Table Tennis
Where: There is one table in the Student Union in Fanjeaux Hall, paddles and balls provided at site. There are two tables in the Conlan Center Gym. Click here for a map of campus. Click here to visit the Dominican Table Tennis Club website.
When: Anytime day or night in the Student Union, or during Conlan Center hours of operation. Click here for regular Conlan business hours.
General Table Tennis Rules:
- The Playing Area: The playing surface shall not include the sides of the tabletop. The center line shall be regarded as part of each half-court.
- The Game: A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 21 points unless both players or pairs score 20 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points. A match shall consist of the best of 5 games.
- Starting the Match: The winner of a coin toss shall have choice of serving or receiving. The loser of the toss shall have the remaining choice. The players or pairs will alternate serve and side each game.
- The Service
- Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server’s stationary free hand.
- 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.
- As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so it touches first his/her 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 of the server and receiver.
- From the start of the 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 any part of the body or clothing of the server or his/her doubles partner.
- In order for the serve to be legal, it cannot bounce twice on the receiver’s court.
- A let shall be called during the service if the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner. There is no limit on how many lets may occur successively.
- The Return: The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent’s court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.
- The Order of Play
- Singles: In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall make a good return.
- Doubles: The server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return, and so on.
- Scoring Points: Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point: a) If the opponent fails to make a good service.
- If the opponent fails to make a good return.
- If the ball passes beyond the end line without touching the court, after being struck by the opponent.
- If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries moves the playing surface.
- If the opponent or anything the opponent wears or carries touches the net assembly.
- If the opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface.
- If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of sequence.
- After each set of 5 points have been scored, the receiving player (or pair) shall become the serving player (or pair) unless both players (or pairs) score 20 points, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
- During Play: A player obstructs the ball if he/she, or anything he/she wears or carries, touches it in play when it is above or traveling towards the playing surface and has not passed beyond his/her end line, not having touched his/her court since last being struck by his/her opponent.
- A player must allow the ball to bounce before making a play on it.
- If any disagreement occurs in regard to a point, a game, or any other play situation, is shall be mutually agreed by all players in the game that the point or situation be played over immediately.
