The Fundamentals of the Table Tennis Game
The typical table tennis game can be likened to the typical lawn tennis game. This is because the table tennis game is actually fashioned from the basics of lawn tennis. Although there are certain modifications, of course.
For starters, a table tennis game would be played on a wooden table. This is quite clear from the name of the sport already. Of course, you would not be playing a table tennis game with huge tennis rackets. Rather, you would be playing with paddles that are made of wood. A small plastic ball that is hollow is also used here. There would still be a net dividing the wooden table into two portions or courts.
But with the table tennis game, the service is quite different. The ball has to bounce on the server's court first before clearing the net onto the opponent's court. If the ball fails to make these two bounces, then a fault would be called out. If the ball fails to clear the net, hitting the tip of the net in the process, then a let is called out. This would mean a fault on the part of the server. However, the server is given one more shot to make the serve. If the server still cannot make it, then the point is awarded to the opponent, and the server moves to the other side of the court to make the next serve for the next rally.
The serve should start with the ball resting on the palm of the server. It is important for the server to keep his or her palm open, so as not to hide anything from the receiver. This is essential in a table tennis game, because deception is not allowed in the serve. The server then throws the ball upward, striking it just as it would fall. As mentioned above, the ball has to hit the server's court first before bouncing off onto the receiver's court.
Players are actually made to serve five consecutive times. After which, they switch places as servers and receivers. The first player to reach 21 points would then win the table tennis game.
When learning the basics of the table tennis game, it's also important to be familiar with the game's jargon. Backspins, backhands, high toss serves, inside out, and chops are just some of the important terms in the jargon of table tennis. Being familiar with these terms can greatly help any player improve his or her table tennis game.
