Facts/Trivia/Information

2.6 THE SERVICE

2.6.1 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server’s stationary free hand.
2.6.2 The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck.
2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her court and then touches directly the receiver’s court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.
2.6.4 From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server’s end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry.
2.6.5 As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net. The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite upward extension.
2.6.6 It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire can be satisfied that he or she complies with the requirements of the Laws, and either may decide that a service is incorrect.
2.6.6.1 If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the legality of a service he or she may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the server; but any subsequent service by that player or his or her doubles partner which is not clearly legal shall be considered incorrect.
2.6.7 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.

I’ve decided that while the club is closed, I’d post some sections of the full USATT/ITTF rule book. This first post is basic definitions of a table tennis match. My only changes will be to add alternate measurements where appropriate.

2.5 DEFINITIONS

2.5.1 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.
2.5.2 The ball is in play 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.
2.5.3 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
2.5.4 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.
2.5.5 The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.
2.5.6 The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket; the free arm is the arm of the free hand.
2.5.7 A player strikes the ball if he or she touches it in play with his or her racket, held in the hand, or with his or her racket hand below the wrist.
2.5.8 A player obstructs the ball if he or she, or anything he or she wears or carries, touches it in play when it is above or travelling towards the playing surface, not having touched his or her court since last being struck by his or her opponent.
2.5.9 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.
2.5.10 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
2.5.11 The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.
2.5.12 The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain decisions.
2.5.13 Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he or she was wearing or carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.
2.5.14 The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions

Yes, there is really is a World Table Tennins Day!

Like a lot of kids in the pre-internet world, I collected stamps. I’m in the process of finally giving my collection away and discovered this Czech stamp. That got me wondering how many table tennis-related stamps are out there in the world. Turns out there are a lot.

In a sorta connected theme, I want to point out that I added the ability to read this site in multiple languages – look for flags at bottom of the site. If there are any additional languages you feel should be added, please post a comment.

A new robot enters…

Watch Google’s Ping-Pong robot pull off a 340-hit rally

I realize these type of stories appear on a frequent basis, but it is always a good reminder.

“I’m a Longevity Doctor, and I Always Recommend This Game for a Longer, Healthier Life”

I’ve posted similar articles before, but this is a good collection of health advantages of ping pong.

A couple years ago, I posted a comparison of the weight of table tennis balls. Now that we have a new generation of balls, I figured I’d generate a new comparison. These are the four most recent balls I’ve purchased. I used a professional scale to weigh two balls of each type and find the mean.

First, the ITTF requirements

The official rules state that the ball shall weigh 2.7g, but any weight between 2.67 and 2.77g is acceptable for any one ball. No more than 1 ball out of the 24 sampled may be outside this range. The sample mean must be between 2.69 and 2.76g.

Second, the data

My data is based on weighing 2 balls of each variety, then doing a mean. So, yes, I have a smaller quantity sample (ITTF requirements are based on 24 balls), but I’m guessing that my random two balls measurement is representative. All balls were within the mean, so the weight difference between the balls is pretty damn small. All 40+.

Results

Nittaku 40+ Premium White
2.714g

Nittaku 40+ Orange Nexcel
2.761g

Butterfly R40+
2.725g

DHS DJ40+
2.750g

Not really a big difference, but once again, the Nittaku 40+ Premium are the lightest. Weight isn’t the only variable that makes a great ball, but it is the only one I can measure.