Most of us have at least a nodding familiarity with ping pong. More serious enthusiasts in fact frown when they hear “ping pong,” insisting on “table tennis,” and remonstrating those who see it as a game and not a sport. There are a lot of misconceptions about what we’ll call, for the purposes of this article, table tennis -- after all, table tennis is an Olympic sport, played by world class athletes in pristine arenas. But it can also be played in a garage or a rec room, and it’s just as fun. Table tennis can be played with some level of proficiency almost immediately. Getting good takes only a little more time and effort.

If you’re going to play at home, the first thing you need is space, at the very least roughly equivalent to a one-car garage or a good-sized rec room. Having ample clearance above and around the table is important, too, in order to fully exploit the wide variety of angles and shots at your disposal. Good, even flooring is necessary in order to keep the playing surface level. Decent light, along with protection from the elements will also optimize the playing experience.

Equipment:

There are all kinds of tables, from one hundred dollar basic plywood tables, to homemade tables (like the PORTABLE one I grew up with that worked just fine), to the top of the line 1500 dollar tables made by Stiga, that are works of art in and of themselves. Whether made from old doors or made for the Olympics, the table is 274 cm in length, 152.5 cm in width, and 76 cm in height, and that’s the same everywhere. The table is divided by the net into two courts.

THE TABLE IS DIVIDED IN HALF VERTICALLY BY A WHITE LINE.

The net is 15.25 cm height and extends 15.25 cm beyond each side of the table. Rackets come in a lot of different packages, but it’s pretty standard to have a PADDLE with some rubber on it, in order to have some level of control over the ball, and in order to generate spin, which is essential for a player who expects to get past the intermediate level. A player’s style of play will dictate the kind of racket to use.

Balls were recently changed from 38 to 40mm in circumference, in order to lengthen rallies at international competitions. For the club player, the change is noticEable, but not extreme.

Order of serving:

Another fairly recent change has games to “11” and changes of serve after every two serves. This replaces alternating five serves to “21.” At the recreational level, there is a common misCONception, that when one player reaches 10, the serve automatically goes to the player who is trailing. (This is referred to as the “courtesy serve” in some circles.) This is not the case.

This continues until the player wins the game. After the end of the game the opponents change ENDS and the player who served first in the previous game, serves first in the next. A series is generally the best of seven games (AS OPPOSED TO THE OLD RULES -- BEST OF THREE).

There are a couple of other things that you want to know about the serve. You must show the ball to your opponent, and allow for it to be in the air before striking it. You must also be behind the imaginary line created by the surface of the table on your end. YOUR BODY, INCLUDING YOUR HANDS CAN NEVER TOUCH THE TABLE, BUT THE PADDLE CAN.

If you can do those things, pretty much anything else you do is legal, including angled serves off the sides of the table, and “drop shot” serves that barely clear the net. As with the “courtesy serve” there is some misunderstanding about what does and doesn’t constitute a legal serve. (Note: If the ball hits the net during the serve, and then lands in play, it is a let serve or “do over.”

In doubles the rules of serving and changing ends are the same as in singles except that the serve is executed from the right hand side AND MUST LAND IN THE OPPONENT'S RIGHT HAND SIDE. (THE 'SIDE' IS DETERMINED BY THAT VERTICAL WHITE LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE.)

Each 2 points the server changes corner with his partner so that the other will be ready to receive the opponent's serve. In doubles play the ball is returned in a strict sequence. The server serves and then his partner receives the ball from the opponent and so on. It’s a little confusing at first, but easy once you get the hang of it, and doubles is a fun, recreational game for all skill levels. Some stroke basics (for clarity’s sake, these notes make reference to a right handed player).

The forehand:

You want to hold your arm close to but not directly against your body. Your body should turn at the waist to easily follow the arm motion. The simpler the motion the more effective the shot, shifting weight of the body to the foot underneath the swing. To make contact with the ball, you will shift back to your left foot and follow through with the swing, tilting the racket slightly toward the ceiling. Let the movement of your waist follow the swing and add additional power to the swing. When you actually make contact with the ball, the racket should now be turned away from the ceiling and angling slightly downward.

The backhand

THE BACKHAND shot starts with movement from your left, and the racket is held in the opposite position of the forehand shot. This time the racket will be at the 9 o'clock position. You actually need to hit the ball when it is directly in front of you and move the racket in a slightly upward movement.

Review:

Ways to lose points:

• You fail to make a good serve.
• You fail to return the ball from the opponent.
• You hit the ball before it has bounced on your side.
• The ball bounces twice on your side.
• In some special occasions when you execute the serve.

WAYS TO LOSE THE SERVE:

• YOUR SERVE DOESN'T GO OVER THE NET
• YOUR SERVE LANDS IN THE WRONG COURT (DOUBLES ONLY)
• YOU TOUCH THE TABLE OR THE NET
• YOU ARE NOT BEHIND THE IMAGINARY LINE AT THE BACK OF THE TABLE WHEN YOU SERVE. (YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BEHIND THIS LINE AT ANY OTHER TIME.)

Good return

A good return is a single hit of the ball by the racket hand below the wrist, after it has bounced on the player's side of the table, so that the ball returns directly on the opponent's side. Of course the ball is permitted to hit the net during the return. However if the ball hits the net during the serve, the serve is executed again.

Because of its deceptive simplicity most of the people who have played table tennis tend to take it lightly. However excellence requires a mastery of a variety of factors. For example there are a variety of technical strokes and spins which make the game more exciting but more difficult to play.

The best way to learn how this fascinating game is played is to start with a qualified coach in a table tennis club. Most decent-sized cities have a club where there are at least a few tables in clean, well-lighted spaces, along with every kind of challenger you can imagine.