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Table tennis vocabulary |Table Tennis Terms
Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a fast-paced and exhilarating sport that requires agility, precision, and quick reflexes. As a passionate player and enthusiast of this game, I have come to appreciate the unique vocabulary that surrounds the world of table tennis. From the technical terms used to describe shots and strategies to the lingo exchanged between players during intense matches, the table tennis vocabulary adds an extra layer of excitement and understanding to the sport. In this article, I will delve into the fascinating lexicon of table tennis, exploring the terminology that enhances our appreciation of this dynamic and captivating game
Table Tennis Terms
- Anti-topspin – a rubber type that deactivates spin and speed, returning a “dead” ball
- Backhand – a stroke done directly in front of the body, with the racket turned so that the back of the hand faces the opponent
- Backspin – a type of spin where, if struck with a normal racket position, the ball would not make it over the net
- Block – a defensive shot done mostly against loops and smashes, where the racket is in a closed position to keep the ball on the table
- Chop – a defensive shot that carries a tremendous amount of backspin
- Closed – a racket angle that allows the top of the ball to be struck
- Dead ball – a ball returned without any spin. Very difficult to execute, read, and return
- Doubles – a format in table tennis where two people play on each side and must alternate turns at striking the ball
- Drive – an offensive shot used mostly as a setup or in rallies, where the racket is in a normal position and the ball is struck at a medium pace
- Drop shot – a surprise shot where the ball is placed precisely near the net
- Expedite rule – after a time limit (10 minutes) has expired during a single game, the receiver automatically wins the point if he/she returns the ball successfully 13 times in a row. This forces the server to change his rallying tactics.
- Forehand – a stroke done to the right-front (for right-handers) of the body, with the racket in a normal position (palm of hand facing opponent)
- International Table Tennis Federation – the international governing body for the sport of table tennis
- Inverted – See pips-in
- Let – a stoppage of play as a result of a serve hitting the net or interference from outside the playing court
- Lob – a defensive shot used against high-speed balls, where the ball (usually with unpredictable spin) is returned very high in the air, causing difficulty in timing and technique
- Long pips – a rubber type whose surface consists of fairly long pimples. Produces unpredictable spin.
- Loop – an offensive shot that carries a tremendous amount of topspin
- Match – a competition format with the winner winning two of three or three of five games
- Medium-long – a serve whose second bounce, given the opportunity, would bounce near the very end or just off the table. Difficult because the opponent cannot execute a good attacking stroke
- Open – a racket angle that allows the bottom of the ball to be struck
- Penhold – a grip where the racket is held exactly as it sounds, with the racket handle held straight up and down
- Pips-in – a rubber type whose surface is smooth yet gripping. Produces much spin and in many cases better speed. Also known as inverted rubber
- Pips-out – a rubber type whose surface consists of many tiny pimples. Produces much control and speed, but little spin
- Push – a defensive shot used to successfully return backspin shots, where the racket is open to lift the backspin over the net
- Receive – return of service, usually done tactically to set up an attack
- Seemiller – Name of 5 time US champion Dan Seemiller. Also the name of a table tennis grip
- Serve – the beginning of a point where one player strikes the ball after tossing it. Usually used tactically to set up a strong attack
- Set – one game to 11 points in a match
- Shakehand – a grip where the racket is held exactly as it sounds but with the middle, ring, and pinky fingers wrapped around the handle
- Short – a serve that, given the opportunity, would bounce at least twice on the table. Difficult because the opponent cannot execute a good attacking stroke
- Sidespin – a type of spin where, if struck with a normal racket position, the ball would travel either to the right or left without landing on the table
- Skunk – an informal rule in table tennis that says that a player wins a game at a score of 7-0 or 11-1
- Smash – an offensive, high-speed shot used against high balls, where the racket is in a normal position to generate the most speed possible. Also called a kill
- Topspin – a type of spin where, if struck with a normal racket position, the ball would travel over the opposite side of the table without hitting the surface