| The
Net |
|
The net
is 183 cm long, projecting 15.25 cm outside the table each side and
15.25 in height throughout its length. It is dark green, surmounted
by white tape of specified width, with a uniform mesh so that no
ball passes through it. |
| |
| The
Ball |
| Earlier players
used rubber and cork balls. Today, it is made of celluloid or
similar plastic of white or yellow colour. |
| Diameter
|
: 37.2 to 38.2
mm |
| Weight |
: 2.4 to 2.53 gm |
| Surface |
: Matt (not shiny) white and yellow |
| |
| The Racket
|
| The size, shape
and weight are not strictly regulated but usually it has a roughly
circular/elliptical blade, with a diameter of 12.5-16.5 cm and
thickness of 5-9.5 mm. Weights vary between 115 gm to 200 gm. The
specifications for the material of the blade and the surface are as
follows: |
| 1. The surface
must be dark in colour. |
| 2. The blade
must be of wood. It may be covered with pimpled rubber applied
directly to the wood (in which case the maximum thickness is 2 mm)
or with pimpled rubber as the outside layer of a sandwich (maximum
thickness 4 mm), the middle layer being of sponge/ cellular
rubber. |
| 3. If the
pimples are outward, the covering is called a sandwich (if turned
inward, it is a reverse sandwich). |
| 4. The grip of
the wooden handle may be one of the two styles - the 'shakehand' or
the 'penholder' grip, the latter's disadvantage is that usually only
one side of the blade can be used, but once perfected it has the
tactical advantage of providing instant control for all shots used.
Asiatics have been found preferring this penholder grip.
|
| Space
Requirement |
| The space
requirement for championship play is an area 14 m long and 7 m wide,
and clear above (to the lowest light fixture) to 4 m. This area is
delineated by a canvas. The floor should be hard rigid and not
slippery or shiny. No daylight source is permitted, only artificial
lighting (without shadows) of prescribed intensity is allowed.
|
| Scoring
|
| 1. The services
must be delivered by striking the ball with the racket so that it
strikes first the server's court and then passing over the net
touches the receiver's court. At the moment of service, the server
must be behind the end line and between the extension of imaginary
side lines. |
|
2.
During service the free hand must be held flat, fingers together and
thumb free with the ball resting visibly on the palm. The ball must
be projected vertically upwards and allowed to fall before being
struck. |
| 3. Scoring is
very simple. Each player delivers five services. The loss to a
server is a gain to his opponent. The first player or pair to reach
21 points wins the game. At "20-all" the service alternates after
each point till a 2-point lead is established by a competitor or
pair. Best of five or even best of three games decide the match.
|
| 4. Each player
delivers five services, except at 20-all when the service alternates
after each point. In doubles, service must always be from server's
right hand half court, the return may be anywhere on the opposing
court. The last receiver of service in doubles next serves to the
last server's partner. |
| 5. In doubles,
if there are two pairs AB and XY, the order of striking must be AXBY
or YBXA, depending to whom the partner "X" and "Y" select to serve
first. |
| 6. The first
player or pair to reach 21 points wins the game unless the score is
20-all, when a 2-point lead is required to win the game. Best of
five or even best of three decide the match. Service, as well as
sequence of receiving in a doubles game, are changed after each
game, and also at the half way stage (score 10) in a deciding game.
|
7. To avoid the
problem of prolonged unnecessary rallies the rule has been amended.
The rule states that if a game remains unfinished after 15 minutes,
the left over part of the match will proceed as per "expedite
system". In this system, the service alternates point by point and
the server is obliged to win each rally in 13 strokes (including his
service) or else forfeit the point to his opponent.
(Courtesy - The Hinduja Sports Foundation)
|
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