Any ping pong players here?

Grim/Don · Sep 11, 2007

My son and I have a table set up in the garage and have been playing about an hour a night. He's ALL about ping pong now (he's soon to be 10); so he check out the Youtube video's.

I was confused about the 'current' serving style... with the elbow bent and the back to the table. It looks like a simple backspin serve. Is there more to it than that? I'm guessing it's to hide the ball as long as possible from the opponent, but it looks like it more trouble then it's worth...

Haze · Sep 11, 2007

I just spent 3 weeks visiting my bro. in Thailand, i never want to hear the words "ping pong" again !!! LOL

ziptrickhead · Sep 11, 2007

You're right. Front what I understand its to hide the serve. Now just because its used for simple backspin doesnt mean that the server cant sneak a little something sneaky in at the end. A little different flick of the wrist and if you expect backspin youll be screwed.

Don_Luis · Sep 11, 2007

I have been a "serious" player for a while though the last tournament I played was a senior (40+) event in 1993, I am aware of current rules and can give some comments...

It seems that the ITTF has always tried to prevent the serve from being too much of an advantage but players keep finding ways to make it complicated for the receiver. When people were throwing the ball against the racket or rotating the ball between racket and free hand, they made it a rule to throw the ball upwards without spin and hit it on the way down. When they were putting different kind of rubber on each side of the racket (one sticky, one slippery), they made it a rule to have different color on each side. When they were using arm and body or serving under the leg to hide the ball, they made the current rule (bold is mine):

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 court
and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, 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 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.

You can download the current Table Tennis laws from the ITTF site or the USA version from the USATT site (they may be worded differently but amount to the same thing).

IMHO putting the back against the table does not help in hiding the ball, it may help some players to get momentum when striking the ball to get spin but I feel that as they say: "it's all in the wrist". Some players are very good at hiding the type of spin even without blocking the view, In my good days I could do a fine job making a topspin serve look like a back spin motion, sort of like pulling the hand backwards and up under the ball at the end of the serve (it's hard to describe with words, and I use a penhold grip, it wouldn't be the same with a shakehand grip).

I suggest that you look for a local club and take your son so that he can play with others at different levels and get training from a pro. Also make sure that he has good quality (but not necessarily expensive) ITTF approved equipment.

You may want to check out the articles about Table Tennis at Wikipedia and About.com.

Luis

Grim/Don · Sep 11, 2007

Don_Luis said:
I have been a "serious" player for a while though the last tournament I played was a senior (40+) event in 1993, I am aware of current rules and can give some comments...

It seems that the ITTF has always tried to prevent the serve from being too much of an advantage but players keep finding ways to make it complicated for the receiver. When people were throwing the ball against the racket or rotating the ball between racket and free hand, they made it a rule to throw the ball upwards without spin and hit it on the way down. When they were putting different kind of rubber on each side of the racket (one sticky, one slippery), they made it a rule to have different color on each side. When they were using arm and body or serving under the leg to hide the ball, they made the current rule (bold is mine): Luis

I saw a teacher in high school (20+ years ago) serving with the ball in the palm of his hand and asked him about it. After he explained that he was trying to stay legal, I've adopted that style. I've been working with my son on it, but it's one of the tougher things for him.

Don_Luis said:
You can download the current Table Tennis laws from the ITTF site or the USA version from the USATT site (they may be worded differently but amount to the same thing).

IMHO putting the back against the table does not help in hiding the ball, it may help some players to get momentum when striking the ball to get spin but I feel that as they say: "it's all in the wrist". Some players are very good at hiding the type of spin even without blocking the view, In my good days I could do a fine job making a topspin serve look like a back spin motion, sort of like pulling the hand backwards and up under the ball at the end of the serve (it's hard to describe with words, and I use a penhold grip, it wouldn't be the same with a shakehand grip). Luis

I also use a pen hand grip. I've just recently found that I can slide my hand to the end of the handle, and I don't get as many "finger" shots with my backhand. I've tried the "under-the-armpit serve" and I can't see a lot of advantages. Don Luis, next time you're in Kansas City, you'll have to show it to me!

Don_Luis said:
I suggest that you look for a local club and take your son so that he can play with others at different levels and get training from a pro. Also make sure that he has good quality (but not necessarily expensive) ITTF approved equipment.

You may want to check out the articles about Table Tennis at Wikipedia and About.com.
Luis

We've got an approved table (but want to get a better one) and approved paddles & balls. I did a Google search and there doesn't look like there's anything close.

There is a club I saw listed that meets at a church I'm going to call tomorrow. Thanks for your response.

trkJr · Sep 12, 2007

Don_Luis said:
I suggest that you look for a local club and take your son so that he can play with others at different levels and get training from a pro. Also make sure that he has good quality (but not necessarily expensive) ITTF approved equipment.

+1 on finding a local club to go to with your son. you'll find a wide variety of skill levels which will challenge you both. Also might make a few friends, as TT players tend to be a good group of folks, IMO.

Grappler1911 · Sep 12, 2007

I just saw that new ping Pong movie "Balls Of Fury"
Man,it was funny as hell.

Don_Luis · Sep 12, 2007

...I also use a pen hand grip. I've just recently found that I can slide my hand to the end of the handle, and I don't get as many "finger" shots with my backhand. I've tried the "under-the-armpit serve" and I can't see a lot of advantages. Don Luis, next time you're in Kansas City, you'll have to show it to me!...

I have never used the reverse penhold backhand, it was really not known until Liu Guoliang started using it in the mid 90's, by then I had stopped playing tournaments, my style (and grip) is more like the old block and smash Chinese style with short pips rubber on only one side of the paddle.

Serving under the armpit has been illegal for several years, when done right it makes it hard to guess what kind of spin is on the ball. Now you have to leave the ball visible to the opponent at all times and remove your arm immediately after the toss up. Personally I do think that it helps the game.

Years ago I would visit the USA often but never since my retirement, my visa and passport have expired and I have not taken the time to renew them. I've never been to Kansas City.

Practice, learn, and above all have fun.

Luis

Picture: My old Stiga paddle and two gold medals (men's singles and doubles) from that tournament in 1993.

Click to enlarge

Grim/Don · Sep 13, 2007

Thank you for sharing your information with me, and congratulations on the gold medals!!

Don_Luis said:
I have never used the reverse penhold backhand, it was really not known until Liu Guoliang started using it in the mid 90's, by then I had stopped playing tournaments, my style (and grip) is more like the old block and smash Chinese style with short pips rubber on only one side of the paddle.

Serving under the armpit has been illegal for several years, when done right it makes it hard to guess what kind of spin is on the ball. Now you have to leave the ball visible to the opponent at all times and remove your arm immediately after the toss up. Personally I do think that it helps the game.

Years ago I would visit the USA often but never since my retirement, my visa and passport have expired and I have not taken the time to renew them. I've never been to Kansas City.

Practice, learn, and above all have fun.

Luis

Picture: My old Stiga paddle and two gold medals (men's singles and doubles) from that tournament in 1993.

Click to enlarge