9
votes
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Can you throw a table tennis paddle?
No, this is not legal. Quoting from the Table Tennis England Rules of the game:
Strike – 2.5.7 – A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand, or with his ...
- 23.9k
9
votes
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What is the difference between ping pong and table tennis?
There is no difference. Ping pong is simply another name for table tennis. The two terms are used by the vast majority of people interchangably.
Historically, the name Ping Pong was a trademarked ...
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8
votes
Are you allowed to change paddles mid game?
No you can't change paddles mid game, according to the International Table Tennis Federation Handbook for 2017:
3.4.2.4
A racket shall not be replaced during an individual match unless it ...
- 81
7
votes
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In singles table tennis, is it considered bad sportsmanship to intentionally serve deceptively, even if following the ITTF rules?
No, you even want your serve to be as deceptive as possible so the opponent can't read the spin.
The "two-phases-serve" hits the ball in either the first or the second phase of the arm/wrist movement ...
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6
votes
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How do I make my table tennis paddle's rubber less sticky?
I realize this is an older question, but I think my answer might be useful to other people with the same or similar questions.
Anti-spin rubber can take the spinniest of serves and return it ...
- 346
6
votes
Can my free hand touch the table in table tennis?
No, then you lose the point.
According to ITTF's Rules (The International Table Tennis Federation's Handbook 2019 v2):
2.10 A POINT
2.10.1 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point
2.10....
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5
votes
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What are the rules if the receiver isn't ready for the serve in table tennis?
Under rule 9 of the source at Killerspin.com:
A rally is a let:
...
9.2 If the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner ...
Nij♦
- 7,920
5
votes
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In table tennis, can you serve from the side of the table provided the ball is being hit from outside of the playing surface
As the ITTF rules state :
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 hidden from ...
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4
votes
How much bigger than the blade is the rubber allowed to be?
Although there is no restriction on racket size, shape or weight there are restrictions for rubber covering the racket.
From ITTF rules and regulations handbook 2017,
Rule 2.4 The Racket
2.4.3 A ...
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4
votes
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How much bigger than the blade is the rubber allowed to be?
Rule 2.04.01 of the ITTF rules and regulations states
The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid
But Rule 2.4.4 states that the rubber covering
may ...
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4
votes
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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?
I believe it would NOT be a let. That is, it would be a legal service and the server would earn the point (assuming the receiver did not return it).
I'm referencing the rules at PongWorld.com. In the ...
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4
votes
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Serve deflected to the left hand court in a doubles match, is it a let?
The rules you linked to do address this case, albeit not directly. The rule you cited says (emphasis mine):
2.9.1 The rally shall be a let: 2.9.1.1 if in service the ball touches the net assembly, ...
- 2,516
4
votes
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Table tennis rubber not showing brand or model
Regulation 3.02.01 states that only table tennis rubbers authorized by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) can be used in authorized events.
You must ensure that you attached them to ...
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4
votes
Table Tennis Doubles Rules
As the IITF rules state:
2.8.2 In doubles, except as provided in 2.8.3, the server shall first make a service,
the receiver shall then make a return, the partner of the server shall then make
...
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4
votes
Missing the ball after throwing it up to serve in table tennis
Yes, then you lose a point.
According to ITTF's Rules (The International Table Tennis Federation's Handbook 2019 v2):
2.5 DEFINITIONS
2.5.1 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play....
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4
votes
How do I participate in ITTF events as a player?
To answer the question as asked: you (personally) can't enter those highest level tournaments; entry is by invitation only.
So, how do you get invited? My showing that you are good enough in the ...
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3
votes
Accepted
In table tennis, ITTF rules, what constitutes moving the playing surface (table)?
Vibration is not a move.
After a move the table, table-body or one table leg stands in a different place.
This means that if you cause the table tennis table to move whilst the ball is still in play, ...
- 156
3
votes
Is it legal to use two rackets in Table Tennis?
Rules of TT:
2.5.2 The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the free hand before being intentionally
projected in service until the rally is decided as ...
3
votes
Ball hit too far, opponent hits back on the full: who loses the point?
Returning the ball before it makes contact with the surface is called volleying in table tennis. I found this article on volleying which does a great job of explaining the rule for points awarded for ...
- 2,024
3
votes
In table tennis what is the largest ITTF tournament event of the year?
There are 2 very large tournaments. One being the Table Tennis World Cup. This tournament happens one time a year. Though, this is only a singles championship. Doubles events do not exist.
On the ...
- 168
3
votes
How do rankings in competitive table tennis work?
USA ranking is managed by USATT using some simplified Elo rating system.
Rating system transforms performances into a score, where higher value means better player. Most famous is aformentioned Elo (...
- 366
3
votes
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Serving Changes in Table Tennis
First of all, your statement of the rule is not correct. From Pongworld (emphasis added):
After each 2 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair ...
Nij♦
- 7,920
3
votes
Doubles serve rules in table tennis
Rule 2.6.3 of the official rules states:
in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.
There is no requirement that the ball crosses the end line of ...
- 23.9k
3
votes
Accepted
How does one become ranked by ITTF?
Players get ranked based on their performance in tournaments. Per the ITTF ranking page, the ranking system as of 2017 (full details here) incorporates:
Wins and losses against ranked players
...
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3
votes
Is the ball allowed to hit the receiver's side more than once in a table tennis serve
The answer is YES to both of your questions.
In fact skilled players will mostly want their service to drop shortly after the net, so that the opponent has a hard time to attack it. Serving with such ...
- 166
3
votes
Accepted
In Table Tennis, does a 7-0 lead mean that set is won?
Nothing happens (officially).
According to the ITTF Rules:
2.11 A Game
A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 11 points
unless both players or pairs score 10 points, when the ...
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3
votes
Table tennis change of hand
I've looked through the rule book and there does not appear to be any rule addressing this specifically. Since it is not addressed, it is safe to assume that it is indeed legal to change racquet hand/...
- 346
3
votes
Table tennis change of hand
In short, Yes! According to ITTF rules there is no mention of losing the point if you decide to switch your playing hand in between a rally.
However in the description of the question, you have ...
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3
votes
When is the ball on the correct side in double table tennis serve?
From the official rules:
2.1.6
For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall be ...
- 1,222
3
votes
Why do table tennis players inspect each other's rackets?
To know what the opponent plays with is the most common reason. It happens that a player will never use one of their rubbers during warmup and hope that the other player doesn't notice it until the ...
- 161
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