| Table tennis as a sport has been around for more | | | | 6 inches in height. The net is anchored to a post on |
| than a century. Although table tennis, or "ping pong", | | | | each side of the table, which can be up to 6 inches |
| started out as just a fun game to play indoors, it grew | | | | outside the side lines.4. When the ball is served, it must |
| into a serious sport, especially in Asian countries like | | | | first hit the table on the server's side of the net and |
| China. It is now also an Olympic sport.People who are | | | | then bounce over the net and hit the table on the other |
| interesting in taking up the sport for recreational play or | | | | side. If the ball hits the net or goes off the edge of the |
| competitively should be aware of the basic aspects | | | | table, without hitting the table, it is a lost point. If the ball |
| and rules of the game, some of which are discussed | | | | hits the net but goes over and hits the table on the |
| below:1. Each player needs a table tennis paddle. The | | | | other side, it's a let serve and the server gets another |
| paddle is to table tennis what a racket is to tennis. It is | | | | chance.5. When playing doubles, the server is requires |
| made of wood, and the striking surfaces, known as | | | | to serve the ball so that it bounces on the other side |
| blades, are to be covered with rubber, usually colored | | | | of the net, in the opposite half of the table from which |
| black on one side and red on the other. Interestingly | | | | he is serving from. Each player serves the ball 5 times, |
| though, the paddle may be any size, shape and weight, | | | | which result in a score, and then the serving duties |
| the only stipulation is that the blade must be flat and | | | | rotates to the next player.6. Matches are divided into |
| rigid.In tournaments, the umpire will inspect the players' | | | | sets, which are usually played until one player scores |
| paddles to see that there are no tears or any damage | | | | 21 points, and leads by 2 points. A match is typically |
| to the rubber that might affect the way the ball | | | | won by the player to win 2 sets. During tournaments |
| bounces off of the blade of the paddle. Typically | | | | the specific scoring rules will be set beforehand.Table |
| players are not allowed to replace their paddles during | | | | tennis can is played by 2 people against each other, or |
| the match.2. The table tennis table should measure 9 | | | | 4 people as two pairs. The rules in both are similar |
| feet in length and 5 feet in width and be 2 feet 6 | | | | except for serving.Table tennis is a fun and exciting |
| inches above the floor. This is made of timber, and is | | | | sport to play or watch. Knowing the rules and the |
| usually painted dark green with 3/4 inch wide white | | | | other details of the game, will help you enjoy the |
| lines painted along the edge. There is also a 1/8 inch | | | | game.Evert DuToit is the webmaster and publisher of |
| wide white line down the middle for use in doubles | | | | Table Tennis Facts, where you can find information |
| games. Players must keep the ball inside these | | | | and tips about table tennis, like The History of Table |
| markings much like in tennis.3. A net divides the table | | | | Tennis. |
| into two courts of equal size. The net should measure | | | | |