How To Play Ping Pong
Mario Churchill


Table tennis is fun sport. The game is fast paced especially
for intermediate and expert levels. The game originated in
England and was a form of entertainment for the upper class
during the late 1800s. The game pretty much has obvious
beginnings.

It was derived from the lawn tennis sport and was really meant
to imitate outdoor tennis in an indoor setting. Early players
used piled up books as nets and cigar boxes as paddles.
Nowadays, people who want to engage in the sport have an array
of equipment at their disposal.

To play table tennis, you first need a table of regulation
size. The International Table Tennis Federation has set the
standard table to be 274 cm × 152.5 cm × 76 cm high or around 9
ft × 5 ft × 30 in high. The table is more rectangular with the
surface being green most of the times.

After the table, you'll need a table tennis net. You can get
this in any sports shop. The net has a fixed size of 15.25 cm
or around 6 inches high. And just like lawn tennis, you're not
supposed to let the ball get caught by the net. Other equipment
that you will need includes good quality table tennis ball and a
pair of paddles. The paddles are the ones you use to hit the
balls back and forth between the players.

Once you and your partner are all geared up, you're ready to
play table tennis. The start of the game commences after the
first ball is served. A coin toss can be used to determine
which one should serve first. The player who serves the ball
need to let it bounce once on his or her side of the table and
then should bounce at least once on the opponent's side.

When the opponent is able to receive the serve, he or she needs
to return the ball to the other side before the ball bounces on
his or her side a second time. When the player that serves the
ball hit the net instead and falls back to his own side, a
point is awarded to the opponent. However, when the ball got
caught on the net but went through the other side anyway, no
points or penalties are awarded. The ball is served again. This
is called a let.

There are a number of ways where players could gain some
points. Opponents will get a point when the ball bounces on the
player's side twice. A point is also awarded to the opponent
when the ball did not bounce on the opponent's half of the
table or otherwise called as not making a "good" return.
Similarly, a point is awarded to the opponent if the other
player made an illegal serve which generally means playing
outside the rules.

Aside from racket movements and sharp reflexes, having good
footwork is also an advantage. Even though the right footwork
is gained through training and experience, novices need only to
remember some of the basics. When standing keep your knees bend
and stay on the balls of your feet. This will allow you to move
quicker. You should also need to lean forward and keep your
paddle ready at all times. Always use your empty hand as a
counter weight to keep your balance.

Don't feel embarrassed if you look silly, maintaining balance
to hit the ball is more important. Keep your head up and try to
watch the ball at all times. As you practice you would learn to
adapt the quickness of the serve and the movement of the ball.

In ever volley, make sure that you immediately go back to the
center and in position. This will help you move quickly
allowing you to hit and return the next shot to your opponent.
Just like other sports, the key is to train properly and
practice your skills.

About The Author: Mario Churchill is a freelance author and has
written over 200 articles on various subjects. For more
information on table tennis checkout
http://www.tabletennismaster.com


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