Steve Long

My "Long Memories" site

Steve Long

Table Tennis (Ping Pong)

USATT Rules (key basics listed below)

Cincinnati Table Tennis Club

Tuesday 6:00PM to 9:00PM College Hill 3 $5 Per Night 1
Thursday 6:00PM to 9:00PM College Hill3 $5 Per Night 1
Friday 5:30PM to 8:30PM Blue Ash Closed due to COVID 2
Saturday 9:00AM to Noon College Hill3 Free
Sunday 12:30PM to 3:30PM Blue Ash Closed due to COVID 2

USATT Key Rules

Scoring and Games

  • Games are played to 11 points
  • Players serve two serves each, alternating. A player does not have to win specifically off their own serve in order to win a point
  • If a game ties at 10-10, a player must win by 2 points. In this situation, players serve one serve each, alternating
  • In competition, games are played best of 5 (first to win 3 games) or best of 7 (first to win 4 games). Social games can also be played best of 3 (first to win 2 games)

Legal Serving

  • You must throw the ball up straight, from a flat palm, at least 6 inches (16cm)
  • Your toss and service contact must be behind the table surface (not over)
  • You cannot hide the ball from the ball toss to contact, with any part of your body
  • If the ball hits the net during service, it is a let, the point is replayed. There is no limit or point deductions for let serves.

Equipment Basics

  • A table tennis racket must be one side black, one side (recently approved) any approved color
  • The official approved ball is the 40mm+ plastic ball  [NOTE: The vast majority of CTTC players use these 3 star balls, Nittaku Premium 40+ made in Japan or Xushaofa Premium 40+]
  • The dimensions of an approved table tennis table are: 9ft long, 5ft wide, 2.5ft high
  • The approved height of a table tennis net is: 6 inches

DOUBLES PLAY AND RULES ON FINAL GAME OF A MATCH

  • In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall
    choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the
    receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent
    games of the match, the first server having been chosen, the first receiver
    shall be the player who served to him or her in the preceding game.
  • In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become
    the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.
  • The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game
    of the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due
    to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first one pair
    scores 5 points.
  • The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end
    in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the
    players or pairs shall change ends when first one player or pair scores 5

CTTC RULES

  • Sign in via the whiteboard to play at any table #1 through #10.
    • Announce that you have signed in.
      If a match is not in progress, the current occupants must begin playing within 5 minutes.
    • The winner may either retain the table or let the loser play the challenger.
    • When your turn comes, you may either:
      • Warm up for 5 minutes, then play a match.
      • Practice for 20 minutes, then step down afterward.
  • Play matches per USATT rules, specifically:
    • The first player scoring 11 points by a margin of at least 2 wins the game.
    • Alternate serve every 2 points, except every point when the score exceeds 10 all.
    • The first player to win 3 games wins the match.
  • Participants may play indefinitely if no one has signed in for their table.
  • No player may claim multiple tables, including:
    • Signing in for multiple tables on the whiteboard.
    • Signing in for another table while also playing at Table #1 through #8.
  • CTTC often operates at full capacity, so respect fellow players by:
    • Only stepping into a court during the idle period between points.
    • Waiting for the players in adjacent courts to retrieve stray balls.
  • Limit robot practice to 15 minutes and place all balls into the hopper afterward.
  • All participants must pay the full CTTC entry fee, with one exception:
    • Up to two children younger than 18 years old may participate free of charge when accompanied by a paying parent or legal guardian.
  • All participants must comply with all College Hill Recreation Center rules.
  • No children may be left unattended unless authorized by a CTTC Director.
  • A player may be banned from CTTC for damaging the facility or equipment.
  • CTTC accepts no responsibility for any player’s lost or stolen equipment.