Swinging at the Ball
Table Tennis Rules
Last updated 7 years ago
Mike Deubig Asked 7 years ago
Hi Coach,
I'm curious...during a rally when your opponent lobs the ball and it lands on your side of the table with a very high bounce, what if you totally missed that ball by accident, recover and then hit the ball back. Is that legal? I have done that in the past (on purpose) for entertainment purposes and it happened when I took my eye off the ball but I have never did that during a match. I know if you do that on a serve, it's the other guy's or gal's point!
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago
Hi Mike,
It is allowed to swing at the ball twice. I have seen it done recently even on a return of serve and it was very effective... but very difficult to do.
Even on a serve if you miss it the first time and can somehow revere and hit it on the second swing it would be allowed...
Thoughts on this question
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Arjan van Luttikhuizen Posted 7 years ago
I accidentally did this as well with a really high ball in a league match. Making a big smashing swing on the upward trajectory of the ball but missing it entirely and then when the ball was on the way down I was ready to drop it behind the net. My opponent was quite bamboozled and was trying to dispute the point but agreed later that since I did not touch the ball on the first swing it was allowed.
That's the important part here - you can only touch the ball once. As long as it is still in play you could spin a pirouette or do push-ups as long as you hit the ball back in time with a single contact.