Table
tennis is a popular sport that has been around for centuries. It is a game of
skill and strategy, and there are certain rules that must be followed in
order to play the game correctly. One of the most important rules is that you
cannot touch the table with your hand other than a paddle. You can, however,
touch the ball or the table with the hand of the paddle (after reaching out
to return a short serve, for example) or other parts of the body.
Throwing the ball at you during service
is not allowed in table tennis. It is allowed to throw almost in an upright
position (less than 30 degrees).Consequently, you can touch the table with
everything except with your free hand. This means that it is allowed to touch
the table with the hand of the racket, the shovel, the clothes or any other
part of the body. However, if you move the table or touch the net, it will be
considered a fault.
The ball must be above the level of
the playing surface and behind the server’s end line (or an imaginary
extension of it).When serving, it is important to remember that you must be
behind the end of the serving table. If you are a beginner, you should know
that if the receiver does not hit the ball before it bounces off your side of
the table, they lose the point. In doubles, both players must alternate while
trying to push the ball to their opponent’s side of the table. If during a
serve, the ball hits the net but still bounces off your opponent’s side of
the table, it is considered a let (meaning you have to play it again).
If it hits the net and does not reach your opponent’s side
of the table, they automatically receive a point.In general, you should never
hit the ball if it has not touched your side of the table first. The ball can
bounce anywhere on your side of the table and unlike tennis, you do not have
to serve on any particular part of it. When hitting a shot, you should use
the top of your paddle and push it down at a 45-degree angle while making
contact with the lower half of the ball. When playing doubles, however, you
must serve diagonally across from one side of your half of the table to your
opponent’s.To make table tennis more exciting and attractive to viewers, some
rules have been changed over time.
For example, when
serving in singles, you can serve anywhere on your side of the table at your
opponent’s end. However, when playing doubles, you must serve diagonally
across from one side of your half of the table to your opponent’s.
Additionally, if during a serve, your ball hits the net but still bounces off
your opponent’s side of the table, they receive a point.