Getting The Basics Right
By design or default, an alarmingly high number of ping pong players go through their first few years (or more!) in the game using at least one, if not a lot more, improper rule or procedure in their play.
There are a few key starting points to consider, both in terms of the physical environment and the discourse of the game.
- An obvious if not overlooked starting point is the table itself: international standards call for the table to be 9 feet x 5 feet x 30 inches. It’s possible that lower quality tables may deviate from these measurements so it is important to make sure you’re starting with the right one.
- The ball you play with is another fundamental part of the game – again, many places not specializing in sports material will sell aberrant equipment, so ensure your ping pong balls meet regulations. Those would necessitate the ball being made of celluloid, with a 40 mm diameter and a weight of 2.7 grams.
- Scoring and the length of the game is another thing many people do a bit differently than international rules dictate. Players rally for serve; the winner of that point then takes five serves starting with the score at 0-0. After that, the other player takes five, and then the initial server takes another five, and so on.
- Games are played up to 11 points, although many people and places use 21 points as a complete game. In formal tournament play, preliminary games are best of five and championship games are best of seven.
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