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neurologyYou need to know

• The handshake grip is used for all strokes, with the bat held across the body for the backhand push and away from the body for the forehand shot and serve, and the bat slightly angled up for groundstrokes but angled towards the table for the serve.
• In the backhand push, the stance is front-on to the table with the shoulders parallel to the table edge.
• In the forehand shot and serve, the stance is side-on to the table with the shoulders roughly 90 degrees to the table.
• Players should stand at least one bat length away from the back of the table, and standing farther back gives more time to react.
• For the backhand push, contact is made by stepping towards the ball with a firm wrist, pushing the back of the hand towards the ball and guiding it over the net.
• For the forehand shot, contact is made by stepping towards the ball with a firm wrist and no wrist flick, pushing the front of the hand towards the ball and guiding it over the net.
• Players should step in to play the shot and then step back to recreate space and readiness for the next ball.
• In open play, a valid return must pass over the net and bounce on the opponent's side of the table; volleying the ball before it bounces results in loss of the point.
• In rallies, players must allow the ball to bounce on their side before returning; if it bounces again before contact, the point is lost.
• For a legal serve, the ball must begin resting freely on a stationary open palm above the table and behind the end line, be projected near vertically without spin by at least 16 cm, remain visible, and be struck while falling so it bounces first on the server’s side and then on the receiver’s side.
• The receiving player must allow the served ball to bounce on their side before returning.
• In doubles, the designated server serves for two points to the designated receiver, who then serves for two points to the first server’s partner; this player order is preserved throughout the game, except that service changes after every point at 10–10, and every serve must travel diagonally from the server’s right half-court to the receiver’s right half-court.
• In doubles rallies, partners must play alternate shots.
• In singles, each player serves for two points before service changes, except that service changes after every point at 10–10, and serves may be directed to any part of the opponent's side.
• Standard games are played to 11 points and must be won by a margin of 2 clear points; at 10–10 play continues until one side leads by 2 points.
• A forehand topspin is an attacking stroke (not a smash) that uses a low-to-high brushing contact on the back of the ball to create forward spin that makes the ball dip onto the table.
• For the forehand topspin, start about one step back, side-on with the bat below the ball, bend the knees, then extend the legs through contact while brushing up from low to high to produce a forward-spinning, arcing flight.

• Execute a backhand push with a handshake grip and front-on stance by stepping in, keeping the wrist firm, pushing the back of the hand through the ball to guide it over the net, then recovering by stepping back.
• Execute a forehand shot with a handshake grip and side-on stance by stepping in, keeping the wrist firm with no flick, pushing the front of the hand through the ball to guide it over the net, then recovering to ready position.
• Serve legally by beginning with the ball resting freely on a stationary open palm above the table and behind the end line, projecting it near vertically without spin by at least 16 cm, keeping it visible, and striking it while falling so it bounces first on the server’s side and then on the receiver’s side.
• Adjust court position to maintain at least one bat length from the table between shots, stepping in to contact and stepping back immediately after contact to create space.
• Create a forehand topspin by setting the bat below the ball, bending the knees, stepping towards the ball, then brushing up from low to high while extending the legs to impart forward spin and dip.
• Apply doubles rules in play by serving for two points from the right half-court to the receiver’s right half-court, preserving the designated order of servers and receivers, changing service after every point at 10–10, alternating shots with your partner throughout the rally, and avoiding volleys.
• Apply singles rules in play by serving for two points to any area of the opponent’s side, changing service after every point at 10–10, playing to 11 and winning by 2 clear points, and avoiding volleys.
• Move the feet to take up the correct body orientation for the intended stroke (front-on for backhand push; side-on for forehand, serve, and topspin) rather than reaching with the arm.