Module 3 Table Tennis

Physical Education and Health: Individual and Dual Sports
1
Table Tennis
Table Tennis
At the end of the module, the student will be able to:

1. Determine the origin and development of table tennis
2. Identify the different facilities and equipment used in playing table tennis
3. Identify the fundamental skills and techniques in playing table tennis
Origin and Development

Although many countries have played the game since the 1800s, no one can
really claim the origin of table tennis. Alongside this, it had a brief popularity
throughout the United States.
Table Tennis is a common sport that could be played inside the gymnasium,
but this can also be played outside or in any available room. This game can be
played in singles or doubles. The objective of the game is to hit/paddle the
ball over the net and return it to the opponent’s court. Each player is given
five consecutive times to start the game.
Table Tennis is a relatively new sport. The exact date of its origin is not
definitely known. However, it is generally agreed that it started in about
1890 as a game called ping pong or whiff-whaff.
It had a brief popular following throughout America and then subsided as a
sport.
In 1921, it was revised to the extent that a spot was provided for a table in
the RUMPUS room of almost every room. In 1926, the International Table
Tennis Federation was established in Berlin. It assumed the responsibility of
promoting and developing the game. It is also the duty of ITTF to formulate
rules and regulations of the game through its technical committee. In 1933,
the United States Table Tennis Association was established. International
competitions at the early years of the game were dominated by European
countries, like Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
In the Philippines, the governing body for table tennis is the Table Tennis
Association of the Philippines (TATAP) which is affiliated with ITTF and it
aims to promote the games through a series of competitions from local to
international level. It is responsible for identifying Filipino players who will
be sent for international competitions representing the country. It is also fast
becoming a popular sport in the Philippines. It is now included as one of the
events in athletic sports meet.
Course Module
Facilities
The Table
The game is being played in a rectangular table made of suitable materials
such as plywood with ¾ to 1 inch in thick measuring nine feet (2.74 m) in
length and five feet (1.52 m) in width and it is elevated at the height of 30
inches from the floor. The table is being divided by a net placed at the center,
parallel to the width of the table at the height of six (6) inches and a length of
six (6) feet attached to the post at the side of the table protruding six inches
on both sides. The length of the table is divided by a line ¾ in thickness, used
for service in the doubles games.
Figure 1. Table Tennis table. Retrieved from

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Table_Tennis_the_table.jpg by Dajes13 on March 10, 2017
The Net
Light in texture and stretched across the center of the table and attached to
the outside by vertical standards. The posts supporting the net, attached to
the top and the bottom, must be 15.25cm high and the top of the net, along
with its whole length is the same length (15.25cm) above the playing surface.
The Paddle or Racket (Blade)

The racket or paddle, of at least 85% thickness of natural wood, with rubber
faced of different colors (black and any light color except white) is mandated
by the rules. The striking surface of the racket must be covered with a rubber
with the pimpled part facing inward or outward. A single layer of cellular
(sponge) rubber may be located underneath the rubber surface.
3
Table Tennis
Table tennis paddle/racket. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/tennis-sport-ping-pong-

ball-1141703/ on April 2, 2018
The Ball
The ball is small, celluloid, spherical, white or orange in color, 40mm in
diameter and 2.7g in weight. It is fragile but quite hard to break unless
stepped on. The ITTF approved standard ball has a uniform bounce. If it is
dropped from the height of 12 inches (30.5 cm) on a plywood table, it should
bounce up to 8 ¾ to 9 ¾ inches (22-25 cm).
Table tennis balls. Image by Santeri Viinamäki. Retrieved from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stiga_Cup_table_tennis_balls.jpg on March 13, 2017
Fundamental Skills and Techniques

The Grip
There are several ways in holding the racket in such a way as it depends on
the most comfortable manner for the players. The player should know which
Course Module
grip he/she is most comfortable with as it will affect how he/she controls the
shot.
There are two ways of holding the racket: the pen hold and the handshake
or orthodox grip.
 Handshake grip/orthodox grip – the short handle of the racket is
gripped very closely to the blade, as if to shake hands with the racket.
The forefinger is positioned behind the blade for support. This grip is
also known as the Western grip as it is mostly used by players from
Western countries.
Right side view of the handshake/shake hands grip. Image by S.Möller. Retrieved from:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TT-Shakehand_RH.jpg on March 10, 2017
 Pen hold grip – The forefinger and thumb reach over the shoulders of
the blade, with the other fingers spread over the back. Because the
same blade surface is used for all shots, the grip position remains
unchanged. This grip is commonly used by Japanese, Chinese and
Korean players.
The Penhold grip. Image by Ian Lamberson. Retrieved from:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Penholder.JPG on March 10, 2017
The Serve (Strokes)

Push Shot
The common service done by beginners. Ball resting on the palm of the free
hand and toss it around six or more inches in height, letting it bounce on the
5
Table Tennis
table side of the server before passing by the net and bounce in the receiver’s
side of the table.
Top Spin Serve
A main offensive stroke. The ball is put into play by projecting it upward
from the palm of the hand. The swing of the racket is done forward and
upward forming an arc in the swinging action of hitting the ball.
Back Spin (Chop Stroke)
A defensive stroke where the ball is struck with a downward and forward
motion with a short chopping motion. The player should adjust the angle of
the racket to find the most effective spin.
The Shots
Drop Shot
Used for a sudden short return of the ball which just drops over the net.
Smash Shot
Used rarely but effectively. This is a vicious forward and downward swing.
This uses a large backswing and swift acceleration to make the ball’s speed as
fast as possible. The point of a smash shot is that the ball travels to the
opposite end of the court fast that the opponent cannot return it.
The Footwork and Stance

Correct stance and footwork is needed in playing the game. One must know
the proper position of the body in order to respond correctly to the situation
that can be created by the opponent.
A good stance in serving the ball is that the shoulder of the non-racket hand
is parallel to the net in the forehand position. The player must be 1 to 2 feet
directly behind the center of the court. In a standing position, the feet are
slightly apart with the left foot slightly put forward. For reference, the correct
stance is in the first image below.
For the receiving player, he/she must stand 2 to 2 ½ feet directly behind the
center line of the table. The feet must be apart, with the knees slightly bent
and the body inclining forward. In the next turn, the player must face the ball
as he/she plays before returning to the middle of the court quickly after
shooting. The correct receiving stance is in the second image below.
Course Module
Preparation for a forehand high toss serve. Photo retrieved from:
https://www.allabouttabletennis.com/images/high-toss-1.jpg on February 25, 2017
Receiving stance. Photo retrieved from: https://www.experttabletennis.com/table-tennis-

stance-and-ready-position/ on February 14, 2017
References:
Muyot, Fritzie Marie, et.al. Soaring with MAPEH (with KPUP Learning Guide).
Quezon City: Bright House Publishing. 2015
The International Table Tennis Federation Handbook. Retrieved from
https://d3mjm6zw6cr45s.cloudfront.net/2018/01/2018ITTFHandbo
ok.pdf on April 5, 2018
Strokes. Retrieved from:
http://www.talktabletennis.co.uk/guides/table_tennis_strokes.html
on April 5, 2018
7
Table Tennis
Defensive and Offensive Strokes in Table Tennis. Retrieved from:

https://gopherlink.umn.edu/news/96058 on April 5, 2018
Basic Techniques in Table Tennis.
https://www.megaspin.net/info/basic.asp#GETSTART. Accessed on
April 5, 2018
Basic Play Tips in Table Tennis. Retrieved from;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaGeI4Dvgo on April 8, 2018
The History of Table Tennis (video). Retrieved from:
https://www.allabouttabletennis.com/history-of-table-tennis.html on
April 8, 2018
Table Tennis Racket History (video). Retrieved from:
https://www.allabouttabletennis.com/table-tennis-racket-
history.html on April 10, 2018
Course Module

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Physical Education and Health: Individual and Dual Sports

At the end of the module, the student will be able to:

Origin and Development

Figure 1. Table Tennis table. Retrieved from

The Paddle or Racket (Blade)

Table tennis paddle/racket. Retrieved from: https://pixabay.com/en/tennis-sport-ping-pong-

Table tennis balls. Image by Santeri Viinamäki. Retrieved from:

Fundamental Skills and Techniques

The Penhold grip. Image by Ian Lamberson. Retrieved from:

The Serve (Strokes)

The Footwork and Stance

Receiving stance. Photo retrieved from: https://www.experttabletennis.com/table-tennis-

Defensive and Offensive Strokes in Table Tennis. Retrieved from:

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