All About Olympic Table Tennis - Larger Balls - Better Rubbers

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A guide to playing the world's most popular table top sport

More than most sports, there's more to table tennis than meets the eye - that is, if you can actually follow the ball. Table tennis is one of the fastest sports on earth, with balls travelling up to 100 km/h across a table less than three metres long, requiring its players to have lightning-quick reflexes and be able to assess situations and incoming shots instantly.

The game is so fast that the International Table Tennis Federation opted to use a larger (40 versus 38-millimetre diameter) ball following the Sydney Games. The hope was not only that the ball would be more visible to spectators, but also that the game would be slowed and be easier to follow.

The ball size is in many ways a natural reaction to improvements in racket materials and glues that have increased ball speed by as much as 30 km/h.

Another change since Sydney is the score needed for victory in a game. The quicker games today play until 11 as opposed to the traditional 21 points.


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Speed, Spin, Placement 

There are three basic kinds of players. Attacking players tend to stand closer to the table and use power, speed and quick reflexes to win points. Spinners stand further back from the table and return shots with a variety of spins, looping the ball back to the table. Their stance away from the table allows them to return even the hardest shots.

A less common style is purely defensive; these players don't concern themselves with spin or power, but instead expend their energy on countering the opponent's power or spin. These players thrive on the mistakes of their attacking opponents. In doubles, partners tend to have opposite and complementary styles.

Go to that next level 

Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies

Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies

by: Dan Seemiller, Mark Holowchak

Amazon Price: $14.21 (as of 07/14/2009)Buy Now

Ideal for intermediate-level players who want to progress up to "professional" level. This book describes all the major strokes and footwork. It's the only book that describes the various services both forehand and backhand.

Table Tennis Spins 

Sidespin - Usually applied on serves to change the trajectory of the ball in mid-flight and upon bouncing in the opponent's court.

Backspin - Usually used defensively, it sends the ball travelling far in the air, but bounces low with a loss of speed upon striking the table. It's difficult for the opponent to return with any height.

Backhand topspin - The ball dips in mid-flight and picks up speed upon hitting the table. It rises on impact with the opponent's racket, making returns difficult to control.

Forehand topspin - Used in attacking shots or to return long balls. It's most devastating in the forehand loop shot, in which the a swooping upward motion of the racket only grazes the ball enough to give it forward momentum, sending it spinning mightily for huge curves.

About Butterfly 

Hikosuke Tamasu founded Tamasu Co., Ltd. in the small town of Yanai City, Japan in 1950. This was the beginning of a company career which is almost unique in table tennis. A renowned international for Japan,

Tamasu fulfilled his dream of a lifetime when he made his hobby his profession. At that time, he could hardly imagine that he would make Butterfly the leading brand worldwide. Creativity, durability, and a profound technical knowledge meant success.

0ver and over again he looked for new possibilities in order to optimize techniques by innovative playing material. Tamasu realized that each player is different and has strengths and weaknesses. By offering individual playing material Tamasu wanted to help players right from the beginning to emphasize their individuality. Since 1983 Butterfly has its own training and research center in Tokyo. Highly qualified scientists co-operate with world class players and coaches for the development of rubber and blade technology.

Butterfly's rubbers and blades are used by more than half of the participants at World and European Championships.
Butterfly TW23 Outdoor Home Rollaway Table Tennis Table

Butterfly TW23 Outdoor Home Rollaway Table Tennis Table

Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly 8252 Derek May Table Tennis Racket

Butterfly 8252 Derek May Table Tennis Racket

Amazon Price: $34.69 (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly ITTF Approved 3-Star 40mm Table Tennis Balls (6-Pack)

Butterfly ITTF Approved 3-Star 40mm Table Tennis Balls (6-Pack)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly 7275 Primorac Carbon FL Table Tennis Racket

Butterfly 7275 Primorac Carbon FL Table Tennis Racket

Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 07/14/2009) Buy Now

Format 

Table tennis for both men and women were included in the Olympic program at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games. The event has been contested regularly at the Olympics after the1988 Games.

At the Olympics, the format of table tennis matches is generally best-of-five games. The events contested during the Olympics table tennis competition are-
# Men's singles
# Men's doubles/ team
# Women's singles
# Women's doubles/ team

 

Table tennis at its best

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Tickets are scarce 

Because table tennis - ping pong, if you want - is one of China's top sports, tickets to the table tennis games at the Beijing Olympics are hot items. In August the competition will be held at the Peking University Gymnasium, in Haidian district, in the northwest side of the city.

The university is China's second oldest and is considered one of the most prestigious post-secondary institutions in the country. Any student who achieves a near flawless academic record and is accepted at Peking University can practically be assured of a fast-track career to success.

Situated on the former site of the Qing Dynasty royal gardens, much of the campus retains the traditional Chinese architecture, including the new gymnasium. The building imitates the style of a traditional Chinese roof with its undulating panels, but it has a modern touch with a giant globe on top that designers say symbolizes a table tennis ball.

Inside, the ball theme continues, with a giant circular ceiling that gives a cagey feeling. Below, there are eight tables standing side by side and the stands hold 6,000 fans. Designers have made sure the building meets the strict requirements of the International Table Tennis Federation, making it the world's first professional arena dedicated to the sport.

Keep Your Eye on the Ball

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