CT Lower Naugatuck Vally Table Tennis Center

The game is called table tennis.

Ping pong is an old manufacture’s name and has an association with basement play.

The instrument used to hit the ball is called a racket or bat, not a paddle.

When you hit the ball very hard and fast, it is a kill or a smash, not a spike.

A racket must have one side red and one side black. Any other color is illegal.

If one side of your racket is wood only, you can not use it to strike the ball.

It must be colored the opposite from the other, red or black.

A racket with no rubber on it is called a blade.

There are over 1150 types of rubber.

Most players chose the one that best suits their game.

The table is nine feet long and five feet wide.

The net is six feet wide and divides the table into two equal halves.

It is six inches high.

If a serve hits the net and hits your opponent’s side, it is a let and taken over.

It can be taken over an infinite amount of times as long as it hits your side once and then your opponent’s side.

The service is good if it hits your opponent’s side twice, however the server wins the point.

If the ball hits any part of the net, except on the serve, and then hits your opponent’s side, it is a good shot.

This also includes any part of the net bracket.

The ball can go over, around or under the net and is a good rally as long as it hits your opponent’s side of the table.

A rally is a point that is played.

A block is a shot that is hit basically hit with your racket held still.

There are usually three types of grips.

Shake hands, penhold and Seemiller.

Most players now use the shake hands grip because it is best for offensive play.

A push is a ball hit with under spin or back spin while at the table.

A chop is a ball hit with greater under spin hit approximately three or more feet off the table.

A half volley is a shot similar to a block only the ball is hit a few inches after it bounces.

The ball most time is hit at the top of the bounce.

If a ball from someone else’s court enters your court, you should, call a let and retrieve

the ball and get it back to the table of the players whose ball it is.

Also if your ball enters someone else’s court, you should, wait for them to retrieve it and get it back to you.

Never walk into a player’s court while a rally is being played.

The size of the ball is 40 millimeters in diameter, and is either white or orange.

Each player serves two times.

Games are played until a player’s scores reaches 11 and the player has at least two more points

 than their opponent does.

If you do not have a two-point lead, each player serves only once until they win with a two-point lead.

If there is an error where one player serves out of turn, the points count and you correct the service.

If there is a disagreement, do not continue to play, get the Referee to correct the issue.

Remember you have every right as a world champion.

I can not stress enough to you to learn the rules.

This will prove to be a big advantage in tournament play.

Our club has a very good international umpire that knows every rule. (Roman Tinyszin)

Each player has one time out per match.

Use yours wisely.

You may need to talk to your coach or just take a minute to plan your strategy.

You also may just want to break the momentum of your opponent's game if he wins several points in a row.

Learn and use the proper strokes.

It may seem awkward at first but rest assured it is imperative that you do so.

Show good sportsmanship for other players to see, on and off the court.

Do not walk into their courts; don’t make loud noises or anything to distract them

while practicing or engaged in match play.

Have respect for equipment.

Do not kick barriers, don’t hit your racket on the table or throw anything.

The court size should be at least 40 feet long and by 20 feet wide.

In higher level matches it is usually larger.

Most tournaments have a slightly smaller size to allow more tables.

The ball preferred by most players is the Nittaku 3 star premium.

Although there are other quality balls, this is one of the better ones.

A quality ball is determined by the true roundness.

One can spin it like a top and check for it wobbling.

It should have no soft spots and bounce approximately 9 inches when dropped from a 12-inch height.

These consistencies will most always give a true bounce.

Always check your opponent’s rubber to see what type it is.

You should know the type of rubber your opponent is using because there is a wide

variation in the types of rubber.

You have to react to them differently.

Before you play a wheelchair player, talk to an umpire about the different rules that apply.

Talking to your opponent is fine to.

The great majority of table tennis players are very friendly and helpful.

Any questions you have during and before a match contact an umpire.

Doubles play can be confusing.

A couple of things to remember are to make sure you change positions after you serve.

For example, Player A serves to Player X for the complete game.

Game two, the team that served second in the first game, serves first in the second game.

The receiver in the second game is the opposite player that the server served to in the first game.

In doubles and singles, the players switch sides in the deciding game of the match so

 that all players have the opportunity, to play the same number of points on both sides.

You switch when the first player or team reaches five points.

Always clean your racket after you use it for practice or match play.

This will avoid dirt, sweat and dust from attacking the rubber.

It is best to cover your racket with a sheet of protective plastic or clean plastic bag and keep it in a case.

The essentials that you should have in your bag - racket case to hold your racket, a few balls, a towel, a sponge,

shirts if you wish a change out of a wet one after play.

It is illegal to clean your racket with any type of chemical no matter how mild it may be.

At the end of the day you may want to use a cleaner as long as the cleaner can not be detected.

Using volatile glue to glue your rubber is also illegal.

USATT sanctioned three star tournaments and higher tournaments have racket testing and your failed racket

 can be confiscated for that entire day of the tournament.

One should always have two similar rackets when playing in a tournament.

This is for a variety of reasons such as if one accidentally breaks, if the rubber gets accidentally damaged,

 if the Referee deems it illegal.

The rubber on your racket must have the characteristics of the type of rubber that it is.

For example, if you have Mark V, it must play like Mark V is supposed to.

In cases it can be so worn out that the spin and speed are extremely different than new rubber.

This is a discretionary call by the Referee and can not be negotiated.