Questions tagged [table-tennis]
Questions about the sport of table tennis. Also referred to by many as "ping pong".
104
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What cleaning agent is safe to use for ping pong paddles?
I just got a new ping pong paddle, and I want to be able to clean the rubbers without damaging them or affecting their tackiness. On Amazon I see lots of expensive little spray bottles for cleaning ...
0
votes
1
answer
85
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Jumping ropes for table tennis?
I am new to table tennis and I really would like to improve my footwork. Can jumping ropes be beneficial for my footwork, or are there better ways to improve footwork?
My initial goal was to use jump ...
8
votes
2
answers
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Who serves when in table tennis?
I have never understood who serves first, and when it switches, in table tennis.
Could anyone explain it?
6
votes
1
answer
897
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The effect of various rubbers on table tennis ball
How does different rubbers effect the table tennis ball?
What is the purpose of pimpled rubber,or bouncy rubber, or tacky rubber?
How does thickness of rubber come into play?
2
votes
4
answers
175
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Why would hitting the ball with the leading edge generate more spin?
I have often heard it said that when brushing the ball, you should hit the ball with the leading edge of the bat for maximum spin. To make this clearer, let's assume we are doing a heavy backspin ...
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2
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Why don't ping pong players hit the ball lightly when opponents are far away?
Let's say player 1 is slamming, player 2 is receiving.
I've seen professional players hit the ball so high when receiving slams (player 2), and they step back so far away from the table to receive ...
4
votes
2
answers
4k
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Alternative to table tennis glue?
The rubber of my table tennis bat is starting to peel off one "corner".
Are there any household products I can use to stick it back that will not damage the rubber too much?
2
votes
1
answer
109
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Why are transparent table tennis balls not used?
Transparent table tennis balls are less visible and would be suitable for training purposes; the eyes require more effort to catch the ball.
Transparent means that they are not opaque or a cloudy ...
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1
answer
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how to serve (start of the rally) prediction in table tennis
I am working on a problem where I need to find the moment of service (start of the rally) in a table tennis game.
start and end of a rally in a game - the moment when a player serves the ball and the ...
0
votes
1
answer
103
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How do I participate in ITTF events as a player?
I looked through all the ITTF events but I couldn't find a way to register for any of these events. I am a new table tennis player and my objective is to play in official matches.
On the ITTF events ...
1
vote
1
answer
88
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How does the new table tennis ranking system work? Any examples?
I am new to table tennis and my objective is to be able to play in official competitions. I read the ITTF rules and the ranking system but it didn't make any sense to me, maybe because English is not ...
3
votes
1
answer
202
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Where can you serve from the sides in table tennis?
Rule 2.6.4 from the ITTF handbook says:
From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above
the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line, and
it shall not be ...
4
votes
0
answers
79
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Was there ever a rule requiring diagonal serve in table tennis singles games?
When I was a kid (born in the mid-70s, in Sweden) and we played (for fun), we required that the serve was diagonal in a table tennis singles game. I've spoken to people all over Europe that applied ...
2
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2
answers
2k
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Doubles serve rules in table tennis
In doubles table tennis does the rules allow you to serve to the side of the table (red line) or only to the end of the table (green line)?
Player B is serving.
6
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1
answer
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In singles table tennis, is it considered bad sportsmanship to intentionally serve deceptively, even if following the ITTF rules?
According to the ITTF Handbook, the rule about diagonal serves only applies to doubles:
As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her court and then, touches ...
3
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2
answers
1k
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Is it a let in table tennis if the serve lands on the opponents side, but hits the net on it's way back towards the server?
Imagine this, you serve in table tennis with a lot of backspin. So much backspin, that the ball (when served) bounces once on your side then once on your opponents side, but hits the net on it's way ...
9
votes
2
answers
670
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The position of the net in table tennis
Are there any rules indicating how the net should be placed in table tennis?
Should it touch the top?
Should it touch the table?
I'm not totally sure. It always seems that we just put it in the ...
2
votes
1
answer
471
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How can I prevent my table tennis paddle's rubber to come off?
I was playing table tennis the other day. Little did I know at the time, my rubber was slowly coming off with every stroke of my paddle.
When I was about to close out the game, I attempted to smash ...
5
votes
1
answer
192
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Can my free hand touch the table in table tennis?
Can my free hand touch the table when hitting a ball in play in table tennis?
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Ball spins back over net not touched by opponent in Table Tennis
We’re having some discussion here if an opponent is obliged to hit the ball in tabletennis before returning.
I’ve hit some backspin balls which would drop just over the net on the opponents side, ...
39
votes
6
answers
29k
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Is it legal in racket sports to pass the racket from one hand to the other?
Can you hit with different hands during the same
point?
set?
match?
Also, is racket throwing authorised?
1
vote
0
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What is the fairest point system for league table for a group friends playing a 1v1 game amongst each other every once in a while?
For context, me and my colleagues want to set up a point system for a 1v1 table tennis league table in our office which would get updated every time people play each other. We want to award points for ...
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Is table tennis based on tennis?
According to Wikipedia, tennis was first played sometime between 1859 and 1865, and table tennis was first played in the 1880s.
I tried to do some research online, but couldn't find an answer. Was ...
14
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3
answers
3k
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Stomping after a table tennis serve or follow through?
I often see a lot of veterans stomp their feet after hitting the ball.
Why would one want to stomp after hitting the ball?
Is this purely a stylistic issue? Or does it improve ones follow-through?
...
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0
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What is Donic-Schildkröt's "QRC system"?
As I know from official page,
With the QRC (Quick Rubber Change) rubbers you can simply stick on the new or higher-class coverings. The unique Schildkröt QRC system is designed to replace and upgrade ...
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1
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Overtime rules in table tennis and in doubles
In table tennis, when both players are at 10. Who serves first? Does one pick who goes first? Or does it go to the first person that reached 10?
Also, in doubles table tennis how do those rules ...
6
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2
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1k
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Is it possible to lose points while playing table tennis?
Can you be deducted points for conduct during a table tennis match?
Also, if you are deducted points are you allowed a negative score?
9
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3
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Countering heavy top or bottom spin in table tennis?
What options are there when your opponent serves you very heavy top spin?
Often, just a slight push forces the ball to hit the ceiling.
On the flip side, is it possible to use the same strategies ...
0
votes
1
answer
85
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Table Tennis Edge Protectors
I'm getting ready to purchase a table tennis table.
Some of the tables have plastic edge protectors that extend anywhere from an 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch off the corners of the table.
They are angled ...
2
votes
1
answer
348
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In table tennis, ITTF rules, what constitutes moving the playing surface (table)?
You lose a point if you move the table. but what does "moves" constitute?
Is it rolling/moving leg? or as small as a vibration.
2.10.1.9 if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, ...
5
votes
1
answer
770
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Why do racket-sport games end with an odd number of points?
Why do the rules for several sports dictate that a player has to score an odd number of points to win the game?
Table tennis: 11 points (previously 21)
Badminton: 21 points (previously 7, 11 or 15)
...
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Doubles rules in table tennis
I curious about what the official rules are for playing doubles in table tennis. It seems like every time I play, someone has a different set of rules from what I've played before.
For instance:
Do ...
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1
answer
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Table Tennis Doubles Rules [duplicate]
I've heard of people playing court rules where the two players on the same side in doubles play sides rather than alternate shots. Is this legal and if so what are the rules please.
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1
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Are consecutive let (net services) allowed in Table tennis?
Is a point awarded to my opponent if I serve two lets in a row?
Or can I serve as many let serve as I want until one of my services is legal or illegal?
2
votes
0
answers
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Table Tennis Double 'Let' Rules [duplicate]
Imagine a table tennis board divided into the usual 4 rectangles. From top-left going clockwise we have A1, A2, B2 and B1 (in that order). B1, B2 and A1, A2 are on opposite sides of the net.
In a ...
3
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2
answers
1k
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What are characteristics of shoes needed specifically for table tennis? [closed]
I've been playing at the recreation center more often and see some of the more intense players buying table tennis shoes. Are there any advantages of utilizing table tennis shoes over regular tennis ...
2
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1
answer
2k
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Is it a "let" if the ball touches the net then bounces back in table tennis?
There's been an argument with several friends about what happens after a serve.
I'm aware
If the ball touches the net and makes it to the opponent's side of the table, it's a re-serve.
If the ball ...
8
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1
answer
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Are there "Lets" in table tennis?
In tennis if I serve the ball and it goes into the opposite service box, but hits the net on the way, it is a let.
Is there such a thing as a let in table tennis?
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1
answer
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Can you hold a table tennis paddle with two hands?
By ITTF regulation, is it legal to hold a paddle with two hands?
On one serve, someone managed to return by using his normal hand with the addition of his other to stabilize the paddle better. Is ...
8
votes
2
answers
767
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Receiving rules on a serve in table tennis
Does the reciever need to wait for the ball to bounce on the table before hitting it back to the opponent?
My question refers to both singles and doubles.
3
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1
answer
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In table tennis what is the largest ITTF tournament event of the year?
Just started watching more table tennis with the use of ITTV. In sports, there are many competitions that muster the best athletes in the world: world series, superbowl, the olympics, tour de france, ...
5
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1
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2k
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What are the rules if the receiver isn't ready for the serve in table tennis?
I cannot find mention of anything about the receiver being ready or not when the serve takes place.
I have known a lot of players that hustle the speed of the game somewhat, repeatedly serving when ...
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1
answer
2k
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Is it legal to use two rackets in Table Tennis?
I've looked on Google, the official rules for Table Tennis, and on this website
but found nothing telling me whether it's illegal to use two rackets to play
table tennis. I understand there are rules ...
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2
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7k
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Serving Changes in Table Tennis [duplicate]
In table tennis, the serve changes after every 5 serves. But I don't understand that rule.
If A wins a rally, A get 1 point. After that, if B wins a rally, B get 1 point. Now, who should do the next ...
3
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2
answers
749
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Time limit to serve
Is there a time limit within which you have to serve the ball?
I experienced a strange game where one of the players just turned his back (as he was about to serve) to his opponent and said you ...
2
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2
answers
229
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Can the angle of the paddle offset a spin?
Can the angle of the paddle offset a spin?
Say you wanted to push the ball rather than spin, can you angle the paddle in a certain way such that it will offset the spin, and able to push the ball at ...
4
votes
2
answers
275
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How much bigger than the blade is the rubber allowed to be?
How much bigger can the rubber be than the blade?
Watching some of the professional table tennis players, I noticed that the rubber attached to their blades, is slightly bigger than the blade itself. ...
2
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1
answer
2k
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Is it allowed to throw the ball and then catch it again in a table tennis serve?
Suppose a table tennis player goes to serve. They throw the ball but for whatever reason decide not to play it. Instead they catch it with their hand.
Is this a service fault and therefore a point ...
8
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1
answer
4k
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Can you throw a table tennis paddle?
I was playing with a friend (neither of us are particularly good) and on a shot that hit the net and went over my friend threw his paddle and managed to hit the ball back on my side and score.
I can'...
7
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1
answer
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Are you allowed to change paddles mid game?
In table tennis, can you change paddles mid game to adjust to the opponents play style?