Ping pong has come to be a very famous sport and is also known as Table Tennis. One of the reasons it has come to be very popular is because of the affordability centered around the sport, making it really popular as of today. It is a sport Which is easy to learn but at the very same time fun and involves a lot of patience and space.
Things needed for ping pong aren’t exactly complicated as all you would require is a net, a racket, a ball, and of course a table and you are ready to play. It has no limitations and can be played just about anywhere and at any time of the day. Not only is it good for the body but also great for the mind and is great for keeping fit generally.
Just like everything in life, rules need to be followed to achieve orderliness and sports too have such rules. When it comes to sports, it doesn’t matter if you are playing a friendly match or you are participating in a tournament, all you need to know Is that there are rules to be abided by for easy and fair running of the game. When it comes to table tennis, the laws and regulations are being set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The rules of table tennis even go down to the use of equipment as everything have been properly checked by the ITTF, and appropriate rules and regulations have been set.
Here are some of the rules guiding a Ping Pong
Rules Concerning Your Equipment
When it comes to equipment, there are some restrictions set in a friendly match and players are informed on what Is allowed to be used and what isn’t. All these have been carefully and duly regulated by the ITTF.
The table which is used for playing, or an alternative surface as the case may be should be up to 2.74m long and the width should be 1.525m and should be set on a platform which is 76cm above the floor. The whole length of the net should be 15.25cm right above the surface used for playing.
When it is a tournament game going on, the ball should be one with a diameter of 40mm and should weigh exactly 2.7g. The color of the ball should be either orange or white or and should be matt. It should be made out of materials which are related to celluloid or celluloid itself. The paddle you use should have a black side as well as red side, and the ball should be 40 mm in size.
As for other equipment such as the racket, it can be of any size and shape, and it can have any weight you please, but the blade should be rigid and flat as well. The racket should be made out of at least 85% natural wood. Before a ping pong match starts, players should be able to allow their opponents to inspect their racket and also let the umpire inspect as well.
Rules concerning the Flow of the match
Each player on a match is required to serve two points consecutively before switching servers. But in a case where a score of 10-10 is achieved in a game, then each of the serves would serve just a single point before a switch is made. When one game is ended, players are required to switch to the other sides of the table until they get to the final game where a 5 point mark determines if the players have to switch sides.
Rules concerning Playing The Game
A ping pong game can only begin when a server makes service and does this before the receiver makes his/her return.
Here are things required of a server to do and they include :
- begin the ball in the palm
- Raise the ball vertically upwards to at least 16cm.
- Strike the ball in a manner to touch his/her court and after this, once it passes off the net assembly and moves on to the court of the receiver.
- When it comes to doubles, the ball needs to touch both the right half of the receiver as well as the server.
- When a server has successfully served the ball, both the server and receiver are required to make returns continuously till a point gets scored.
- When it is a game of doubles, players are required to take turns in making returns.
- When 2 points have been scored, then players swap from being receivers and servers till the game ends.
Rules concerning Legal serving
The ball used for ping pong should always be on an open hand palm. After that, it should be thrown up to a minimum of 6 inches and struck In a manner the ball would first bounce on the server’s side before going to the opponent’s side. When serving a ball, it is considered a legal serve except it touches the net and then it is called a let serve. These serves are usually just reserved and nothing more.
Rules concerning Scoring
In ping pong, a set is the term used when one player or a pair of players score the first 11 points. In an instance when both players or both pairs score at least 10 points, then a set is to be won by the very first player or pair to get a 2 point lead over another. For a full match to be recorded, then a player or a pair of player is required to win odd numbers of sets to be recorded as winners.
On what terms is a point scored?
A point is said to be scored when an opportunity enforces doesn’t make the correct service Or when an opponent doesn’t make a return or the. All touches parts of any player’s body. In a situation where about opponent strikes the ball twice in succession, then a point is said to be scored.
When an opponent touches the playing surface or even the net, it is considered unacceptable, regardless of if it is an article of clothing they are wearing.
