Table Tennis is surely being among the top games in the list of an indoor player. Being a mini version of the Lawn Tennis, this game has a lot of similarity with its parent game. It needs a lot of fitness, athleticism and good reflection of the body with good eyesight on behalf of the players.
The `Table Tennis` is a game that is played by two or four contestants with a small celluloid ball and small rackets on a rectangular table. The rackets are often called bats or paddles. The table is usually 9 ft in length and 5 ft in width. Its upper surface normally remains 30 inches above the floor. It is divided into two opposing courts by a net that is 6 inches in height.
History of Table Tennis
The history of Table Tennis is quite an interesting one. The game is a nice combination of the two great games of Lawn Tennis and Badminton. The game started its journey in the 1880s in England. Later it came to South Africa and India. At that time, the Lawn Tennis players decided to play their game indoors as the time was the winter. At the beginning, the game was taken as a "parlour game" where anyone could access to a table, paddle and ball. When it was included in the Olympics, the history of table tennis got a rapid change and become popular for all ages.
Equipments of Table Tennis
The ball used in `Table Tennis` is white coloured and celluloid. It is vacant inside and about 1.5 inches in diameter. The weight of the ball is about 0.088 ounces (2.5 g). The rackets used by the players can be made into any shape, as there are no limitations in size or shape specified. However, they are usually oval in shape. Modern paddles usually have a thin layer of rubber that covers the paddle"s striking surface. The rubber may also have pimples pointing outwards or inwards and a thin layer of sponge between the plywood centre and the rubber surface. In general, they are made of wood and are also covered with sandpaper, rubber or sponge. Their surface may be dimpled or smooth as well.
Procedure of Playing Table Tennis
The players normally play the game of `Table Tennis` by hitting the ball back and forth over the net until any of the two players misses the ball or hit it into the net. In case of any violation, the opponent player scores a point.
While playing the game, the player must allow his opponent to play a ball towards him only one bounce on his side of the table and also he must return it quickly so that it bounces on the opponent"s side. If the ball does not land on the opponent"s side then it will be considered as a dead ball till the opponent hits the ball with his bat. This is a very fast play and it demands quick reactions.
Table Tennis as an Olympic Sport
The `Table Tennis` is an Olympic sport now. In a singles match of the game, there is no requirement of the ball to cross from the server"s right-hand court to the receiver"s right-hand court or left to left as it is in tennis. However, serving across is mandatory in doubles matches. The features like ball spin; speed, placement, strategy and tactics play an important part in competitive table tennis matches.
Rules of Table Tennis
The great game of Table Tennis is very much similar to its parent game of Lawn Tennis. There are similarities in the terms and conditions and also in the general rules between both the games. There are quite a few basic or general rules in the game of Table Tennis.
The rule of Table Tennis consists of:
1. Starting a game with the toss.
2. Service and return with the ball
3. "Let" in the Table Tennis
4. "Scoring" system
5. Alternation of services and ends between the players.
Terms of Table Tennis
Like all the other sports of the world, the sport of Table Tennis also posses its own terms and definitions. These terms of table tennis are very much popular to the people who love to play and watch the game. There are quite a few terms that are used in the game of Table Tennis.
