New "Rules" for Table Tennis

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Most pros serve at the borderline for sure. The rules for serving is for hiding the ball, not the blade. You can hide the blade as much as you want to except during contact. So what most good servers do is to hide the blade at most of the time except during ball contact.

Pros are trained to serve border line (I know, because I used to serve 5-7 hours a week, for years).
Umpires ARE NOT trained on serving and I'm not sure if they do get they eyes tested before every tournament (without technology and only on the naked eye, is actually unfair for umpires in this technology age)

Its not just the contact, but also the angle of the toss (backward).
 
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Most pros serve at the borderline for sure. The rules for serving is for hiding the ball, not the blade. You can hide the blade as much as you want to except during contact. So what most good servers do is to hide the blade at most of the time except during ball contact.
I'm not talking about whether or not to hide. Overall find this to be quite good. Little to no reprimands for this by the referee as well.
 
Pros are trained to serve border line (I know, because I used to serve 5-7 hours a week, for years).
Umpires ARE NOT trained on serving and I'm not sure if they do get they eyes tested before every tournament (without technology and only on the naked eye, is actually unfair for umpires in this technology age)

Its not just the contact, but also the angle of the toss (backward).
Well yes, I have now seen many matches of the gentlemen. Referees have indicated several times that the throwing should not be given backwards.
As far as I know I can still see reasonably well, but what I've seen in the last week is unbelievable. Not a single time, but not a single time, was there a reprimand for serving above the table. And don't say that the top players look for the borderline. I can name them all (and they are not many) that each service from behind their borderline server. I can also name ten players who occasionally or even frequently serve above the table. You shouldn't be blind to that.
To be honest, I see Lim JH (and that's not because I have anything against Lim, far from it, top player) giving next to no valid service.

The referee over him must indicate this, but that never happened! It's a shame because this narrows the playing field drastically!
It's about time that there was some kind of eagle eye at the level of the borderlines. If it could have been placed in Xinxiang last week and linked to a buzzer, you would hear something!
The top players would be amazed at the musical effect they create with that buzzer! 🤣

Top players and referees should be ashamed!
It takes us from the beautiful sport of table tennis to the game that is played in a back room of the local cafe / bar and bears the name ping pong.

Am I really the only one here who doesn't like these illegal services?
 
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Well yes, I have now seen many matches of the gentlemen. Referees have indicated several times that the throwing should not be given backwards.
As far as I know I can still see reasonably well, but what I've seen in the last week is unbelievable. Not a single time, but not a single time, was there a reprimand for serving above the table. And don't say that the top players look for the borderline. I can name them all (and they are not many) that each service from behind their borderline server. I can also name ten players who occasionally or even frequently serve above the table. You shouldn't be blind to that.
To be honest, I see Lim JH (and that's not because I have anything against Lim, far from it, top player) giving next to no valid service.

The referee over him must indicate this, but that never happened! It's a shame because this narrows the playing field drastically!
It's about time that there was some kind of eagle eye at the level of the borderlines. If it could have been placed in Xinxiang last week and linked to a buzzer, you would hear something!
The top players would be amazed at the musical effect they create with that buzzer! 🤣

Top players and referees should be ashamed!
It takes us from the beautiful sport of table tennis to the game that is played in a back room of the local cafe / bar and bears the name ping pong.

Am I really the only one here who doesn't like these illegal services?
Are you sure he served it inside the table? I think it's borderline, but there were a lot of calls on serving within the end line this tournament (even LJK got called) ie they were watching it like a hawk, but Lim was not called out.

Also backwards throw is allowed up to an angle of 30 deg.
 
Are you sure he served it inside the table? I think it's borderline, but there were a lot of calls on serving within the end line this tournament (even LJK got called) ie they were watching it like a hawk, but Lim was not called out.

Also backwards throw is allowed up to an angle of 30 deg.
I think we saw most of the male and a few female matches last week and the umpires regularly pointed out the ball out but rarely for the over table serve.

When Lim JH serves, he does it from the side of the table in 90% of the cases. In this service, his point of contact with the ball is always above the table. However, it is forbidden, precisely because it narrows the playing field and gains from the first ball and can score a point more easily on their third ball.

Just look at it, it is easily observable. And Lim is certainly not the only one, but clearly with him!
He can hear that from me, (although it is illegal) but then you should not provide training to referees who do not report this anyway.
 
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I think we saw most of the male and a few female matches last week and the umpires regularly pointed out the ball out but rarely for the over table serve.

When Lim JH serves, he does it from the side of the table in 90% of the cases. In this service, his point of contact with the ball is always above the table. However, it is forbidden, precisely because it narrows the playing field and gains from the first ball and can score a point more easily on their third ball.

Just look at it, it is easily observable. And Lim is certainly not the only one, but clearly with him!
He can hear that from me, (although it is illegal) but then you should not provide training to referees who do not report this anyway.
You can serve from the side of the table as long as the contact point stays outside the end lines still. What is not allowed is serving from inside the end line. At least that's my understanding of the service rules.
 
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You can serve from the side of the table as long as the contact point stays outside the end lines still. What is not allowed is serving from inside the end line. At least that's my understanding of the service rules.
Indeed, and that just doesn't happen (anymore) in current table tennis!
You can serve almost from wherever you want, as long as the point of contact is not above the table but behind your baseline or its extensions.
Simply rule 2.06.04:
From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by any part of the body or clothing of the server or his doubles partner; as soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be removed from the space between the server’s body and the net.
 
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Ovtcharov's backhand serve from the world championship, the toss is low and then he brings his racket up to hit the ball. the serve is balantly illegal. I think in one match he was warned but a point was never taken away.

Now, do I think that he is gaining a lot of advantage from that? Probably not. But I am surprised that the opposing player(s) do not point that out and mess up Ovtcharov's rhythm. I am scratching my head looking at the serve.

In the Olympic, Ovtcharov's forehand serve was tossed, like, with 45 degree angle. It was like he toss the serve in the middle of the table and then he runs to his right side of the table to meet the ball. He was warned during the Olympic.

It just amazes me that a pro player cannot even serve right. I mean, yes, they are trying to gain an advantage but the opposing players and the refs need to do something about it. I know the players can serve the right way but it is getting ridiculous.
 
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This is the definitive compilation of the Rules for Table Tennis as delivered by the Table Tennis Gods, not the mere ITTF. See the rest of the thread for further commentary.

1. Wipe your damned sweat off the table.

2. No choing unless your are getting paid to win. Further, players under 1200 rating using Tenergy are not allowed any sort of celebration when their shots land on the table.

3. Rubbers are to be trimmed cleanly around the edge of your rackets.

4. You must apologize for nets and edges. A small gesture with your non-playing hand will suffice, but only after the point is over.

5. You must show up on time.

6. Harden the f^#k up. Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

7. You are not allowed to put your name on the back of your shirt unless you are a professional player.

8. You are allowed to wear a shirt with a manufacturer logo (e.g. Donic or Butterfly) up to the age of 50, at which time this is no longer allowed.

9. Your socks should not go higher than mid-calf. You are required to actually wear socks and they cannot under any circumstances be black.

10. You must wear footwear designed for racket sports. Under no circumstances are basketball shoes allowed.



11. You may not use long pips or anti-spin on your backhand unless you have a demonstrated ability to hit a strong topspin loops with your forehand in live match play.

12. Recognize that no matter how you think you look like when playing in your mind's eye, in reality you are probably not that good.

13 You must be aware of the official documents of ITTF that govern our sport, over and above the Laws of Table Tennis. These include Technical Bulletins and the Handbook for Match Officials prior to posting about rules on any TT forum or social medium.

14 It never gets easier but you do get better. (Not really a rule, but a fact of life). See also Rule 6.

15 Keep accurate track of the damned score!

16. You are required to serve legally which is sometimes whatever an umpire decides is legal (which in turn may require invocation of Rule 6).

17 However you may not post threads on TT forums complaining about opponents who serve illegally.

18 You are not allowed to start comment threads on TT forums about rules changes that occurred more than ten years earlier.

19 Cellulose acetate balls may be used for Christmas decorations but should not be used in actual table tennis matches.

20 The correct number of blades to own is n + 1 where n is the number you own now. An exemption can be made for players in committed relationships, in which case the correct number is s-1, where s is the number of blades that causes your spouse or partner to leave you.



21 You are not allowed to do multiball drills on a court where the barriers are not adequate, or where the court is too small, to prevent your balls from disrupting adjacent courts.

22 If one of two players is consistently whacking their shots into the next court, the two players should trade sides in an attempt to minimize this.

23 You are not allowed retrieve your ball from the adjacent court while their point is still in progress.

24 You may not defend TTex on table tennis forums or social media, and similarly you are not allowed to mention Pickleball or in any way acknowledge its existence.

25. You must understand that the Chinese do not win because they cheat.

26. You may not engage in arguments on TT forums about the GOAT in which you advocate for any player who has not won a world championship in singles. Similarly you are not allowed to discuss players who played prior to 1960 without creating a special category for pre-sponge players in which case the only possible person in that category is Viktor Barna.

27. While it is allowed and perhaps even mandated to own an insane number of blades (see rule 20), it is not allowed to believe that the next one you buy will appreciably improve your level.

28. There is no alternative to Tenergy, even though other rubbers are very good indeed. Stop asking.

29 Intentionally losing so as to maintain your ability to play in rating events where you might win a trophy is an act that requires extreme introspection as to why you should continue to play.

30. All ranking systems are flawed in one way or another. All comments on this topic in table tennis forums must begin by acknowledging this fact.



31. TTNPP will not return your emails. Stop asking. Your stuff will arrive eventually.

32. Sockpuppetry on internet TT forums can be used as an automatic referral to see a mental health professional. Especially if you create an identity with a name like John Barron (look it up).

33. If you spend more than 60 US dollars on a table tennis rubber then you are not allowed to glue it to your blade with Tearmender or rubber cement.

34. Support your local table tennis club or it will cease to exist.

35. Only bring water onto a table tennis court with Gerflor or a similar material. You are especially not allowed to bring Starbucks coffee drinks onto such courts.


36. You are not allowed to play table tennis in a shirt without any sleeves. Exceptions are granted for Liu Shiwen and Bernadette Szocs (and on a case by case basis moving forward).

37. You are allowed to swear while playing as long as you avoid racist or homophobic tropes. If you do it in a foreign language you are bad ass.

38. Young kids are often under-rated and will beat you. You are required to live with it. (This primarily pertains to North America).

39. The young kids you used to destroy may someday be your coach. You are allowed to look at the bright side of this fact.

40. Practicing shadow strokes is weird. It is allowed but do it in private.



41. It is allowed to call our sport ping pong. But the simple word "pong" is preferred.

42. You are not allowed to join fan clubs of top players and be obnoxious in cheering them on at international events.

43. You are not allowed to use the word "control" to describe a blade or rubber unless you state exactly what it is you are controlling.

44. You are not allowed to subject your playing partners to crappy balls. Buy new ones when the old ones are no longer round or if the surface has lost all friction.

45. Compared to most sports, table tennis is incredibly inexpensive. Therefore while it is allowed and even normal to be annoyed by the price of a rubber and blades, you are not allowed to mention this in any TT forum except in a full review of a product, and only then in comparison to comparable products.



46. All practice sessions that have included at least 30 minutes of forehand looping must include an equivalent length of time practicing the short game and return of serve.

47. If you converse with your playing partner (or someone outside your court), you should be barely audible at the next table.

48. If you are the national champion in a rating event that is excellent but you are not really a national champion and you are not allowed to mention this victory as part of your signature on an internet forum. You are allowed to mention what blade you used in a signature.

49. Tournaments can have rating events (e.g. under 2100) and age events (e.g. over 50) but they should not have age-specific rating events.

50. The best win of your life is not your actual level.


51. Deep or contentious discussions of physics in threads on table tennis forums should probably be avoided. Exceptions can be made for players with doctorates in aerospace engineering who have playing levels of 2300 or greater.

52. Beyond a certain age you are not going to easily succeed in making large changes in your technique but you can make it more effective and you can learn to play smarter. If this describes you then you are not allowed to ask "how to hit a Chinese loop" on any TT forum or social media. You are allowed to ask a Chinese coach. You are not allowed to be offended if his response is "ah yes, but for you this will be very difficult".

53. All players must recognize that every type of rubber requires mastery of techniques and that acquiring such mastery takew a long time. So if a long pips player beats you they are not cheating. However, see rule 11. If somebody beats you who is in violation of rule 11, nevertheless you must accept full responsibility. You are not allowed to state or even imply indirectly that they are cheating; instead you should not even admit to it or ever mention it to anyone, except possibly to a Catholic priest in an act of confession.

54. If you sweat a lot you are required to bring several shirts with you and use all of them. See also rule 1.

55. Drinking beers with mates after playing table tennis is an enlightened form of existence.



56. That "national" version of a rubber you just got probably isn't.

57. You are not allowed to apply random household products on your table tennis equipment in an attempt to find a cheap way to boost. If you must boost, buy some booster. This includes boiling water!

58. You are not allowed to use the Seemiller grip unless you are American. Some would extend this to say that you should have grown up near Pittsburgh.

59. If your rubber looks old you must change it. If it is new but filthy you are required to clean it. You are not allowed to be a filth-wizard.


I decided, based on something Gozo said, that, perhaps it is time to wake up this thread. :)
 
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Are you saying you are getting prepared to lose friends? :)
All I am saying:
IMG_7101.jpeg
 
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Probably you need to see rule 6 for situations when you lose to pips players and don't know how to change that. :)

But it seems like the people attempting to make new rules since I bumped this thread may not understand the actual content of the 100 rules.
 
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