Table tennis, popularly known as ping-pong, is a sport that demands precision, agility and strategy from its athletes.
The sport emerged at the end of the 19th century in England and has since gained notoriety around the world, being practiced both recreationally and competitively;
The activity, like many others, has many details, so you need to be fully aware of its terms for a better understanding.
That’s why we’ve brought you special content with the table tennis glossary. In this list, you’ll discover the main terms used in the sport and what they mean. Check it out and stay up to date!
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Table tennis glossary: complete list
- Antispin
- Attack
- Backhand
- Block
- Rubber
- Horse
- Plate
- Chop
- Drive
- Effect
- Handle
- Missing
- Footwork
- Forehand
- Let
- Lob
- Loop
- Point
- Push
- Rally
- Net
- Draw
- Sidespin
- Smash
- Spin
- Topspin
- Change of serve
- Underhand
- Return to serve
Table tennis glossary: get to know the terms
Antispin
Antispin is a type of racket rubber that significantly reduces the spin effect of the ball.
Attack
The attack is a type of offensive blow used to finish the point, and can include different types of blows, such as the drive and the smash.
Backhand
Backhand is the stroke made with the back of the racket, fundamental in both defensive and offensive play.
Block
Blocking is a defensive technique in which the player positions the racket to intercept the opponent’s hard and fast ball, returning it with precision.
Rubber
Rubber is a sticky surface glued to the face of the table tennis racket.
Horse
Horse is the name given to a move in which the ball is propelled with a lateral rotation movement.
Plate
Chapa is the term given to the stroke in which the racket is positioned almost horizontally, used in blocks close to the table.
Chop
Chop is a defensive shot in which the ball is cut from bottom to top, creating a backspin effect.
Drive
Drive is an attacking stroke in which the ball is hit with an arcing movement, creating topspin.
Effect
Effect is the name of the spin applied to the ball to be hit. There are different types of effect, such as topspin, backspin and sidespin.
Grip
Grip is the name given to the way in which the player holds the racket. There are several types of grips, such as the penhold and the classic shakehand.
Foul
A foul is a violation of the rules of the game, which usually results in a point for the opponent.
Footwork
Footwork is the movement of the player’s feet and body during a match.
Forehand
Forehand is the stroke made with the front of the racket, often used for powerful attacks.
Let
Let is an interruption of the point in specific situations, such as when the ball touches the net on the serve and still lands correctly on the opponent’s side.
Lob
Lob is a defensive shot in which the ball is hit with a bottom-up movement, resulting in a high and deep trajectory.
Loop
Loop is a type of drive with a sharp topspin, making the ball describe a curved and fast trajectory. This shot is effective in overcoming blockages and keeping pressure on the opponent.
Point
A point is the basic scoring unit in table tennis. A player wins a point when the opponent commits a fault, fails to return the ball correctly or when the ball touches the opponent’s side twice.
Push
Push is the name of a defensive control stroke in which the ball is pushed with a slight backspin effect.
Rally
A rally is a continuous sequence of ball exchanges between players.
Net
The net is the central obstacle that divides the table tennis table into two halves.
Service
Service is the initial movement of each point, when a player throws the ball and hits it to the opponent’s side.
Sidespin
Sidespin is a type of effect in which the ball spins sideways, changing the trajectory of the ball after bouncing on the table, which can deflect it to the left or right, making it difficult for the opponent to return it.
Smash
Smash is the name of an extremely powerful attacking shot in which the ball is hit with maximum force and speed.
Spin
Spin is the spin applied to the ball. There are several types of spin, such as topspin, backspin and sidespin.
Topspin
Topspin is a type of effect in which the ball spins forward, causing the ball to drop quickly after bouncing.
Service change
Changing serves is changing who serves after a certain number of points.
Underhand
Underhand is a type of serve in which the ball is hit from below, usually resulting in a backspin effect.
Return of serve
Return of serve is a term used to describe the action of returning the ball directly to the server after the serve.
Table tennis glossary: complete list
- Antispin
- Attack
- Backhand
- Block
- Rubber
- Horse
- Plate
- Chop
- Drive
- Effect
- Handle
- Missing
- Footwork
- Forehand
- Let
- Lob
- Loop
- Point
- Push
- Rally
- Net
- Draw
- Sidespin
- Smash
- Spin
- Topspin
- Change of serve
- Underhand
- Return to serve
Table tennis glossary
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