
• The opponent moves the playing surface or touches the net assembly.
• The opponent's free hand touches the playing surface.
• As a receiver under the expedite system, completing 13 returns in a rally.
• The opponent that has been warned by the umpire commits a second offense in the same individual match or team match. If the third offence happens, 2 points will be given to the player.If the individual match or the team match has not ended, any unused penalty points can be transferred to the next game of that match.

A game shall be won by the player first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.In competition play, matches are typically best of five or seven games.

Alternation of services and ends

Service alternates between opponents every two points (regardless of winner of the rally) until the end of the game, unless both players score ten points or the expedite system is operated, when the sequences of serving and receiving stay the same but each player serves for only one point in turn (Deuce).The player serving first in a game receives first in the next game of the match.

After each game, players switch sides of the table. In the last possible game of a match, for example the seventh game in a best of seven match, players change ends when the first player scores five points, regardless of whose turn it is to serve. If the sequence of serving and receiving is out of turn or the ends are not changed, points scored in the wrong situation are still calculated and the game shall be resumed with the order at the score that has been reached.

Doubles game

Service zone in doubles game

Service of a mixed doubles match

In addition to games between individual players, pairs may also play table tennis. Singles and doubles are both played in international competition, including the Olympic Games since 1988 and theCommonwealth Gamessince 2002.

In doubles, all the rules of single play are applied except for the following.

Service

A line painted along the long axis of the table to create doubles courts bisects the table. This line's only purpose is to facilitate the doubles service rule, which is that service must originate from the right hand "box" in such a way that the first bounce of the serve bounces once in said right hand box and then must bounce at least once in the opponent side's right hand box (far left box for server), or the receiving pair score a point.

Order of play, serving and receiving

1. Players must hit the ball in turn. For example, if A is paired with B and X is paired with Y, then A is the server and X is the receiver. and the order of play shall be A→X→B→Y. The rally proceeds this way until one side fails to make a legal return and the other side scores.
2. At each change of service, the previous receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver. For example, if the previous order of play is A→X→B→Y, the order becomes X→B→Y→A after the change of service.
3. In the second or the latter games of a match, the game begins in reverse order of play. For example, if the order of play is A→X→B→Y at beginning of the first game, the order begins with X→A→Y→B or Y→B→X→A in the second game depending on either X or Y being chosen as the first server of the game. That means the first receiver of the game is the player who served to the first server of the game in the preceding game. In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so. The receiving pair, however, can only choose in the first game of the match.
4. When a pair reaches 5 points in the final game, the pairs must switch ends of the table and change the receiver to reverse the order of play. For example, when the last order of play before a pair score 5 points in the final game is A→X→B→Y, the order after change shall be A→Y→B→X if A still has the second serve. Otherwise, X is the next server and the order becomes X→A→Y→B.

Expedite system

If a game is unfinished after 10 minutes of play and fewer than 18 points have been scored, the expedite system is initiated.The umpire interrupts the game, and the game resumes with players serving for one point in turn. If the expedite system is introduced while the ball is not in play, the previous receiver shall serve first. Under the expedite system, the server must win the point before the opponent makes 13 consecutive returns or the point goes to the opponent. The system can also be initiated at any time at the request of both players or pairs. Once introduced, the expedite system remains in force until the end of the match. A rule to shorten the time of a match, it is mainly seen in defensive players' games.

Grips

Main article:Table tennis grips and playing styles

Though table tennis players grip their rackets in various ways, their grips can be classified into two major families of styles,penholdandshakehand.The rules of table tennis do not prescribe the manner in which one must grip the racket, and numerous grips are employed.

Penhold

An example of a Chinese Penhold grip

The penhold grip is so-named because one grips the racket similarly to the way one holds awriting 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 touching one another.Chinese penholders favour a round racket head, for a more over-the-table style of play. In contrast, another style, sometimes referred to as the Japanese/Korean penhold grip, involves splaying those three fingers out across the back of the racket, usually with all three fingers touching the back of the racket, rather than stacked upon one another.Sometimes a combination of the two styles occurs, wherein the middle, ring and fourth fingers are straight, but still stacked, or where all fingers may be touching the back of the racket, but are also in contact with one another. Japanese and Korean penholders will often use a square-headed racket for an away-from-the-table style of play. Traditionally these square-headed rackets feature a block of cork on top of the handle, as well as a thin layer of cork on the back of the racket, for increased grip and comfort. Penhold styles are popular among players originating fromEast Asiancountries such asChina,Japan,South Korea,andTaiwan.

Traditionally, penhold players use only one side of the racket to hit the ball during normal play, and the side which is in contact with the last three fingers is generally not used. This configuration is sometimes referred to as "traditional penhold" and is more commonly found in square-headed racket styles. However, theChinesedeveloped a technique in the 1990s in which a penholder uses both sides of the racket to hit the ball, where the player produces a backhand stroke (most often topspin) known as a reverse penhold backhand by turning the traditional side of the racket to face one's self, and striking the ball with the opposite side of the racket. This stroke has greatly improved and strengthened the penhold style both physically and psychologically, as it eliminates the strategic weakness of the traditional penhold backhand.

Shakehand

Shakehand grip

Forehand

Backhand

The shakehand grip is so-named because the racket is grasped as if one is performing a handshake.Though it is sometimes referred to as the "tennis" or "Western" grip, it bears no relation to the Westerntennis grip,which was popularized on theWest Coast of the United Statesin which the racket is rotated 90°, and played with the wrist turned so that on impact the knuckles face the target. In table tennis, "Western" refers toWesternnations, for this is the grip that players native to Europe and the Americas have almost exclusively employed.

The shakehand grip's simplicity and versatility, coupled with the acceptance among top-level Chinese trainers that the European style of play should be emulated and trained against, has established it as a common grip even in China.Many world-class European and East Asian players currently use the shakehand grip, and it is generally accepted that shakehands is easier to learn than penholder, allowing a broader range of playing styles both offensive and defensive.

Seemiller

The Seemiller grip is named after the American table tennis championDanny Seemiller,who used it. It is achieved by placing the thumb and index finger on either side of the bottom of the racquet head and holding the handle with the rest of the fingers. Since only one side of the racquet is used to hit the ball, two contrasting rubber types can be applied to the blade, offering the advantage of "twiddling" the racket to fool the opponent. Seemiller paired inverted rubber with anti-spin rubber. Many players today combine inverted and long-pipped rubber. The grip is considered exceptional for blocking, especially on the backhand side, and for forehand loops of backspin balls. The Seemiller grip's popularity reached its apex in 1985 when four (Danny Seemiller, Ricky Seemiller, Eric Boggan and Brian Masters) of the United States' five participants in the World Championships used it.

Stance

'A good ready position will enable you to move quickly into position and to stay balanced whilst playing powerful strokes.'

The stance in table tennis is also known as the 'ready position'. It is the position every player initially adopts when receiving and returns to after playing a shot in order to be prepared to make the next shot. It involves the feet being spaced wider than shoulder width and a partial crouch being adopted; the crouch is an efficient posture for moving quickly from and alsopreloads the musclesenabling a more dynamic movement. The upper torso is positioned slightly forward and the player is looking forwards. The racket is held at the ready with a bent arm. The position should feel balanced and provide a solid base for striking and quick lateral movement. Players may tailor their stance based upon their personal preferences, and alter it during the game based upon the specific circumstances.

Types of strokes

Table tennis strokes generally break down into offensive and defensive categories.

Offensive strokes

Hit

Also known as speed drive, a direct hit on the ball propelling it forward back to the opponent. This stroke differs from speed drives in other racket sports like tennis because the racket is primarilyperpendicularto the direction of the stroke and most of the energy applied to the ball results inspeedrather thanspin,creating a shot that does not arc much, but is fast enough that it can be difficult to return. A speed drive is used mostly for keeping the ball in play, applying pressure on the opponent, and potentially opening up an opportunity for a more powerful attack.

Loop

Perfected during the 1960s,the loop is essentially the reverse of the chop. The racket isparallelto the direction of the stroke ( "closed" ) and the racket thusgrazesthe ball, resulting in a large amount of topspin. A good loop drive will arc quite a bit, and once striking the opponent's side of the table will jump forward, much like a kick serve in tennis. Most professional players nowadays, such asDing Ning,Timo BollandZhang Jike,primarily use loop for offense.

Counter-hit

The counter-hit is usually a counterattack against drives, normally high loop drives. The racket is held closed and near to the ball, which is hit with a short movement "off the bounce" (immediately after hitting the table) so that the ball travels faster to the other side.Kenta Matsudairais known for primarily using counter-hit for offense.

Flip

When a player tries to attack a ball that has not bounced beyond the edge of the table, the player does not have the room to wind up in abackswing.The ballmay still be attacked,however, and the resulting shot is called a flip because the backswing is compressed into a quick wrist action. A flip is not a single stroke and can resemble either a loop drive or a loop in its characteristics. What identifies the stroke is that the backswing is compressed into a short wrist flick.

Smash

A player will typically execute a smash when the opponent has returned a ball that bounces too high or too close to the net. It is nearly always done with a forehand stroke.Smashinguses rapid acceleration to impart as much speed on the ball as possible so that the opponent cannot react in time. The racket is generally perpendicular to the direction of the stroke. Because the speed is the main aim of this shot, the spin on the ball is often minimal, although it can be applied as well. An offensive table tennis player will think of a rally as a build-up to a winning smash. Smash is used more often with penhold grip.

Defensive strokes

Push

The push (or "slice" in Asia) is usually used for keeping the point alive and creating offensive opportunities. A push resembles a tennis slice: the racket cuts underneath the ball, imparting backspin and causing the ball to float slowly to the other side of the table. A push can be difficult to attack because the backspin on the ball causes it to drop toward the table upon striking the opponent's racket. In order to attack a push, a player must usually loop (if the push is long) or flip (if the push is short) the ball back over the net. Often, the best option for beginners is to simply push the ball back again, resulting in pushing rallies. Against good players, it may be the worst option because the opponent will counter with a loop, putting the first player in a defensive position. Pushing can have advantages in some circumstances, such as when the opponent makes easy mistakes.

Chop

A chop is the defensive, backspin counterpart to the offensive loop drive.A chop is essentially a bigger, heavier push, taken well back from the table. The racket face points primarily horizontally, perhaps a little bit upward, and the direction of the stroke is straight down. The object of a defensive chop is to match the topspin of the opponent's shot with backspin. A good chop will float nearly horizontally back to the table, in some cases having so much backspin that the ball actuallyrises.Such a chop can beextremelydifficult to return due to its enormous amount of backspin. Some defensive players can also impart no-spin or sidespin variations of the chop. Some famous choppers includeJoo Sae-hyukandWu Yang.

Block

A block is executed by simply placing the racket in front of the ball right after the ball bounces; thus, the ball rebounds back toward the opponent with nearly as much energy as it came in with. This requires precision, since the ball's spin, speed, and location all influence the correct angle of a block. It is very possible for an opponent to execute a perfect loop, drive, or smash, only to have the blocked shot come back just as fast. Due to the power involved in offensive strokes, often an opponent simply cannot recover quickly enough to return the blocked shot, especially if the block is aimed at an unexpected side of the table. Blocks almost always produce the same spin as was received, many times topspin.

Lob

The defensive lob propels the ball about five metres in height, only to land on the opponent's side of the table with great amounts of spin.The stroke itself consists of lifting the ball to an enormous height before it falls back to the opponent's side of the table. A lob can have nearly any kind of spin. Though the opponent maysmashthe ball hard and fast, a good defensive lob could be more difficult to return due to the unpredictability and heavy amounts of the spin on the ball.Thus, though backed off the table by tens of feet and running to reach the ball, a good defensive player can still win the point using good lobs. The lob is used less frequently by professional players. A notable exception isMichael Maze.

Effects of spin

Adding spin onto the ball causes major changes in table tennis gameplay. Although nearly every stroke or serve creates some kind of spin, understanding the individual types of spin allows players to defend against and use different spins effectively.

Backspin

Backspinis where the bottom half of the ball is rotating away from the player, and is imparted by striking the base of the ball with a downward movement.At the professional level, backspin is usually used defensively in order to keep the ball low.Backspin is commonly employed in service because it is harder to produce an offensive return, though at the professional level most people serve sidespin with either backspin or topspin. Due to the initial lift of the ball, there is a limit on how much speed with which one can hit the ball without missing the opponent's side of the table. However, backspin also makes it harder for the opponent to return the ball with great speed because of the required angular precision of the return. Alterations are frequently made to regulations regarding equipment in an effort to maintain a balance between defensive and offensive spin choices.It is actually possible to smash with backspin offensively, but only on high balls that are close to the net.

Topspin

Thetopspinstroke has a smaller influence on the first part of the ball curve. Like the backspin stroke, however, the axis of spin remains roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball thus allowing for theMagnus effectto dictate the subsequent curvature. After the apex of the curve, the ball dips downwards as it approaches the opposing side, before bouncing. On the bounce, the topspin will accelerate the ball, much in the same way that a wheel which is already spinning would accelerate upon making contact with the ground. When the opponent attempts to return the ball, the topspin causes the ball to jump upwards and the opponent is forced to compensate for the topspin by adjusting the angle of his or her racket. This is known as "closing the racket".

The speed limitation of the topspin stroke is minor compared to the backspin stroke. This stroke is the predominant technique used in professional competition because it gives the opponent less time to respond. In table tennis topspin is regarded as an offensive technique due to increased ball speed, lower bio-mechanical efficiency and the pressure that it puts on the opponent by reducing reaction time. (It is possible to play defensive topspin-lobs from far behind the table, but only highly skilled players use this stroke with any tactical efficiency.) Topspin is the least common type of spin to be found in service at the professional level, simply because it is much easier to attack a top-spin ball that is not moving at high speed.

Sidespin

This type of spin is predominantly employed during service, wherein the contact angle of the racket can be more easily varied. Unlike the two aforementioned techniques, sidespin causes the ball to spin on an axis which is vertical, rather than horizontal. The axis of rotation is still roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball. In this circumstance, theMagnus effectwill still dictate the curvature of the ball to some degree. Another difference is that, unlike backspin and topspin, sidespin will have relatively very little effect on the bounce of the ball, much in the same way that a spinning top would not travel left or right if its axis of rotation were exactly vertical. This makes sidespin a useful weapon in service, because it is less easily recognized when bouncing, and the ball "loses" less spin on the bounce. Sidespin can also be employed in offensive rally strokes, often from a greater distance, as an adjunct to topspin or backspin. This stroke is sometimes referred to as a "hook". The hook can even be used in some extreme cases to circumvent the net when away from the table.

Corkspin

Players employ this type of spin almost exclusively when serving, but at the professional level, it is also used from time to time in the lob. Unlike any of the techniques mentioned above,corkspin(or "drill-spin") has the axis of spin relatively parallel to the ball's trajectory, so that theMagnus effecthas little or no effect on the trajectory of a cork-spun ball: upon bouncing, the ball will dart right or left (according to the direction of the spin), severely complicating the return. In theory, this type of spin produces the most obnoxious effects, but it is less strategically practical than sidespin or backspin, because of the limitations that it imposes upon the opponent during their return. Aside from the initial direction change when bouncing, unless it goes out of reach, the opponent can counter witheithertopspin or backspin. A backspin stroke is similar in the fact that the corkspin stroke has a lower maximum velocity, simply due to the contact angle of the racket when producing the stroke. To impart a spin on the ball which is parallel to its trajectory, the racket must be swung more or less perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball, greatly limiting the forward momentum that the racket transfers to the ball. Corkspin is almost always mixed with another variety of spin since alone, it is not only less effective but also harder to produce.

Competitions

A 2017 match between players from the United States and North Korea.

Competitive table tennis is popular inEast AsiaandEurope,and has beengaining attention in theUnited States.The most important international competitions are theWorld Table Tennis Championships,theTable Tennis World Cup,theOlympicsand theITTF World Tour.Continental competitions include the following:

• European Championships
• Europe Top-16
• theAsian Championships
• theAsian Games

Chinese players have won 60% of the men's World Championships since 1959;in the women's competition for the Corbillon Cup, Chinese players have won all but three of the World Championships since 1971.Other strong teams come from East Asia and Europe, includingAustria,Belarus,Germany,Hong Kong,Portugal,Japan,South Korea,Singapore,Sweden,andTaiwan.

There are professional competitions at the clubs level; the respective leagues ofAustria,Belgium,China(China Table Tennis Super League), Japan (T.League),France,Germany(Bundesliga), andRussiaare examples of the highest level. There are also some important international club teams competitions such as theEuropean Champions Leagueand its former competitor,theEuropean Club Cup,where the top club teams from European countries compete.

Virtual reality table tennis competition took place in Olympic Esports Week on June 24, 2023 in Singapore.Eleven Table Tenniswas the game played during the event. The final match was played between two players both representing France. ITTF Group CEO, Steve Dainton also participated in the event.European table tennis federation and French table tennis association are also arranging virtual reality table tennis tournaments.

Naturalized players in international competition

Li JiaoandLi Jie,representing the Netherlands,finished in the top 2 at the 2015 European Games.To date, all six women's singles medalists in the history of theEuropean Gameshave been Chinese-born.

See also:List of naturalised Olympic table tennis players from China

According to theNew York Times,31% of the table tennis players at the2016 Summer Olympicswerenaturalized.The rate was twice as high as the next sport,basketball,which featured 15% of naturalized players.

Feng Tianwei,a Chinese-born player representing Singapore, has medaled in three Olympic table tennis events, more medals than native Singaporeans have won in all other sports combined (two). These successes have been somewhat controversial in Singapore.In 2014, Singapore Table Tennis Association's presidentLee Bee Wahquit over this issue;her successor,Ellen Lee,later favored the application for citizenship ofZeng Jian,a China-born paddler.

The rate of naturalization accelerated after theITTF's 2009 decision (one year after Chinawon every possible Olympic medal in the sport) to reduce the number of entries per association in both the Olympics and theWorld Table Tennis Championships.

In 2019, the ITTF adopted new regulations which state that players who acquired a new nationality may not represent their new association before:

• 1 year after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 15 when registered and has never represented another association
• 3 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 15 when registered and has already represented another association
• 5 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 18 but at least 15 years of age when registered
• 7 years after the date of registration, if the player is under the age of 21 but at least 18 years of age when registered
• 9 years after the date of registration, if the player is at least 21 years old when registered

Notable players

In Japan, table tennis stars likeAi Fukuhara,Mima Ito,andKasumi Ishikawaare consistently ranked among the country's most marketable athletes.

For a more comprehensive list, seeList of table tennis players.

An officialhall of fameexists at the ITTF Museum.AGrand Slamis earned by a player who wins singles crowns at theOlympic Games,World Championships,andWorld Cup.Jan-Ove Waldnerof Sweden first completed the grand slam at 1992 Olympic Games.Deng Yapingof China is the first female recorded at the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1996. The following table presents an exhaustive list of all players to have completed a grand slam.

Overview of grand slam table tennis players

Name	Gender	Nationality	Times won
			Olympics	World Championships	World Cup
Jan-Ove Waldner	Male	Sweden	1 (1992)	2 (1989,1997)	1 (1990)
Deng Yaping	Female	China	2 (1992,1996)	3 (1991,1995,1997)	1 (1996)
Liu Guoliang	Male	China	1 (1996)	1 (1999)	1 (1996)
Wang Nan	Female	China	1 (2000)	3 (1999,2001,2003)	4 (1997, 1998, 2003, 2007)
Kong Linghui	Male	China	1 (2000)	1 (1995)	1 (1995)
Zhang Yining	Female	China	2 (2004,2008)	2 (2005,2009)	4 (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005)
Zhang Jike	Male	China	1 (2012)	2 (2011,2013)	2 (2011, 2014)
Li Xiaoxia	Female	China	1 (2012)	1 (2013)	1 (2008)
Ding Ning	Female	China	1 (2016)	3 (2011,2015,2017)	2 (2011, 2014)
Ma Long	Male	China	2 (2016,2020)	3 (2015,2017,2019)	3 (2012, 2015, 2024)

Jean-Philippe Gatien,Wang Hao,Fan ZhendongandSun Yingshawon both the World Championships and the World Cup, but lost in the gold medal matches at the Olympics.Ma LinandChen Mengwon both the Olympic gold and the World Cup, but lost in the finals of the World Championships.Jörgen PerssonandLiu Shiwenalso won the titles except the Olympic Games. Persson is one of the five table tennis players to havecompeted at seven Olympic Games.

Governance

Natalia Partyka,one of the few players whohave competed in both the Paralympics and Olympics.

Main category:Table tennis organizations

Founded in 1926, theInternational Table Tennis Federation(ITTF) is the worldwidegoverningbody for table tennis, which maintains an international ranking system in addition to organizing events like theWorld Table Tennis Championships.In 2007, the governance fortable tennis for persons with a disabilitywas transferred from theInternational Paralympic Committeeto the ITTF.

On many continents, there is a governing body responsible for table tennis on that continent. For example, theEuropean Table Tennis Union(ETTU) is the governing body responsible for table tennis in Europe.There are also national bodies and other local authorities responsible for the sport, such asUSA Table Tennis(USATT), which is the national governing body for table tennis in the United States.

Variants

Hardbattable tennis uses rackets with short outward "pips" and no sponge, resulting in decreased speeds and reduced spin.World Championship of Ping Ponguses old-fashioned wooden paddles covered with sandpaper.

Round the World(also calledRound RobinorRound the Table) table tennis is an informal party-type variation in which players line up on either side of the table. When a player hits the ball he sets the paddle down, and the player behind him picks it up to receive the return. When a player sets down his paddle, he moves to the line at the opposing side of the table. Players are eliminated as they lose a point. When only 2 players remain, a player hits the ball, sets his paddle down, spins and then retrieves his paddle to make the return.

See also

• Disability classification in table tennis
• Glossary of table tennis
• International Table Tennis Federation
• List of ITTF World Tour winners
• List of table tennis players
• Beer pong
• Headis
• Ping-pong diplomacy
• Pingpongo
• Pong
• Table squash

Bibliography

• Uzorinac, Zdenko (2001).ITTF 1926 - 2001 Table Tennis Legends.ITTF.ISBN2-94031-200-1.OCLC248920627.
• Charyn, Jerome (2002).Sizzling Chops & Devilish Spins: Ping-Pong and the Art of Staying Alive.Four Walls Eight Windows.ISBN1-56858-242-0.
• Hodges, Larry (1993).Table Tennis: Steps to Success.Human Kinetics.ISBN0-87322-403-5.
• International Table Tennis Federation(2011).ITTF Handbook 2011/2012.Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2010.Retrieved25 December2011.
• International Table Tennis Federation(2021).2021 ITTF Handbook.Retrieved7 December2021.
• Seemiller, Dan (1996).Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies.Human Kinetics.ISBN0-88011-520-3.

External links

• Official ITTF website
• Official ETTU website
• Table tennisatCurlie