PLAYING AREA:
The table tennis table is nine feet long and five feet wide, with its horizontal surface 30 inches above the floor. The net is strung across the table, dividing it equally into two courts. The top of the net should be 6 inches from the table surface and extended 6 inches (3 on either side) outside the sidelines.
THE GAME:
1. Twenty -one points constitutes a game, unless the score is tied at 20-20, in which case
one player must win by a 2-point margin.
2. Play begins with one player serving and one receiving.
3. The server puts the ball into play be tossing it into the air from the palm of one hand
and striking it with the paddle, so that it hits his own court. The ball goes over the net
and hits the receiver's court.
4. The receiver must return the ball over the net so that it hits the server's court. Only on
the serve does the ball go from paddle to court, then over the net.
5. Play continues until one player fails to make a legal return. The opponent then scores.
6. The serve changes from one player to the other every time five points are scored,
except when the scores becomes tied 20-20. At that time the serve changes, and
continues to change after each point until one player scores two consecutive
points, thus winning the game.
7. The players must keep score of the game. The best way to keep an accurate score
is for the server to call out the score before he serves each time, always calling his
own first.
RULES:
1. In serving, the server's paddle must strike the ball behind the end line and between
the sidelines.
2. If a player touches the playing surface of the table with any part of his body or
clothing the point is won by his opponent. The same is true if a player should
move the table by bumping against it.
3. In serving, the ball must be held in the palm of the hand, visible to the opponent
and with no spin being imparted to it by the hand.
RULES CONTINUED:
4. If the ball hits the net on the serve and goes over, it is a LET and the server serves
again. However, if the second serve is also a let, the player loses the serve and point.
5. If a player misses the ball completely when he/she is serving, it is a point for his/
her opponent.
6. The only way a ball can be legally hit is with a paddle or the hand holding the paddle.
7. If a ball is broken during actual play, a new ball is put into play and the point
during which it broke is replayed.
8. After a serve, the ball must touch the table before it is hit.
9. All balls hitting a white line are considered in.
DOUBLES PLAY:
THE SERVE: In doubles play, a line divides the table lengthwise(30" from sideline)
1. The first server on one team serves from his right half court into
the right half court of the receiving team for the first five points.
2. For the next five points, the partner of the first receiver serves
to the partner of the first server.
3. The third five point series is served by the partner of the first server
to the partner of the first receiver.
4. The fourth five point series is served by the first receiver to the
player who was the first server.
HITTING ORDER:
The server must make a good serve and the receiver must make a good return. The partner of the server must make the next good return, and the partner of the receiver must make the next good return. The returns must be over the net but may be placed anywhere on the opponents' court. This sequence of hitting continues in the same manner until one player fails to make a good return.
STRATEGY:
In table tennis it is advisable to ferret out an opponent's weakness as soon as possible and to attempt to play that weakness as much as possible. It is wise to learn a variety of attacks, serves, and serve returns, mixing them sufficiently to keep the opponent from anticipating them and devising proper defense.
In double play, it is well to take advantage of the fact that partners must alternate hitting the ball. Thus, many successful returns can be made by forcing one player to move rapidly from a position to allow his partner enough room to hit the ball