able tennis or ping-pong is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth

using a table tennis racket. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net. Except for the
initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table
and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. Points are scored when a player fails to
return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. Spinning the ball alters its
trajectory and limits an opponent's options, giving the hitter a great advantage. When doing so the
hitter has a good chance of scoring if the spin is successful.
Table tennis is governed by the worldwide organization International Table Tennis Federation,
founded in 1926. ITTF currently includes 218 member associations.[1] The table tennis official rules
are specified in the ITTF handbook.[2] Table tennis has been an Olympic sport since 1988,[3] with
several event categories. In particular, from 1988 until 2004, these were: men's singles, women's
singles, men's doubles and women's doubles. Since 2008, a team event has been played instead of
the doubles.
Contents
[hide]

1 History
o

1.1 Rule changes

2 Equipment

2.1 Ball

2.2 Table

2.3 Paddle

3 Gameplay
o

3.1 Starting a game

3.2 Service and return

3.3 Let

3.4 Scoring

3.5 Alternation of services and ends

3.6 Double game

3.7 Expedite system

4 Grips
o

4.1 Penhold

4.2 Shakehand

5 Types of strokes
5.1 Offensive strokes

5.1.1 Hit

5.1.2 Loop

5.1.3 Counter-hit

5.1.4 Flick

5.1.5 Smash
5.2 Defensive strokes

5.2.1 Push

5.2.2 Chop

5.2.3 Block

5.2.4 Lob
6 Effects of spin

6.1 Backspin

6.2 Topspin

6.3 Sidespin

6.4 Corkspin

7 Competition

8 Notable players

9 Governance

10 See also

11 References

12 Bibliography

13 External links

History[edit]

Parker Brothers Ping-Pong game

The game originated in England during the 1880s, where it was played among the upper-class as an
after-dinner parlour game.[4][5] It has been suggested that the game was first developed by British
military officers in India or South Africa who brought it back with them.[6] A row of books was stood up
along the center of the table as a net, two more books served as rackets and were used to
continuously hit a golf-ball from one end of the table to the other. Alternatively table tennis was
played with paddles made of cigar box lids and balls made of champagne corks. The popularity of
the game led game manufacturers to sell equipment commercially. Early rackets were often pieces
ofparchment stretched upon a frame, and the sound generated in play gave the game its first
nicknames of "wiff-waff" and "ping-pong". A number of sources indicate that the game was first
brought to the attention of Hamley's of Regent Street under the name "Gossima".[7][8]The name "pingpong" was in wide use before British manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd trademarked it in 1901. The
name "ping-pong" then came to be used for the game played by the rather expensive Jaques's
equipment, with other manufacturers calling it table tennis. A similar situation arose in the United
States, where Jaques sold the rights to the "ping-pong" name to Parker Brothers. Parker Brothers
then enforced their trademark for the term in the 1920s making the various associations change their
names to "table tennis" instead of the more common, but trademarked, term. [9]
The next major innovation was by James W. Gibb, a British enthusiast of table tennis, who
discovered novelty celluloid balls on a trip to the US in 1901 and found them to be ideal for the
game. This was followed by E.C. Goode who, in 1901, invented the modern version of the racket by
fixing a sheet of pimpled, or stippled, rubber to the wooden blade. Table tennis was growing in
popularity by 1901 to the extent that tournaments were being organized, books being written on the
subject,[7] and an unofficial world championship was held in 1902. During the early 1900s, the game

was banned in Russia because the rulers at the time believed that playing the game had an adverse
effect on players' eyesight.[10]
In 1921, the Table Tennis Association was founded in Britain, and the International Table Tennis
Federation (ITTF) followed in 1926.[4][11] London hosted the first official World Championships in
1926. In 1933, the United States Table Tennis Association, now called USA Table Tennis, was
formed.[4][12]
In the 1930s, Edgar Snow commented in Red Star Over China that the Communist forces in
the Chinese Civil War had a "passion for the English game of table tennis" which he found "bizarre".
[13]

In the 1950s, rackets that used a rubber sheet combined with an underlying sponge layer changed
the game dramatically,[4] introducing greater spin and speed.[14] These were introduced to Britain by
sports goods manufacturer S.W. Hancock Ltd. The use of speed glue increased the spin and speed
even further, resulting in changes to the equipment to "slow the game down". Table tennis was
introduced as an Olympic sport at the Olympics in 1988.[15]

Rule changes[edit]
After the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, the ITTF instituted several rule changes that were
aimed at making table tennis more viable as a televised spectator sport. [16][17]First, the older 38 mm
(1.50 in) balls were officially replaced by 40 mm (1.57 in) balls in October 2000.[7][18] This increased
the ball's air resistance and effectively slowed down the game. By that time, players had begun
increasing the thickness of the fast sponge layer on their rackets, which made the game excessively
fast and difficult to watch on television. A few months later, the ITTF changed from a 21-point to an
11-point scoring system (and the serve rotation was reduced from five points to two), effective in
September 2001.[7] This was intended to make games more fast-paced and exciting. The ITTF also
changed the rules on service to prevent a player from hiding the ball during service, in order to
increase the average length of rallies and to reduce the server's advantage, effective in 2002. [19]
There is a move towards reviving the table tennis game that existed prior to the introduction of
sponge rubber. "Hardbat" table tennis players reject the speed and spin of reversed sponge rubber,
preferring the 194060s play style with no sponge and short-pimpled rubber. This makes defense
less difficult by decreasing the speed and eliminating any meaningful magnus effect of spin.
Because hardbat killer shots are almost impossible to hit against a skilled player, hardbat matches
focus on the strategic side of table tennis, requiring skillful maneuvering of the opponent before an
attack can become successful. [20]

Equipment[edit]
Ball[edit]

Assortment of 40 mm table tennis balls

The international rules specify that the game is played with a sphere having a mass of 2.7 grams
(0.095 oz) and a diameter of 40 millimetres (1.57 in).[21] The rules say that the ball shall bounce up
2426 cm (9.410.2 in) when dropped from a height of 30.5 cm (12.0 in) onto a standard steel block
thereby having a coefficient of restitution of 0.89 to 0.92. The 40 mm ball was introduced after
the2000 Summer Olympics.[18] However, this created some controversy as the Chinese National
Team argued that this was merely to give non-Chinese players a better chance of winning since the
new type of ball has a slower speed, while at that time most Chinese players were playing with fast
attack and smashes. (China won all four Olympic gold medals and three silvers in 2000, and have
continued to dominate.) A 40 mm table tennis ball is slower and spins less than the original 38 mm
one. The ball is made of a high-bouncing air-filledcelluloid or similar plastics material, coloured white
or orange, with a matte finish. The choice of ball colour is made according to the table colour and its
surroundings. For example, a white ball is easier to see on a green or blue table than it is on a grey
table. Manufacturers often indicate the quality of the ball with a star rating system, usually from one
to three, three being the highest grade. As this system is not standard across manufacturers, the
only way a ball may be used in official competition is upon ITTF approval.[21] The ITTF approval can
be seen printed on the ball.

Table[edit]

Diagram of a table tennis table showing the official dimensions

The table is 2.74 m (9.0 ft) long, 1.525 m (5.0 ft) wide, and 76 cm (2.5 ft) high with any continuous
material so long as the table yields a uniform bounce of about 23 cm (9.1 in) when a standard ball is
dropped onto it from a height of 30 cm (11.8 in), or about 77%.[22][23] The table or playing surface is
uniformly dark coloured and matte, divided into two halves by a net at 15.25 cm (6.0 in) in height.
TheITTF approves only wooden tables or their derivates. Concrete tables with a steel net or a solid
concrete partition are sometimes available in outside public spaces, such as parks. [24]

Paddle[edit]
Main article: Table tennis racket
Players are equipped with a laminated wooden racket covered with rubber on one or two sides
depending on the grip of the player. The ITTF uses the term "racket",[25] though "bat" is common in
Britain, and "paddle" in the U.S.
The wooden portion of the racket, often referred to as the "blade", commonly features anywhere
between one and seven plies of wood, though cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aluminum fiber, and
Kevlar are sometimes used. According to the ITTF regulations, at least 85% of the blade by
thickness shall be of natural wood.[26] Common wood types include balsa, limba, and cypress or
"hinoki," which is popular in Japan. The average size of the blade is about 6.5 inches (17 cm) long
and 6 inches (15 cm) wide. Although the official restrictions only focus on the flatness and rigidness
of the blade itself, these dimensions are optimal for most play styles.
Table tennis regulations allow different surfaces on each side of the racket. [27] Various types of
surfaces provide various levels of spin or speed, and in some cases they nullify spin. For example, a
player may have a rubber that provides much spin on one side of his racket, and one that provides
no spin on the other. By flipping the racket in play, different types of returns are possible. To help a
player distinguish between the rubber used by his opposing player, international rules specify that
one side must be red while the other side must be black. [26] The player has the right to inspect his
opponent's racket before a match to see the type of rubber used and what colour it is. Despite high
speed play and rapid exchanges, a player can see clearly what side of the racket was used to hit the
ball. Current rules state that, unless damaged in play, the racket cannot be exchanged for another
racket at any time during a match.[28]

Gameplay[edit]
Starting a game[edit]
According to ITTF rule 2.13.1, the first service is decided by lot,[29] normally a coin toss.[30] It is also
common for one player (or the umpire/scorer) to hide the ball in one or the other hand (usually
hidden under the table), allowing the other player to guess which hand the ball is in. The correct or
incorrect guess gives the "winner" the option to choose to serve, receive, or to choose which side of

the table to use. (A common but non-sanctioned method is for the players to play the ball back and
forth three times and then play out the point. This is commonly referred to as "serve to play" or "rally
to serve"or "play for serve")

Service and return[edit]

In game play, the player serving the ball commences a play.[31] The server first stands with the ball
held on the open palm of the hand not carrying the paddle, called the freehand, and tosses the ball
directly upward without spin, at least 16 cm (6.3 in) high.[32] The server strikes the ball with the racket
on the ball's descent so that it touches first his court and then touches directly the receiver's court
without touching the net assembly. In casual games, many players do not toss the ball upward;
however, this is technically illegal and can give the serving player an unfair advantage.
The ball must remain behind the endline and above the upper surface of the table, known as the
playing surface, at all times during the service. The server cannot use his body or clothing to
obstruct sight of the ball; the opponent and the umpire must have a clear view of the ball at all times.
If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service they may first interrupt play and give a warning to
the server. If the serve is a clear failure or is doubted again by the umpire after the warning, the
receiver scores a point.
If the service is "good", then the receiver must make a "good" return by hitting the ball back before it
bounces a second time on receiver's side of the table so that the ball passes the net and touches the
opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.[33] Thereafter, the server and
receiver must alternately make a return until the rally is over. Returning the serve is one of the most
difficult parts of the game, as the server's first move is often the least predictable and thus most
advantageous shot due to the numerous spin and speed choices at his or her disposal.

Let[edit]
A Let is a rally of which the result is not scored, and is called in the following circumstances: [34]

The ball touches the net in service (service), provided the service is otherwise correct or the
ball is obstructed by the player on the receiving side. Obstruction means a player touches the
ball when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface, not having touched the player's
court since last being struck by the player.

When the player on the receiving side is not ready and the service is delivered.

Player's failure to make a service or a return or to comply with the Laws is due to a
disturbance outside the control of the player.

Play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

Scoring[edit]

A point is scored by the player for any of several results of the rally: [35]

The opponent fails to make a correct service or return.

After making a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly
before being struck by the opponent.

The ball passes over the player's court or beyond his end line without touching his court,
after being struck by the opponent.

The opponent obstructs the ball.

The opponent strikes the ball twice successively. Note that the hand that is holding the racket
counts as part of the racket and that making a good return off one's hand or fingers is allowed. It
is not a fault if the ball accidentally hits one's hand or fingers and then subsequently hits the
racket.

The opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface is not covered
with rubber.

The opponent moves the playing surface or touches the net assembly.

The opponent's free hand touches the playing surface.

As a receiver under the expedite system, completing 13 returns in a rally.[36]

The opponent that has been warned by the umpire commits a second offense in the same
individual match or team match. If the third offence happens, 2 points will be given to the player.
[37]

If the individual match or the team match has not ended, any unused penalty points can be

transferred to the next game of that match.[30]

A game shall be won by the player first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10 points, when
the game shall be won by the first player subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. A match shall
consist of the best of any odd number of games.[38] In competition play, matches are typically best of
five or seven games.

Alternation of services and ends[edit]

Service alternates between opponents every two points (regardless of winner of the rally) until the
end of the game, unless both players score ten points or the expedite system is operated, when the
sequences of serving and receiving stay the same but each player serves for only one point in turn.
[39]

The player serving first in a game receives first in the next game of the match.

After each game, players switch sides of the table. In the last possible game of a match, for example
the seventh game in a best of seven matches, players change ends when the first player scores five
points, regardless of whose turn it is to serve. If the sequence of serving and receiving is out of turn
or the ends is not changed, points scored in the wrong situation are still calculated and the game
shall be resumed with the order at the score that has been reached.

Double game[edit]

Service zone in doubles game

In addition to games between individual players, pairs may also play table tennis. Singles and
doubles are both played in international competition, including the Olympic Games since 1988 and
the Commonwealth Games since 2002.[40] In 2005, the ITTF announced that doubles table tennis
only was featured as a part of team events in the 2008 Olympics.
In doubles, all the rules of single play are applied except for the following.
Service
A line painted along the long axis of the table to create doubles courts bisects the table. This
line's only purpose is to facilitate the doubles service rule, which is that service, must
originate from the right hand "box" in such a way that the first bounce of the serve bounces
once in said right hand box and then must bounce at least once in the opponent side's right
hand box (far left box for server), or the receiving pair score a point. [32]
Order of play, serving and receiving
1. Players must hit the ball. For example, if A is paired with B, X is paired with Y, A is the
server and X or Y is the receiver. The order of play shall be AX or Y & BX or Y &
vice versa. The rally proceeds this way until one side fails to make a legal return and the
other side scores.[41]
2. At each change of service, the previous receiver shall become the server and the
partner of the previous server shall become the receiver. For example, if the previous
order of play is AX or Y & BX or Y, the order becomes XB or A & YB or A or
XB or A & YA or B after the change of service.[39]

3. In the second or the latter games of a match, the game begins in reverse order of play.
For example, if the order of play is AX or Y & BY or X at beginning of the first game,
the order begins with XA or B & YA & B in the second game depending on either X
or Y being chosen as the first server of the game. That means the first receiver of the
game is the player who served to the first server of the game in the preceding game. In
each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall choose
which of them will do so. The receiving pair, however, can only choose in the first game
of the match.
4. When a pair reaches 5 points in the final game, the pairs must switch ends of the table
and change the receiver to reverse the order of play. For example, when the last order
of play before a pair score 5 points in the final game is AXBY, the order after
change shall be AYBX if A still has the second serve. Otherwise, X is the next
server and the order becomes XAYB.

Expedite system[edit]
If a game is unfinished after 10 minutes' play and fewer than 18 points have been scored, the
expedite system is initiated.[36] The umpire interrupts the game, and the game resumes with
players serving for one point in turn. If the expedite system is introduced while the ball is not in
play, the previous receiver shall serve first. Under the expedite system, the server must win the
point before the opponent makes 13 consecutive returns or the point goes to the opponent. The
system can also be initiated at any time at the request of both players or pairs. Once introduced,
the expedite system remains in force until the end of the match. A rule to shorten the time of a
match, it is mainly seen in defensive players' games.

Grips[edit]
Though table tennis players grip their rackets in various ways, their grips can be classified into
two major families of styles, penhold and shakehand.[42] The rules of table tennis do not
prescribe the manner in which one must grip the racket, and numerous grips are employed.

Penhold[edit]
The penhold grip is so-named because one grips the racket similarly to the way one holds
a writing instrument.[43] The style of play among penhold players can vary greatly from player to
player. The most popular style, usually referred to as the Chinese penhold style, involves curling
the middle, ring, and fourth finger on the back of the blade with the three fingers always touching
one another.[43] Chinese penholders favour a round racket head, for a more over-the-table style
of play. In contrast, another style, sometimes referred to as the Japanese/Korean penhold grip,
involves splaying those three fingers out across the back of the racket, usually with all three
fingers touching the back of the racket, rather than stacked upon one another.[43] Sometimes a

combination of the two styles occurs, wherein the middle, ring and fourth fingers are straight, but
still stacked, or where all fingers may be touching the back of the racket, but are also in contact
with one another. Japanese/Korean penholders will often use a square-headed racket for an
away-from-the-table style of play. Traditionally these square-headed rackets feature a block of
cork on top of the handle, as well as a thin layer of cork on the back of the racket, for increased
grip and comfort. Penhold styles are popular among players originating from East Asian regions
such as China, Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea.
Traditionally, penhold players use only one side of the racket to hit the ball during normal play,
and the side which is in contact with the last three fingers is generally not used. This
configuration is sometimes referred to as "traditional penhold" and is more commonly found in
square-headed racket styles. However, the Chinese developed a technique in the 1990s in
which a penholder uses both sides of the racket to hit the ball, where the player produces a
backhand stroke (most often topspin) by turning the traditional side of the racket to face one's
self, and striking the ball with the opposite side of the racket. This stroke has greatly improved
and strengthened the penhold style both physically and psychologically, as it eliminates the
strategic weakness of the traditional penhold backhand.
Shakehand grip

Forehand

Backhand

Shakehand[edit]
The shakehand (or shakehands) grip is so-named because the racket is grasped as if one is
performing a handshake.[44]Though it is sometimes referred to as the "tennis" or "Western" grip, it
bears no relation to the Western tennis grip, which was popularized on the West Coast of the
United States in which the racket is rotated 90, and played with the wrist turned so that on
impact the knuckles face the target. In table tennis, Western refers to Western nations, for this
is the grip that players native to Europe and the Americas have almost exclusively employed.

The shakehand grips simplicity and versatility, coupled with the acceptance among top-level
Chinese trainers that the European style of play should be emulated and trained against, has
established it as a common grip even in China.[45] Many world-class Asian players currently use
the shakehand grip, and it is generally accepted that shakehands is easier to learn than
penholder, allowing a broader range of playing styles both offensive and defensive. [46]

Types of strokes[edit]
Table tennis strokes generally break down into offensive and defensive categories.

Offensive strokes[edit]
Hit[edit]
A direct hit on the ball propelling it forward back to the opponent. This stroke differs from speed
drives in other racket sports like tennis because the racket is primarilyperpendicular to the
direction of the stroke and most of the energy applied to the ball results in speed rather
than spin, creating a shot that does not arc much, but is fast enough that it can be difficult to
return. A speed drive is used mostly for keeping the ball in play, applying pressure on the
opponent, and potentially opening up an opportunity for a more powerful attack.
Loop[edit]
Perfected during the 1960s,[4] the loop is essentially the reverse of the speed drive. The racket is
much more parallel to the direction of the stroke ("closed") and the racket thusgrazes the ball,
resulting in a large amount of topspin. A good loop drive will arc quite a bit, and once striking the
opponent's side of the table will jump forward, much like a kick serve in tennis.
Counter-hit[edit]
The counter-hit is usually a counterattack against drives, normally high loop drives. The racket is
held closed and near to the ball, which is hit with a short movement "off the bounce"
(immediately after hitting the table) so that the ball travels faster to the other side. A well-timed,
accurate counter-drive can be as effective as a smash.
Flick[edit]
When a player tries to attack a ball that has not bounced beyond the edge of the table, the
player does not have the room to wind up in a backswing. The ball may still be attacked,
however, and the resulting shot is called a flick because the backswing is compressed into a
quick wrist action. A flick is not a single stroke and can resemble either a drive or a loop in its
characteristics. What identifies the stroke is the backswing is compressed into a short wrist flick.
Smash[edit]

The offensive trump card is the smash. A player will typically execute a smash when his or her
opponent has returned a ball that bounces too high or too close to the net.Smashing is
essentially self-explanatorylarge backswing and rapid acceleration imparting as much speed
on the ball as possible. The goal of a smash is to get the ball to move so quickly that the
opponent simply cannot return it. Because the ball speed is the main aim of this shot, often the
spin on the ball is something other than topspin. Sidespin can be used effectively with a smash
to alter the ball's trajectory significantly, although most intermediate players will smash the ball
with little or no spin. An offensive table tennis player will think of a rally as a build-up to a winning
smash;

Defensive strokes[edit]
Push[edit]
The push (or "slice" in Asia) is usually used for keeping the point alive and creating offensive
opportunities. A push resembles a tennis slice: the racket cuts underneath the ball, imparting
backspin and causing the ball to float slowly to the other side of the table. While not obvious, a
push can be difficult to attack because the backspin on the ball causes it to drop toward the table
upon striking the opponent's racket. In order to attack a push, a player must usually loop the ball
back over the net. Often, the best option for beginners is to simply push the ball back again,
resulting in pushing rallies. Against good players, it may be the worst option because the
opponent will counter with a loop, putting the first player in a defensive position. Another
response to pushing is flipping the ball when it is close to the net. Pushing can have advantages
in some circumstances, such as when the opponent makes easy mistakes.
Chop[edit]
A chop is the defensive, backspin counterpart to the offensive loop drive. [47] A chop is essentially
a bigger, heavier push, taken well back from the table. The racket face points primarily
horizontally, perhaps a little bit upward, and the direction of the stroke is straight down. The
object of a defensive chop is to match the topspin of the opponent's shot with backspin. A good
chop will float nearly horizontally back to the table, in some cases having so much backspin that
the ball actually rises. Such a chop can be extremely difficult to return due to its enormous
amount of backspin. Some defensive players can also impart no-spin or sidespin variations of
the chop.
Block[edit]
The block is a simple shot, but nonetheless can be devastating against an attacking opponent. A
block is executed by simply placing the racket in front of the ball right after the ball bounces;
thus, the ball rebounds back toward the opponent with nearly as much energy as it came in with.
This is not as easy as it sounds, because the ball's spin, speed, and location all influence the
correct angle of a block. It is very possible for an opponent to execute a perfect loop, drive, or

smash, only to have the blocked shot come back at him just as fast. Due to the power involved
in offensive strokes, often an opponent simply cannot recover quickly enough, and will be unable
to return the blocked shot. Blocks almost always produce the same spin as was received, many
times topspin. Depending on the spin of the ball, the block may be returned to an unexpected
side of the table. This may come to your advantage, as the opponent may not expect this.
Lob[edit]
The defensive lob is possibly the most impressive shot, since it propels the ball about five
metres in height, only to land on the opponent's side of the table with great amounts of spin.
[48]

To execute, a defensive player first backs-off the table 46 meters; then, the stroke itself

consists of lifting the ball to an enormous height before it falls back to the opponent's side of the
table. A lob is inherently a creative shot, and can have nearly any kind of spin. Top-quality
players use this to their advantage in order to control the spin of the ball. For instance, though
the opponent may smash the ball hard and fast, a good defensive lob could be more difficult to
return due to the unpredictability and heavy amounts of the spin on the ball. [48] Thus, though
backed off the table by tens of feet and running to reach the ball, a good defensive player can
still win the point using good lobs. However, at the professional level, lobbers will lose the point
most of the time, so the lob is not used unless it is really necessary.[48]

Effects of spin[edit]
Adding spin onto the ball causes major changes in table tennis gameplay. Although nearly every
stroke or serve creates some kind of spin, understanding the individual types of spin allows
players to defend against and use different spins effectively.[49]

4 phases in a backspin curve

Backspin[edit]
Backspin is where the bottom half of the ball is rotating away from the player, and is imparted by
striking the base of the ball with a downward movement. [49] At the professional level, backspin is
usually used defensively in order to keep the ball low.[50] Backspin is commonly employed in
service because it is harder to produce an offensive return, especially on a short serve. Due to

the initial lift of the ball, there is a limit on how much speed with which one can hit the ball
without missing the opponent's side of the table. However, backspin also makes it harder for the
opponent to return the ball with great speed because of the required angular precision of the
return. Alterations are frequently made to regulations regarding equipment in an effort to
maintain a balance between defensive and offensive spin choices.[citation needed] It is actually
possible to smash with backspin offensively, but only on high balls that are close to the net.

4 phases in a topspin curve

Topspin[edit]
The topspin stroke has a smaller influence on the first part of the ball-curve. Like the backspin
stroke, however, the axis of spin remains roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball thus
allowing for theMagnus effect to dictate the subsequent curvature. After the apex of the curve,
the ball dips downwards as it approaches the opposing side, before bouncing. On the bounce,
the topspin will accelerate the ball, much in the same way that a wheel which is already spinning
would accelerate upon making contact with the ground. Again, the most significant change
appears when the opponent attempts to return the ball (with a smooth, pimples inwards rubber).
Due to the topspin, the ball jumps upwards and the opponent is forced to compensate for the
topspin by adjusting the angle of his or her racket. This is commonly known as "closing the
racket". The speed limitation of the topspin stroke is minor compared to the backspin stroke.
This stroke is the predominant technique used in professional competition because it gives the
opponent less time to respond. In table tennis topspin is regarded as an offensive technique due
to increased ball speed, lower bio-mechanical efficiency and the pressure that it puts on the
opponent by reducing reaction time. (It is possible to play defensive topspin-lobs from far behind
the table, but only highly skilled players use this stroke with any tactical efficiency.) Topspin is
the least common type of spin to be found in service at the professional level, simply because it
is much easier to attack a top-spin ball that is not moving at high speed.

Sidespin[edit]
This type of spin is predominantly employed during service, wherein the contact angle of the
racket can be more easily varied. Unlike the two aforementioned techniques, sidespin causes

the ball to spin on an axis which is vertical, rather than horizontal. The axis of rotation is still
roughly perpendicular to the trajectory of the ball. In this circumstance, theMagnus effect will still
dictate the curvature of the ball to some degree. Another difference is that unlike backspin and
topspin, sidespin will have relatively very little effect on the bounce of the ball, much in the same
way that a spinning top would not travel left or right if its axis of rotation were exactly vertical.
This makes sidespin a useful weapon in service, because it is less easily recognized when
bouncing, and the ball "loses" less spin on the bounce. Sidespin can also be employed in
offensive rally strokes, often from a greater distance, as an adjunct to topspin or backspin. This
stroke is sometimes referred to as a "hook". The hook can even be used in some extreme cases
to circumvent the net when away from the table.

Corkspin[edit]
This type of spin is almost exclusively employed in service, but it is also used from time to time
in the lob at the professional level. Unlike any of the aforementioned techniques, corkspin
(sometimes referred to as "drill-spin") features a unique situation in which the axis of spin is
more or less parallel to the trajectory of the ball. This means that the Magnus effect will have
little to no effect on the trajectory of a cork-spun ball. Upon bouncing, the ball will dart right or
left, depending on the direction of the spin, making it very difficult to return. Although in theory
this type of spin produces the most obnoxious effects, it is not as strategically practical as
sidespin or backspin in terms of the limitations that it imposes upon the opponent during their
return. Aside from the initial direction change when bouncing, provided that it does not exceed
the reach of the opponent, a cork-spun ball is easily countered with topspin or backspin. Similar
to a backspin stroke, the corkspin stroke has a lower maximum velocity, simply due to the
contact angle of the racket when producing the stroke. To impart a spin on the ball which is
parallel to its trajectory, the racket must be swung more or less perpendicular to the trajectory of
the ball. This greatly limits the amount of forward momentum that can be transferred to the ball
by the racket. Corkspin is almost always mixed with another variety of spin, as it is less effective
and harder to produce on its own.

Competition[edit]
Competitive table tennis is popular in Asia and Europe and has been gaining attention in
the United States.[51] The most important international competitions are the World Table Tennis
Championships, the Table Tennis World Cup, the Olympics and the ITTF Pro Tour. Continental
competitions include the European Championships, Europe Top-12, theAsian
Championships and the Asian Games. Chinese players have won the men's World
Championships 60% of the time since 1959;[52] in the women's competition, Chinese players
have won all but three of the World Championships since 1971. [53] Other strong teams come

from East Asia and European countries, including Austria, Belarus,Germany, Hong
Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.[54]
There are also professional competitions at the clubs level. The national league of countries
like China (the China Table Tennis Super League), Germany, France, Belgium andAustria are
some highest level examples. There are also some important international club teams
competitions such as the European Champions League and its former competition,
the European Club Cup, where the top club teams from European countries compete.

Notable players[edit]
For a more comprehensive list, see List of table tennis players.
An official hall of fame exists at the ITTF Museum.[55] A Grand Slam is earned by a player who
wins singles crowns at Olympic Games, World Championships, and World Cup.[56]Jan-Ove
Waldner of Sweden first completed the grand slam at 1992 Olympic Games. Deng Yaping of
China is the first female recorded at the inaugural Women's World Cup in 1996.