Q&A for How to Play Ping Pong (Table Tennis)

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Can my opponent hit the ball in the air before it hits his side of the table?

Community Answer

Each player must only hit the ball after it has bounced on his side of the table. If the ball is hit before it has bounced, it is considered a "volley" and the point will be awarded to the opposition. .

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Question

Does the serve have to be diagonal?

Community Answer

If you are playing doubles, the serve must be diagonal. If you serve straight, you lose the point. In singles play, you can serve anywhere.

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Question

How do I get points in ping pong?

Community Answer

There are two ways to get points. You get a point when you hit the ball to your opponent, who fails to return the ball to you. You can also get a point when your opponent hits the ball out of bounds.

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Question

Is a player allowed to hit the ball twice before the other player does?

Community Answer

A player is only given one shot to return the ball and score a point. If you do hit the ball twice or more, it would not count and the score would be awarded to the opponent.

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Question

What happens if it's a tie at game point?

Community Answer

You have to score two consecutive points to win. If a game up to 11 is tied at 10, the game is extended to 12 points. If the score goes to 11-11, the game is extended to 13 points, and so on.

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Question

Can I change hands while playing?

Community Answer

Yes. You're allowed to, like in tennis. You could be left-handed and switch to right-handed, or vice-versa.

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Question

Do I have to stand in a professional position or is it optional?

Community Answer

You should stand however you feel most comfortable.

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Question

Am I allowed to take three serves?

Community Answer

It depends on whether or not you are in a competition or recreational play. In sanctioned play, you cannot, but if you're playing recreationally you can make your own rules.

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Question

Can I play with a paddle in each hand?

Community Answer

You cannot play with two paddles, you must use only one.

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Question

Does the ball need to be served diagonally when playing one on one?

Donagan

Top Answerer

No.

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Question

Is it legal to bounce the ball twice while serving?

Community Answer

No, you cannot bounce the ball twice.

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Question

How do you get a custom racket?

Community Answer

You can purchase rubber (different colors for each side), a table tennis blade (the wooden bat) and assemble it yourself. You can also custom order a racket in certain stores and online.

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Question

Can I lose on a serve? Example: If the opponent is up 10-9 and I serve off the table, does my opponent win?

Insanity

Community Answer

Yes, if your serve doesn't hit the table, and the ball goes out, you'll lose the point and your opponent will win. There is another way to lose the serve, as example, your serve hits the net before hitting the opponent's side. You will get another chance to serve and if it hits the net three times, you lose on the serve.

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Question

Can I smash spin when the opponent hits high?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Yes.

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Question

Who will get a score if I served the ball and then the ball hit the opponent's table twice?

Community Answer

If the ball hits the opponents' table twice without him/her hitting it back again, you get a point.

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Question

Can I play with a plastic and rubber paddle as well?

Community Answer

No. There is a rule that 80 percent of the usually wooden part of the paddle has to be real wood.

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Question

How can I return a spin service?

Community Answer

Wait for the ball to bounce. When it's in midair, return it with a SMASH. Move back before smashing.

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Question

When playing to 21, do I serve five times to the same person?

Community Answer

Yes, you do, although some rules are that each person only gets two serves and you play to eleven points.

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Question

If any piece of clothing/body touches the table, is it a foul?

Community Answer

Yes. Generally once the ball touches anything other than your bat, the point would go to the opposition.

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Question

If I hit the ball and it is going off, meaning my opponent will receive the point but he returns it, who will receive the point?

Community Answer

Assuming it is out of bounds, this means that the ball hasn't hit the table yet. As such, this would be a volley and you would receive the point.

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Question

Can I serve short in the game?

Community Answer

Yes. There are no rules restricting the length of serve, and at the professional level of play, short serves (that would bounce at least twice on the opponent's side if not struck) are in fact preferred for not allowing the opponent to attack easily with the return.

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Question

Can you give a diagramed explanation of who is serving to who in a doubles game? I'm confused about when to trade with my partner.

Community Answer

If your team got a chance to serve, you should decide who will serve first.If you are he first, serve twice diagonally and then change your side.

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Question

Can I put my fingers on the back of the paddle instead of closing them around the handle?

Community Answer

Yes, but if you do, it will ruin your rubber over time. This is known as rubber-burn.

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Question

What is the range for ping pong?

Community Answer

It's about 13 to 20 feet in normal air pressure or friction. For the game, you must play in the range area of table.

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Question

What do "love" and "all" mean in reference to table tennis scores?

Community Answer

"Love" means 0, while ''all'' means both of the player scores are the same.

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Question

How do we know who the winner is?

The Origami World

Community Answer

It depends on the points. The higher the point for the person, the person will be the winner. For official competitions, the points will be up to 11. But if the point is '10:10' it will be deuced to 12.

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Question

Does my co-worker have to let me have a turn if he plays two games in a row without me?

Varangian11

Community Answer

That is a decision that you and your co-worker have to make. There are no ITTF rules behind this.

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Question

What is a response to a backspin serve?

Gerard Tran

Community Answer

You can return a backspin service in a defensive and offensive manner. In a defensive manner, you can do a backhand or forehand push if the service is short, or, a forehand or backhand chop if the service is long. In an offensive manner, you can do a backhand or forehand flick/flip if the service is short, or, a backhand or forehand loop is the service is long.

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Question

A pen hold racquet has rubber one side and bare wood on the back. Is it legal in competition to return off the backhand using the bare wood face (the back of the racquet)?

Gerard Tran

Community Answer

Yes, it is legal but it isn't recommended as the ball will return significantly more slowly.

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Question

When you return the ball does the ball go over the net or bounce in my side then over the net?

Gerard Tran

Community Answer

The ball must go over or around the net when you return the ball. The only time you bounce the ball on your side first is when you serve.

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