Basically, there are two existing table tennis rules. Again, the rule applied is based on the degree of the game. For beginners and social games, basic rules apply while a professional game will require additional set of rules, aside from the basic ones. Although it would be hard to understand the game especially if the rules keep on changing, itís still good to know the basic table tennis rules in case you will need them. Overtime, you will be able to understand those additional rules better and it will not confuse the player anymore.
Table tennis rules involve the inspection of equipments and the game itself. Usually, an umpire inspects your paddle as well as your opponents. Minor tears are sometimes allowed depending on the umpires decision and the same goes for the rubbers used but a player is not allowed to change his or her paddle once the game has started unless it’s badly broken. The ball and the net should be inspected as well as they are strictly included in the basic table tennis rules.
Officially, you start a game by tossing a coin. The winner has the chance to choose his side of the table and who serves first. Once the ball is in play, you cannot move the table or touch the net, either intentionally or accidentally. If you are playing, you should be conscious of how sturdy and immovable your playing table is since it is possible to accidentally bump the table and cause it to move. Also, keep your hands off the table tennis table while the game is on.
If there is one part of the table tennis rules that is quite hard to understand, it is the service rules. This is because a ball server can easily dominate the game if the receiver will not be able see where the ball is coming from. The golden rule of service is to make the ball visible at all times or else it will be declared as fault or bad service. The ball should never spin while tossing and should be hit when itís going down not on its way up. In table tennis rules, there are no warnings, just calls so a player is not in a position to demand a warning during games. The served ball should cross the net without touching it and fall on either sides of your opponents court. Actually, the line that divides the playing table is only used for doubles and has no purpose in a singles game. According to official table tennis rules, if the ball didn’t make it to your opponents side, you lose point. However, when returning the ball, it doesnít matter if the ball touches the net, just as long as it bounces on the opponents side. In 11-points game, there will be two serves for each player while in a 21-points game, there will be five for each. The ball should be allowed to bounce once and only once– on your side, if you are to return the ball to your opponent and you should hit it only once.
Basically, that is how the game goes. Of course, changes are very much welcomed especially when it comes to ball serving. It doesn’t matter how many more tweak the table tennis rules receive in every game, the most important thing is that you understood the mechanics of the game.
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