47 table tennis terms defined, including chop, loop, pips, penhold and the expedite rule, each explained in a single line.
Almost all table tennis terminology describes one of two things: what the ball is doing and what the rubber did to it. Learn the spin words and the stroke words and the rest follows. The words related to table tennis below cover strokes, spin, equipment and scoring, and the words associated with ping pong in a basement or a club hall are in there too, since the two vocabularies overlap almost completely. Look anything up in the table tennis glossary further down.
Must-Know Table Tennis Terms, Phrases and Slang:
- Backspin
- Block
- Chop
- Dead ball
- Drive
- Edge ball
- Forehand
- Let
- Loop
- Match point
- Penhold
- Pips
- Push
- Rally
- Receive
- Serve
- Set
- Smash
- Spin
- Topspin
- Undercut
- Volley
- Warning
- Wipe
- Anti-spin
- Ball placement
- Game point
- Long pips
- Rubber
- Skunk
Table Tennis Glossary: Every Term A to Z
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Anti-spin | A rubber that returns almost no spin, used to blunt an opponent's topspin or backspin. |
| Backspin | Spin that rotates the ball backward, so it slows, stays low and drops off an opponent's bat. |
| Ball Placement | Where you put the ball on the opponent's side. Often worth more than sheer speed. |
| Bat | The British name for the racket. Americans usually say paddle, the rules say racket. |
| Blade | The wooden body of the racket, before the rubbers are glued on. |
| Block | A short, firm return that uses the opponent's own pace against them. |
| Chop | A heavy backspin defensive stroke played from well back from the table. |
| Dead Ball | A ball with almost no spin, tricky precisely because it does nothing the receiver expects. |
| Deuce | Ten points all, from which the game must be won by two clear points. |
| Drive | A flat, fast attacking stroke driven low over the net. |
| Edge Ball | A ball clipping the edge of the table. It counts, and it is usually unreturnable. |
| Expedite Rule | A rule that speeds up long defensive games by limiting the server to thirteen returns before losing the point. |
| Flick | A short, wristy attacking return of a short ball over the table. |
| Footwork | Moving the feet to get behind the ball. The part of the sport spectators notice last. |
| Forehand | A stroke played on the same side of the body as the racket hand. |
| Game Point | One point from winning the current game. |
| Kill | A shot hit to end the rally outright, often used interchangeably with smash. |
| Let | A rally replayed without a point being awarded, for example when a serve clips the net and still lands correctly. |
| Lob | A high defensive return played from far back, usually with heavy topspin. |
| Long Pips | Rubber with long, widely spaced pimples that returns spin unpredictably. |
| Loop | The main attacking stroke: heavy topspin brushed onto the ball so it arcs over the net and dives. |
| Match Point | One point from winning the whole match. |
| Net | The barrier across the middle of the table, and the call when a serve clips it. |
| Penhold | A grip in which the handle is held between thumb and index finger, as you would hold a pen. |
| Ping Pong | The everyday name for the sport. Ping-Pong began as a trademark, which is why the governing bodies say table tennis. |
| Pips | The rubber pimples on the playing surface. Pips-in faces smooth side out, pips-out faces the pimples out. |
| Pips-out | Rubber mounted with the pimples facing outward, which returns less spin and speeds the ball up. |
| Push | A short backspin stroke played close to the table, usually to keep a serve from being attacked. |
| Racket | The official name for the bat or paddle: a blade with rubber on one or both sides. |
| Rally | The exchange of shots from serve until a point ends. |
| Receive | The return of the opponent's serve, and the skill of reading their spin in time. |
| Rubber | The sheet glued to each side of the blade. It decides most of the speed, spin and control. |
| Rubber Sandwich | Rubber built as a top sheet over a sponge layer, the standard construction for attacking play. |
| Serve | The stroke that opens each point, bouncing once on the server's side and once on the receiver's. |
| Serve Toss | The upward throw of the ball that must start every legal serve, at least sixteen centimetres. |
| Set | A game within the match, played to eleven points and won by two clear points. |
| Shakehand | The grip in which the handle is held as if shaking hands. The most common grip worldwide. |
| Sidespin | Spin around the vertical axis, which makes the ball curve sideways in the air and off the bat. |
| Skunk | An informal rule ending a game early when one player leads by a set margin, often seven to nothing. Not used in official play. |
| Smash | The finishing shot, hit hard and downward on a ball that has come up too high. |
| Spin | The rotation put on the ball. The single biggest factor in how it flies and bounces. |
| Table | The playing surface itself, two and a half metres long and divided by the net. |
| Topspin | Forward rotation, which makes the ball dip sharply and kick forward off the table. |
| Undercut | Another name for backspin, from the slicing motion under the ball that produces it. |
| Volley | Hitting the ball before it bounces. Illegal in table tennis, and the point goes to the opponent. |
| Warning | A yellow card from the umpire for an illegal serve, delay or misconduct. |
| Wipe | Drying the hand on the towel or at the table between points. Allowed, but not as a stalling tactic. |
#1 Backspin
A type of spin where the ball rotates backwards as it moves towards the opponent, causing it to slow down and bounce lower when it hits the table. Backspin makes returning the ball more challenging due to its deceptive motion.
#2 Block
A defensive stroke used to counter attacking shots, where a player uses a short, compact motion to return the ball with minimal effort. A block can quickly turn the momentum of a rally by catching an opponent off guard.
#3 Chop
A defensive stroke that imparts heavy backspin on the ball, typically executed away from the table. Players use a chop to counter fast topspin shots, creating a low-trajectory return that’s hard to attack.
#4 Dead ball
A serve or stroke with very little to no spin, which can be tricky to return as it does not react as expected when contacting the opponent’s paddle. The dead ball can be a strategic deception.
#5 Drive
An offensive stroke with a flat hit, designed to drive the ball fast and low over the net. The drive is a fundamental shot aimed to limit the opponent’s reaction time and force errors.
#6 Edge ball
A ball that hits the edge of the table, which is still a valid point as long as it hits the opponent’s side first. Edge balls are often unexpected and can be frustrating for players on the receiving end.
#7 Forehand
In table tennis, the forehand is a type of stroke used to hit the ball when it is on the same side of the body as the paddle-holding hand. It’s one of the most basic and commonly used strokes, allowing for power and control, and can be played from anywhere on the table.
#8 Let
In table tennis, a “let” is a situation where a point is interrupted under certain conditions and must be replayed without penalty to either player.
#9 Loop
A loop in table tennis is an attacking stroke that applies a significant topspin to the ball. This technique is designed to arc the ball over the net and make it dip quickly onto the opponent’s side, challenging their defense.
#10 Match Point
Match point refers to the situation in which a player or doubles team needs one more point to win the match. It’s a high-pressure moment where focus and strategy are crucial.
#11 Penhold
Penhold is a grip style resembling holding a pen, with the thumb and index finger encircling the racket handle. This grip allows for flexible wrist movement, often used by Asian players for its quick forehand strokes.
#12 Pips
Pips are the small rubber bumps on the surface of some table tennis rackets. Pips can be ‘out,’ where they create unpredictable spin, or ‘in,’ for a more consistent hit and preferred by offensive players.
#13 Push
A push is a defensive stroke with backspin used to control the ball, particularly against short balls or serves. It’s a strategic maneuver often implemented to provoke a weak return or set up an attack.
#14 Rally
A rally in table tennis is a sequence of back-and-forth shots between players. Rallies continue until one player fails to make a legal return, and they often feature a mix of offensive and defensive plays.
#15 Receive
Receiving in table tennis refers to how a player returns the ball following an opponent’s serve. The receive is crucial in setting the tone of the rally, and effective receiving strategies can neutralize the server’s advantage, allowing the receiver to take control of the point.
#16 Serve
The serve in table tennis is the action that starts each point. It involves striking the ball so that it bounces once on the server’s side of the table and at least once on the opponent’s side. Serves can be varied in spin, speed, and placement to gain strategic advantages.
#17 Set
A “set” in table tennis refers to a game within a match, typically played to 11 points. Players switch service every two points and a set must be won by at least a two-point margin to accommodate the rally scoring system.
#18 Smash
The smash is a powerful, offensive shot, often delivered with a lot of speed to finish the point. It’s executed usually when the ball is high and close to the net, making it difficult for the opponent to return.
#19 Spin
Spin in table tennis is when the ball rotates due to a player striking it with a particular motion. Spin affects the ball’s trajectory and bounce, with different types, such as topspin or backspin, being strategic elements of play.
#20 Topspin
Topspin is imparted on the ball by striking it in an upward motion, causing it to rotate forward. This makes the ball dip down faster after it bounces, often used to create offensive pressure or force errors from the opponent.
#21 Undercut
Also known as backspin, an undercut is a type of spin applied by slicing beneath the ball. This causes the ball to float slower through the air and bounce lower on the opponent’s side, often used defensively.
#22 Volley
In table tennis, volleying is illegal. It refers to hitting the ball before it has bounced on the table during a rally. If done during a rally, it results in a point for the opponent.
#23 Warning
In table tennis, a warning (often signaled by a yellow card) can be issued by the umpire for various infractions, such as improper service, behavior not in keeping with the spirit of the game, or delays in play. Warnings serve as a caution, and repeated infractions can lead to points awarded to the opponent or even disqualification.
#24 Wipe
Players often wipe their hands on the table, particularly near the net, to dry off sweat during a match. This action is allowed, typically between points or games, but it should not unnecessarily delay the game. Wiping is also a moment for players to catch a brief mental break and refocus.
#25 Anti-spin
A type of rubber that minimizes the amount of spin returned to the opponent, effectively countering their spin-heavy shots. It’s often used by defensive players to neutralize aggressive topspin or backspin from their adversaries.
#26 Ball placement
Refers to the strategic positioning of the ball on the opponent’s side of the table during a rally. Good ball placement can keep an opponent off-balance, exploit their weaknesses, and create opportunities for winning shots.
#27 Game point
The situation in a game of table tennis where a player or team needs one more point to win that game. The pressure ramps up during game point, as the receiving player must prevent their opponent from scoring to stay in the contest.
#28 Long pips
Long pimples, often referred to as ‘long pips,’ are a type of rubber on a racket that has elongated, spaced-out pimple projections. They create unpredictable spins and bounces, making it difficult for opponents to anticipate the trajectory of the return.
#29 Rubber
The material attached to the blade of a table tennis racket, which influences the speed, spin, and control of the ball. Rubbers come in a variety of surfaces, including pimpled (short and long pips) and smooth (inverted), tailored to different playing styles.
#30 Skunk
In informal table tennis play, “skunk” refers to a rule where a game ends prematurely if a player reaches a certain point lead (often 7-0) over their opponent. This rule is not used in official competitive play but can be applied in casual settings to speed up games and maintain interest.
FAQ
What is the bat called in table tennis?
Officially a racket. British players say bat, American players say paddle, and all three mean the same thing: a wooden blade with a sheet of rubber glued to one or both faces.
What is a chop in table tennis?
A defensive stroke that cuts under the ball to load it with heavy backspin, usually played from several steps behind the table. The return comes back low and slow and is difficult to attack cleanly.
What does skunk mean in table tennis?
An informal rule that ends a game early once one player is far enough ahead, most often at seven to nothing. It exists to keep casual games moving and is not part of the official rules.
What do you call the block in a ping pong game?
A block. The player holds the bat still in the path of an attacking shot and lets the incoming pace do the work, which returns the ball fast with almost no swing.
What are the terms shouted in table tennis?
The umpire calls the score with the server’s points first, plus “let” for a replayed point and “fault” for an illegal serve. Players themselves usually shout a short cry after winning a big point, and the Chinese “cho” has spread well beyond China.
What is another name for table tennis?
Ping pong. The two words describe the same sport, but Ping-Pong started life as a trademark, which is why federations and the rulebook say table tennis.
Strokes (drive, loop, chop, push, block, smash), spin (topspin, backspin, sidespin, dead ball), equipment (blade, rubber, pips, anti-spin) and scoring (set, deuce, game point, match point). The table tennis glossary above lists them all.
What are some Table Tennis terms for beginners?
“Backspin,” “Forehand,” and “Smash” are some Table Tennis terms beginners should start with. These provide a foundation for learning basic strokes and techniques in the game.
What are some funny Table Tennis terms?
“Skunk” and “Dead ball” are some funny Table Tennis terms, adding a playful element to the game by describing a situation of overwhelming victory or a ball with no spin, respectively.
What is a famous Table Tennis phrase?
“Set point,” is a famous Table Tennis phrase, announcing the critical moment in a game where a player could win the set, highlighting the tension and excitement of the match.
