ACOG - Table Tennis - IBM

Spectator's Guide to Table Tennis

Service Rules

The service, while a smooth motion that marries speed and control, relies on several steps of technical accuracy. At the beginning of service, the ball must rest on the flat open palm of the server's free hand, behind the endline and above the level of the playing surface. The server then projects the ball near vertically upward without imparting spin, so that it rises a minimum of 6 inches after leaving the palm of the hand. The ball must be contacted (behind the endline) as it falls from the highest point of its trajectory and touches the server's court, and then the receiver's court, without touching the net or its supports. If it does touch, a "let" is called, and the serve is repeated. The ball, having been served or returned, is struck so that it passes over or around the net and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net.

Equipment

Table

The table is 9 feet long, 5 feet wide and 30 inches high. White sidelines and endlines delineate the playing surface, which is divided for doubles play by a white centerline running parallel to the sidelines.

Net

The net is 6 inches high, 6 feet long (extending 6 inches beyond each sideline) and divides the playing surface into two equal courts.

Ball

The table tennis ball is spherical, 38 mm in diameter and weighs 2.5 grams. Made of celluloid or similar plastic material, the ball may be either white, yellow or orange in color.

Racket

Although the racket (paddle) may be any size, shape or weight, the blade must be flat and rigid. At least 85 percent of the blade by thickness must be of natural wood; an adhesive layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fiber, glass fiber or compressed paper, not to exceed 7.5 percent of the total thickness or .35mm, whichever is smaller. The side(s) of the blade used for striking the ball must be covered with pimpled rubber no more than 2mm thick or sandwich rubber no more than 4mm thick.

Strokes

A player swings and strokes a ball this way and that to keep his or her opponent on edge. Each stroke produces a particular character of bounce of the ball, due to the variety of ways the paddle can affect the ball. The behavior of the ball is influenced by the direction of the swing and the angle of the blade itself.

When receiving a hit, the opponent must prepare for the type of stroke. Expert players know their opponents' likes, dislikes and habits, and can use that knowledge along with their own observation to prepare for that ball to whiz across the net. The topspin receiver must prepare sooner and move back to prepare a defensive return stroke. To react aggressively, he or she closes the blade angle.

Players constantly vary their strokes to surprise an opponent, prey on his or her weaknesses or force the competition into a corner. Knowing the basic styles will tell you what to watch for. In a backspin, the ball appears to hang back and the receiver must move through the ball. To attack the ball, the blade angle must be vertical, or only slightly tilted forward. But one of the most difficult shots to hit is the sidespin. The ball of a sidespin has to be brought under control by adjusting the facing side of the paddle. Watch as players move the ball all over the table. The light ball requires tremendous control, and these players have it.

Competition Format

At the first stage of the Olympic tournament, the players or pairs will be divided into equal groups with all members playing each other in a round-robin format. In the second stage, the winners of each group advance into a knock-out, single-elimination competition.

In the semifinals, the winners of the first quarterfinal plays the winner of the second, and the winner of the third quarterfinal plays the winner of the fourth. The winners of the semifinal will then compete in the medal rounds.

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight and Dianna Drayson.


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.