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Table Tennis

✨ The white flash on the blue table

Table tennis is a racket sport played by two players in singles or by two pairs in doubles. The aim is to hit a small ball over a net so that it bounces on the opponent’s side and cannot be returned correctly. The table is 2.74 metres long, 1.525 metres wide and 76 centimetres high. A standard ball is spherical, 40 millimetres in diameter and weighs 2.7 grams.

Players use rackets covered with rubber, which can give the ball speed and spin. By changing the angle and speed of the racket, a player can produce different types of shots, including topspin, backspin and sidespin. These effects change the ball’s rotation and influence how it travels and bounces, making control and anticipation essential.

A game is normally won by the first player or pair to reach 11 points, with a difference of at least two points required at 10–10. In standard play, the service changes every two points, then alternates after each point once the score reaches 10–10. Good players combine quick reactions with precise footwork, balance and the ability to read the opponent’s movement.

Although the ball is light, it can move rapidly, so players must adjust their position in a very short time. Training develops coordination, timing, concentration and explosive movement, while repeated practice improves consistency. Table tennis can be played for recreation or at a high competitive level, indoors in particular because stable conditions make the ball’s trajectory easier to predict.

💡 Did you know?

Do you know where the name 'Ping-pong' comes from? It's the sound the ball makes when it hits the racket ('Ping') and then the table ('Pong')! Originally, in the late 19th century, people used cigar box lids as rackets and wine bottle corks as balls!

Table tennis is so fast that top players have only a fraction of a second to decide where to hit. The ball can cross the table in less than 0.1 seconds! That's why players train for hours so their movements become incredible automatic reflexes.

Did you know you can give an incredible rotation force to the ball? It's called 'spin.' A champion player can make the ball rotate over 100 times per second! When this ball hits the opponent's racket, it can fly off anywhere if they aren't careful about the effect.