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Q: The rules appear to be unclear on the topic of what happens if in the course of a rally, one player makes a shot which contacts the opponent's paddle directly instead of the table surface.
In some cases, the point could clearly be 'over' -- the shot may have been a wild looping shot well over the table which the opponent is merely trying to track down with her paddle before it goes into the crowd. However, in other cases, the opponent may be attempting to strike the ball right after its bounce, but the ball's spin or speed or the player's miscalculation could cause the paddle to be struck first.
I've been unable to get a clear sense from the rules, and our local house rules are that any contact of the paddle is deemed a fair strike, even if the surface has not been touched, and even if the shot would in fact have never struck the surface.
Ruling?

- Submitted by Felix Gallo on Aug 7th, 1996

A: The rules are very clear about your question. It all comes down to the rule No. 2.10.1.5 which defines that a player scores a point if his opponent obstructs the ball. According to the definition NO. 2.5.8, a player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play (that is anytime from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until the rally is decided as a let or a point) when it has not passed over the playing surface or his end line, not having touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.
In other words, you must not volley the ball above the playing surface, or volley a ball before it passes your end line, if it had not passed over the playing surface. For example, if your opponent is positioned at his side of the table and makes a return traveling along that side of the table, you must not volley the ball before it passes your end line. This would be "obstructing" the ball in play, and your opponent would score a point, even though without your obstructing the ball the ball would never have a chance to hit your side of the table.

- Answered by Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire