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Table Tennis / Ping-Pong: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Grip Types in Ping-Pong
A comprehensive list of grip types in table tennis/ ping-pong, with explanations and photographs.
Important Rules for Ping-Pong
A comprehensive list of the important basic table tennis rules for beginners, with full explanations. Learn which basic ping-pong rules you really need to know.
Play the Basic Strokes
How to Play the Basic Strokes of Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong - a guide with photos and explanations. Learn about serving and returning serve, counterhitting, pushing, driving, chopping, smashing, looping and more!
Choosing a Table Tennis Table
Advice and information about how to choose the right ping-pong table for you. Includes advice on mini ping-pong tables, outdoor table tennis tables, and table tennis table conversion tops.
Choose Your First Paddle
Ready to buy your first table tennis bat? Get information, advice and recommendations about what to look for in your first ping-pong paddle.
The Laws of Table Tennis
Read the Laws of Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong rules. Settle those table tennis rules arguments once and for all!
Olympic Games Table Tennis
Want to know what's happening with table tennis at the Olympic Games? Looking for information about the Olympic sport of ping-pong? This is the place to start!
Traditional Chinese Penhold
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ ping-pong traditional Chinese penhold grip.
Spin
Spin in table tennis/ ping-pong - what is it, why is it important, how it works, how to do it, when to use it, how to read it, and how to handle it.
A Brief History of Ping-Pong
A brief history of the sport of table tennis (or ping-pong), from its early origins in Victorian England, through the use of pimpled rubber, the introduction of sponge, the dominance of the Chinese, the introduction of speed glue, and the sweeping rule changes of 2000, into the future.
Shakehand Shallow Grip
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ ping-pong shakehand shallow grip.
Forehand Counterhit
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to hit a forehand counterhit in table tennis.
The Service and the Return
Read the ITTF laws table tennis regarding the service and the return.
Beginner's Guide
New to table tennis / ping-pong? Get started the right way with expert advice on what equipment you will need, how to play the basic strokes, choosing your first racket, finding places to play, and the important rules you need to know first.
Beginner Ping-Pong Rubbers
The top ten beginner ping-pong rubbers, as recommended by the About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Forum. Find which ping-pong rubbers have stood the test of time, and why.
Top 10 Beginner Blades
The top ten table tennis blades for beginners, as recommended by the About.com Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong Forum.
Shakehand Deep Grip
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ ping-pong shakehand deep grip.
Build Your Own Ping-Pong Table
Want to build your own ping-pong table, but not sure it is worth the hassle? Greg Letts, your About.com Guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, investigates whether you can build a competition quality table tennis table quickly and easily.
RPB Grip
Explanations and photographs of the table tennnis/ping-pong reverse penhold backhand (rpb) grip.
Beginning Equipment
A comprehensive list of the equipment you will need to get started in Table Tennis (Ping-Pong).
Japanese/Korean Penhold
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ping-pong Japanese/Korean penhold grip.
Top 10 Classic Rubbers
The top ten classic table tennis rubbers, as recommended by the About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Forum. Find which table tennis rubbers have stood the test of time, and why.
Ping-Pong Rules, Officials
Get explanations about the important rules and laws of the Olympic sport of table tennis/ping-pong, and learn about the role of the judges and officials in table tennis at the Olympic Games.
Ping-Pong Playing Levels
What are the differences in table tennis between beginners, intermediate and advanced players? What level do you fit into? Find out here!
Understand and Create Spin
Find out about how spin works in table tennis/ ping-pong, and how to create your own spinny strokes.
Seemiller Grip
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ping-pong Seemiller grip.
Top 10 Mistakes by Beginners
New to ping-pong? Find out about the most common ten mistakes made by table tennis beginners, and how to avoid them.
Ping-Pong Paddle Cleaning
Advice on how to clean your table tennis rubbers properly.
Choose Table Tennis Rubbers
You can play better table tennis by choosing the right rubbers for your game. Get information, advice, and recommendations on how to choose the best rubbers for your style.
V Grip
Explanations and photographs of the table tennis/ping-pong V grip.
FH Pendulum BS/SS Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand pendulum backspin/sidespin serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
Improve Your Serve - Practical
Tips and advice for beginners on how to practice the serve in table tennis/ ping-pong.
Basic Concepts of Ping-Pong
Learn the basic concepts of table tennis. Find out about spin, the basic strokes, important rules of ping-pong, how to score, choosing your first racket and more!
Table Tennis/Ping-Pong Female Action Photographs - 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Direct Women Qualifiers
View action photographs of female players who have directly qualified for the sport of table tennis / ping-pong, which is one of the sports represented at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Forehand Backspin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to do a forehand backspin serve in table tennis.
Top 10 Classic Blades
The top ten classic table tennis blades, as recommended by the About.com Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong Forum. Find which ping-pong blades have stood the test of time, and why.
Table Tennis/Ping-Pong Action Photographs - 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Direct Male Qualifiers
View action photographs of male players who have directly qualified for the sport of table tennis / ping-pong, which is one of the sports represented at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Training for Beginners
Get expert advice on how to begin training for table tennis. Improve your ping-pong game faster!
Olympic Ping-Pong Basics
What is Olympic Table Tennis? Since becoming part of the Summer Olympics in 1988, table tennis has proven to be one of the most popular Olympic sports. The format of events has changed for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the competition consisting of four events: men's singles, women's singles, men's teams, and women's teams.
How to Keep Score
A comprehensive guide for beginners on how to keep score in table tennis.
Butterfly Sriver TT Rubber
An in depth review of Butterfly Sriver table tennis rubber from your guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, Greg Letts, including the advantages and disadvantages of this ping-pong rubber.
Table Tennis / Ping-Pong - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Table Tennis / Ping-Pong guide site.
Backhand Counterhit
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to hit a backhand counterhit in table tennis.
Yasaka Mark V PP Rubber
An in depth review of Yasaka Mark V ping-pong rubber from your guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, Greg Letts, including the advantages and disadvantages of this table tennis rubber.
Choose Your Table Tennis Blade
You can play better table tennis by choosing the right blade for your game. Get information, advice, and recommendations on how to choose the best table tennis blade for your style.
Playing Styles
Want to know what style you play? Learn about the different categories of playing styles in table tennis. Read a comprehensive list and explanations of the many different styles used in modern table tennis.
Building a Ping-Pong Table
What materials are used to build high quality ping-pong tables, and where can you buy table tennis table paint?
Top Table Tennis Shoes
Here are ten top table tennis shoes, as recommended by the About.com Table Tennis forum and your Guide, Greg Letts. Find out which table tennis shoes are the right ones for you.
Forehand Topspin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to do a forehand topspin serve in table tennis.
How to Serve Legally in Table Tennis / Ping-Pong
Learn how to serve legally in table tennis. The service rules explained, along with diagrams and video explanations.
How to Use Spin
Information and advice on how to use spin properly in table tennis/ ping-pong.
Top Ping-Pong Myths
A list of the most popular myths and misconceptions about table tennis/ping-pong.
loop
Description of what is a loop stroke in table tennis / ping-pong.
Serving for Beginners
Learn all about the serve in table tennis/ ping-pong, with theoretical and practical tips and advice on how to improve your serve and troubleshoot any problems.
Point, Game and Match
Read the ITTF laws of table tennis regarding points, games and matches.
Backhand Push
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to hit a backhand push in table tennis.
Training By Yourself
Learn how to improve your table tennis game when you don't have a ping-pong partner available to practice with.
Individual Serving Practice
How to get the most out of your ping-pong serving practice when practicing table tennis on your own.
Recommended Ping-Pong Balls
Lamenting the poor quality of table tennis balls these days, and recommending a few ping-pong balls that are better than the rest.
Forehand Loop Against Push
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to hit a forehand loop against a pushed ball in table tennis.
Advanced Guide to Serving
An advanced discussion of how to improve your serves in table tennis, including the topics of why the serve is important, what makes a good serve, and other factors to consider when serving.
Forum Etiquette
Some sugestions on how to get along with others in table tennis forums.
Ping-Pong Paddle Protection
Learn how to extend the life of your ping-pong paddle by protecting it from dirt and damage.
Pre-Made vs Custom Setups
Are you trying to decide whether to buy a pre-made table tennis bat from a sports store, or assemble a custom built racket? Guest author Alex Vanderklugt has some good advice on which choice is right for you.
Forehand Push
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to hit a backhand push in table tennis.
How to Handle Spin
Information and advice on how to handle spin in table tennis.
speed glue
Description of speed glue in table tennis.
Learn to Loop in Ping-Pong
Learn how to play the loop stroke in table tennis. Videos and explanations of how to learn to topspin loop in ping-pong.
Footwork for Beginners
Learn about the basics of footwork in table tennis, including what makes good footwork, your basic ready position, shuffle steps and crossover footwork, and serve and serve return footwork.
FH Reverse Pendulum BS/SS
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand reverse pendulum backspin/sidespin serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
Top USA Table Tennis Players
Which Americans have the best chance to medal in Olympic diving? Here's our list.
Improve Your Serve - Theory
Tips and advice for beginners on the theory of serving in table tennis/ ping-pong.
How to Read Spin
Information and advice on how to read spin in table tennis
Order of Serving etc
Read about the ITTF laws of table tennis regarding the order of serving, receiving and ends.
Shakehand Serving Grips
Want to improve your serving in table tennis? There are three basic shakehand grip variations to choose from when serving, all with different strengths and weaknesses. Find out which ping-pong grip is best for you.
Why Play Ping-Pong?
A summary of the reasons to play ping pong (or table tennis), including health and fitness, a great mental workout, it's inexpensive and fun!
topspin
Explanation of what topspin is in table tennis/ping-pong.
blade
Description of what a table tennis blade is, and what it is made of.
How To Speed Glue
A step by step guide on how to speed glue your table tennis bat.
Put Your Strokes Together
Learn how to improve your table tennis by putting your strokes together properly during rallies.
Index of YourSport Tutorials
Learn to play the Olympic sport of table tennis with these table tennis tutorials and how to's for ping-pong beginners and advanced table tennis players.
Beginning Training
Advice on table tennis training for new players.
bat
Description of what a table tennis bat is, and what it is made of.
Table Tennis Robots
How to use table tennis robots to improve your ping-pong when you don't have a partner to practice with.
How to Beat Jan-Ove Waldner
Sean P. O'Neill, 2-time Olympian and 5-time US National Champion, explains how to defeat 2-time Table Tennis World Champion Jan-Ove Waldner. Find out how to beat a ping-pong legend!
rubber
Description of what a table tennis rubber is.
Forehand Flick/Flip
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand flick return of serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
Men's Singles Medalists
The Men's Singles gold, silver and bronze medal winners in Table Tennis from the Olympic Games.
Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit
An in depth review of the Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit table tennis blade, both from an attacking and defensive viewpoint.
Serve Return for Beginners
Learn all about returning serve in table tennis, with theoretical and practical tips and advice on how to improve your service return and troubleshoot any problems.
FH Tomahawk TS/SS Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand tomahawk topspin/sidespin serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
Forehand No Spin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to do a forehand float serve in table tennis.
Penhold Looper
Discover what the Penhold Looper table tennis playing style is all about.
The Order of Play
Read the ITTF laws of table tennis regarding the order of play.
Li-Ning Table Tennis Shirt
An in depth review of the Li-Ning Yellow Flame Dragon competition shirt from your guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, Greg Letts.
Ping-Pong or Table Tennis?
Is ping-pong the preferred phrase, or is table tennis the true term? Which is correct? Does it matter? About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Guide Greg Letts investigates what's in a name.
Physics/Maths of Ping-Pong
About.com guest author Jonathan Roberts explains how the Newtonian laws of physics apply to table tennis. Find out about the mathematics and physics of ping-pong!
Two Wing Looper
Discover what the Two Wing Looper table tennis playing style is all about.
Physical Fitness
How to get fitter and improve your table tennis/ping-pong when you don't have a partner to practice with.
Olympic Table Tennis Medalists
Olympic table tennis medalists for all of the Olympic table tennis events. An event by event list of the table tennis players that won the Olympic gold, silver, or bronze medals in the Olympic Games.
Forehand Smash vs Lob
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to hit a forehand smash against a lobbed ball in table tennis/ ping-pong.
Learn TT Skills Quickly
Why do many Chinese table tennis coaches insist on their students learning one stroke at a time? Is there a scientific reason behind it? As it turns out, science supports the idea of mastering one technique at a time.
Serve with More Spin
How to increase the amount of spin on the ball when you serve.
Speed Glue Pros and Cons
An in-depth look at the advantages and disadvantages of using speed glue to reglue your bat for table tennis.
Time to Learn a TT Serve
About.com Table Tennis/Ping-Pong Guide Greg Letts investigates exactly how long it takes to learn a new serve in table tennis.
Become an Olympian TT Player
The Olympic Track - How Do I Become An Olympic Table Tennis Player?
The Double Bounce Serve
Diagrams and explanations of the double bounce serve in table tennis, and why it is so effective.
Backhand Chop Against Loop
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to hit a backhand chop against a looped or driven ball in table tennis/ ping-pong.
William Henzell's Match Videos
Watch the personal match videos of Australia's No.1 table tennis player, William Henzell, taken from competitions and Pro Tour events from around the world.
1 Hour TT Training Session
Learn how to put together a one hour training session for table tennis / ping-pong, so that you make the most of your practice time.
Drill Degrees of Complexity
An explanation for beginners of how to judge and create table tennis drills of different levels of difficulty.
Pet Ping-Pong Peeves
A list of Greg's pet peeves about present day ping-pong!
Greg's 2008 TT Travel Blog
Greg Letts, your About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Guide, shares his table tennis experiences as he travels around the UK and Western Europe.
DIY Ping-Pong
How to improve your table tennis/ping-pong when you don't have a coach.
Greg's Table Tennis Blog
About.com Guide Greg Letts' personal table tennis/ping-pong blog.
Shadow Play Training
How to use shadow play to improve your table tennis/ping-pong when you don't have a partner to practice with.
Video Analysis
How to use video analysis to improve your table tennis/ping-pong when you don't have a partner to practice with.
2008 WTTTC DVDs Review
A review of the 2008 World Team Table Tennis Championships DVDs produced by Reflex Sports.
Seal a Table Tennis Blade
Find out how to seal your table tennis blade, with written explanations and a video demonstrating the process.
BH Backspin/Sidespin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a backhand backspin/sidespin serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
An Illustrated History of Table Tennis / Ping-Pong
An illustrated history of the sport of table tennis (or ping-pong), from its early origins in Victorian England, through the use of pimpled rubber, the introduction of sponge, the dominance of the Chinese, the introduction of speed glue, and the sweeping rule changes of 2000, and into the future.
Backhand Backspin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to do a backhand backspin serve in table tennis.
Reverse Penhold Backhand
Discover what the Reverse Penhold Backhand table tennis playing style is all about.
Individual Footwork Drills
How to use footwork drills to improve your table tennis/ping-pong when you don't have a partner to practice with.
Newgy Robo-Pong 2040
A comprehensive review of the features of the Newgy Robo-Pong 2040 table tennis robot by About.com forum member MarcoHere (Marco Borrillo).
Forehand Loop vs Block
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to hit a forehand loop against a blocked ball in table tennis.
Is Volleying the Ball Legal?
When can you volley the ball in table tennis/ping-pong?
A Let
Read the ITTF laws of table tennis regarding lets.
Forehand Loop Serve Return
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand loop return of serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
Playing With Short Pips
Advice on tactics and strategies for players using short pimples in table tennis. Find out how to make the most of your short pips.
Forehand Push Serve Return
Watch and learn from clear photographs, videos and explanations of how to do a forehand push return of serve in table tennis/ping-pong.
twiddling
Description of what twiddling is in table tennis.
Glue Sponge Rubbers
Learn how to easily glue sponge table tennis rubbers to your ping-pong blade. Step by step explanations and video tutorial show exactly how to do it yourself.
Sneakier Serving
How to serve sneakier in table tennis. Improve your deception.
Produce Ping-Pong Serving Spin
Do you want to get more spin on your table tennis serves? Greg Letts, your About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Guide, explains how to get more spin when serving in ping-pong.
Ode to My Opponent
A tribute to the most important person in your table tennis career - your opponent!
Playing Against Antispin
Get expert advice on how to play against antispin rubbers, including theory and practical explanations of how they work and how to counter their effects.
shakehand grip
Description of the shakehand grip in table tennis.
Edge Balls - Who Wins?
In table tennis/ping-pong, who gets the point when the ball hits the edge of the table?
ordinary pimpled rubber
Description of ordinary pimpled rubber.
Objective of Table Tennis
The objective of the game of Table Tennis (Ping-Pong) - what's the point(!)?
Backhand Topspin Serve
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to do a backhand topspin serve in table tennis.
Should You Use Short Pips?
Guest author Andrew Gooding shares his thoughts on what it takes to successfully use short pips in table tennis. So if you are thinking of using short pimpled rubber to play ping-pong, check this article out first!
Ping-Pong - Got What it Takes?
Think you've got what it takes to be a table tennis champion? Read this article first before getting on the court with the ping-pong elite. A semi-serious look at what it takes to be a table tennis legend.
drive
Description of what is a drive in table tennis.
Y&T V988, V989, V989D Robots
A comprehensive review of the features of the Paddle Palace Y&T V988, V989, and V989D table tennis robots by About.com forum member MarcoHere (Marco Borrillo).
The Racket
Read the ITTF laws of table tennis regarding the racket.
Doubles Tips for Beginners
Are you are star at singles but a dud at doubles in table tennis? Then learn how to improve your ping-pong doubles play with these simple but effective tips and tactics.
Forehand Chop Against Loop
Watch and learn from clear photographs and explanations of how to hit a forehand chop against a looped or driven ball in table tennis/ ping-pong.
I Wish I Knew Then...
Your Guide to Table Tennis / Ping-Pong shares the lessons he wish he had learned when he first started playing table tennis. Don't make the same mistakes!

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