$92,000 U.S. Open 
& ITTF Pro Tour
Fort Lauderdale, Florida • July 3-8, 2001

Spectator's Guide to Table Tennis

General Rules

SCORING

The player, or doubles team, who first scores 21 points wins the game.  However, you must win by two points so a game could go on longer before being decided.  A match is usually the best two out of three games. International and some championship matches are often best three out of five games.

  HOW TO WIN A POINT

•     If your opponent fails to return your shot.  Your shot can hit the boundary lines (white lines) on your opponent’s side or even the edge of the table.

•     If when attempting to serve or make a return, your opponent misses the ball or serves illegally.

•     If your opponent hits the ball into the net and it comes back to his/her side of the table.

•     If your opponent hits the ball wide or too far so the first bounce goes off the end or side of the table.

•     If your opponent hits the ball before it bounces on his/her side of the table.  No volleying is allowed.

•     If the ball bounces twice on your opponent’s side of the table before he/she hits it.

•     If your opponent moves the table or touches the net during play.

Common Terms

Attacker - A type of player who attempts to loop or smash as many balls as possible, overpowering an opponent.

Blade - A paddle or racquet without any covering.

Block - Used to return an attack shot.  The racquet is held in front of the ball with little movement before contact.

Chop - Used to create underspin.  The shot is executed by slicing underneath and grazing the bottom of the ball.

Defender - This player pushes, chops, blocks, and tries to force his/her opponent into making a mistake.  Defenders rely on their ability to return every ball and wearing down an opponent.

Third Ball Attack - Begins with a serve, an opponent’s return, and an attack of the opponent’s return.

Fifth Ball Attack - Begins with a serve, an opponent’s return, a loop or strategically placed drive, an opponent’s return, and ends with a point-winning put away.

Hit - A slower version of a smash.

Let - A rally in which play stops and the point is not scored.

Let Serve - When the serve hits the net and lands on the opponent’s side.  Players serve again. It is often incorrectly called a net serve.

Loop - A long sweeping upward stroke that just grazes the top half of the ball to create tremendous topspin.  A good loop goes nearly straight up if it strikes a vertical paddle, and is used either to set up a smash or as a putaway shot itself.

Penhold - This grip gives the player the best forehand, but a weaker backhand.  Popular in Asia, the racquet is held as if you were holding a pen, with the racquet tip pointing mostly downward.

Pips In - A smooth rubber surface on the racquet face.

Pips Out - A rubber surface on the racquet covered with bumps or dimples.

Rally - When the ball is in play.

Smash - The fastest shot in table tennis and almost impossible to return, a smash averages 60 mph and reaches upwards of 100 mph.

Serve - Used to put the ball into play.  Each player alternately serves five points until a player scores 21 points. If both players score 20 points, the game shall be won by the first player scoring subsequently 2 points more. 

Shakehands - The most popular grip in the world, it is held by basically shaking hands with the racquet.  This grip gives a player the best balance of forehand and backhand shots.

Table - Nine feet in length and five feet in width.  It is supported so that the upper surface, termed the playing surface, is lying on a horizontal plane two feet, six inches above the floor.

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