Chapter 4: Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis
Grip, footwork, spin — the fastest racquet game, one stroke at a time.
Original notes — ready CBSE (NCERT, English Medium) • Class 8 • Physical Education • Book: Khel Yatra
Fundamental Skills of Sports – Table Tennis — EG's own notes, in simple words
Book: Khel Yatra (CBSE, Class 8) | Chapter 4 | Medium: English
Diagram (labels are printed on the image): A player holding a table tennis racquet ready to receive. A general picture about table tennis, not a book scene.
Two players rallying across a table tennis table. A general picture about the game.
What the chapter is about
Table tennis is one of the fastest racquet games in the world, played on a wooden table with a dark, matte surface divided by a net, using a 40+ mm ball and a racquet of any shape or size. Earlier known as Ping-Pong and Gossima, it is a recreational, remedial and competitive sport, played by people of all ages and genders. It demands quick reflexes, eye-hand and sound coordination, fast movement, accuracy, concentration and attention, and it builds physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual skills for a holistic life.
Players combine forehand and backhand strokes, defensive and attacking techniques, to win rallies and score points. The unit teaches the game through thirteen skill sessions (TT-1 to TT-13), each with warm-up, skill, cool-down and circle time, plus "Know" notes on tournaments, Paralympic classes and the laws of the game.
The strokes at a glance
| Skill | Kind | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Grip (TT-1) | Foundation | Holding the racquet: Shakehand or Penhold |
| Footwork (TT-2) | Movement | One-step, two-step, three-step, pivot, crossover |
| Forehand Push (TT-3) | Defensive | Returning short, low balls with backspin |
| Backhand Push (TT-4) | Defensive | Returning short, low balls on the backhand side |
| Basic Service (TT-5) | Service | A legal, consistent serve for beginners |
| Topspin Service (TT-6) | Attacking serve | Forward spin that pressures the receiver |
| Backspin Service (TT-7) | Defensive serve | Backward spin that stays low |
| Forehand Drive (TT-8) | Attacking | Hitting the ball with force on the forehand |
| Backhand Drive (TT-9) | Attacking | Hitting the ball with force on the backhand |
| Forehand Topspin (TT-10) | Attacking | Forward spin, ball dipping onto the table |
| Backhand Topspin (TT-11) | Attacking | Forward spin from the backhand side |
| Smash (TT-12) | Attacking | Finishing a high ball fast and aggressively |
| Table Tennis Game (TT-13) | Match play | Putting all skills together in a game |
Grip and footwork first
Grip is the first and foremost requirement in any racquet sport. There are two types. In the Shakehand grip, shake hands with the slanted racquet and hold it in the palm: thumb and index finger parallel to the straight edge of the rubber, the remaining three fingers wrapped around the handle, and the grip kept loose — looseness gives more readiness, flexibility and strength for rotation and stability. In the Penhold grip, hold the racquet as you would hold a pen: thumb and index finger hold the handle near the blade, the remaining fingers rest around the back of the blade. Its two forms are the Chinese grip and the Japanese grip, but nowadays the Shakehand grip is more commonly used worldwide. Lead-up work is ball tapping — forehand tapping on the thumb side, backhand tapping on the other — standing, then while walking or running straight. Circle time covers wrist strength and flexibility: flexion, extension, radial and ulnar deviation, and rotation with open palm and closed fist.
Footwork decides whether you reach the ball in a position to play it well. Its key principle is returning the ball in front of the body's medial line on the backhand side, with comfortable lateral movement on the forehand side, placing the feet quickly sideways, backwards and forwards with balanced weight. The patterns taught are one-step footwork (a big step, a small step, or a drag with side skips), two-step footwork (side skip, small step, drag, side skip) and three-step footwork (side skip, side skip, small step, drag, side skip, side skip), plus pivot footwork and the crossover step. Good footwork gives quick reactions, better balance and smoother transitions between strokes.
Table tennis is both an individual and a team sport, played in tournament formats such as the Swaythling Cup, the Corbillon Cup and the Olympic pattern. It is played under fifteen basic laws developed by the International Table Tennis Federation. In Paralympic table tennis there are 11 classes: Classes 1–5 for wheelchair play, Classes 6–10 for standing disabilities, and Class 11 for intellectually challenged players.
Push, serve, drive, topspin, smash
The Forehand Push is a defensive stroke for short, low balls with backspin: it keeps control in rallies and stops the opponent from attacking aggressively. Its stance is feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent, leaning slightly forward, left foot slightly ahead (some players stand parallel to the end line). The Backhand Push is its mirror on the backhand side.
Most players score a point within the first 40–50 seconds of play, largely because of the service — so the Basic Service is the first skill a beginner must develop: a legal, consistent serve, with the ball resting on an open, stationary, flat palm. The Topspin Service is an attacking serve that makes the ball spin forward; the Backspin Service is a defensive serve that makes the ball spin backward and stay low.
The Forehand Drive and Backhand Drive are attacking strokes for hitting the ball with force, while the Forehand Topspin and Backhand Topspin generate forward spin so the ball dips sharply onto the table and is hard to return. The Smash is one of the most powerful strokes: played when the opponent returns a high ball, it is hit forcefully with varied placement. Its stance is side-on to the table, slightly back from it; the backswing brings the arm straight back behind the ball with the body rotated backwards and weight on the back foot; the strike moves forward, transferring weight onto the front foot.
The unit closes with the Table Tennis Game itself, and a teacher assessment covering grip (Shakehand and Penhold), push (forehand and backhand), service (basic, topspin and backspin), drive (forehand and backhand), topspin and smash — from needing more practice, through demonstrating each skill, to using the right skill for the rally and appreciating a good stroke by the opponent, even under pressure.
Key Terms
- Shakehand grip — Holding the racquet as in a handshake; thumb and index finger parallel to the rubber's edge; the commonest grip worldwide.
- Penhold grip — Holding the racquet like a pen; Chinese and Japanese forms.
- Push — A defensive stroke returning short, low balls, usually with backspin.
- Topspin / backspin — Forward spin (attacking, ball dips) versus backward spin (defensive, ball stays low).
- Drive — An attacking stroke hit with force, forehand or backhand.
- Smash — A fast, aggressive finish played on a high ball.
- Flexion / extension / radial / ulnar deviation — Wrist movements: bending forward, bending back, and sideways movements towards the thumb or little-finger side.
- ITTF laws — The fifteen basic laws of table tennis from the International Table Tennis Federation.
Remember
- Keep the Shakehand grip loose — looseness gives readiness, flexibility, rotation and stability.
- Footwork patterns: one-step, two-step, three-step, pivot and crossover; return the ball in front of the body's medial line on the backhand.
- Push is defensive (short, low, backspin); drive and topspin are attacking; smash finishes high balls.
- Topspin service attacks with forward spin; backspin service defends with backward spin.
- A legal basic serve starts with the ball on an open, stationary, flat palm.
- Old names: Ping-Pong and Gossima; ball: 40+ mm; table: wooden, dark matte surface, divided by a net.
- Paralympic classes: 1–5 wheelchair, 6–10 standing, 11 intellectual.
- Service matters most early: many points are scored within the first 40–50 seconds.
Nearly every stroke question here is really "attacking or defensive, and why?" Push and backspin service defend; drive, topspin and smash attack. State the spin too: topspin goes forward, backspin goes backward.
Table tennis starts with the grip — loose Shakehand or Penhold — and with feet that get you to the ball in balance. From there it is a ladder: push to stay in the rally, serve legally and then with spin, drive and topspin to attack, and smash the high ball to finish. Fast hands matter, but fast feet and correct spin matter more.
Practice set — try it yourself
- Describe the Shakehand grip in three points.
Hint: Handshake, thumb and index finger parallel, other fingers around the handle — and loose. - How does the Penhold grip differ, and which grip is commonest worldwide today?
Hint: Like holding a pen; the handshake grip is commonest. - Why is the forehand push called a defensive stroke?
Hint: It returns short, low, backspin balls and stops the opponent attacking. - What is the difference between a topspin service and a backspin service?
Hint: Forward spin attacks; backward spin defends and stays low. - When is a smash played, and why is it so powerful?
Hint: On a high ball, hit forcefully with varied placement.
Questions with Answers
- Why is grip called the first and foremost requirement in table tennis?
Because every stroke depends on how the racquet is held. A correct grip gives control, readiness, flexibility and stability; a wrong or tense grip limits rotation, weakens strokes and cannot be fixed by footwork alone. - Describe the Shakehand and Penhold grips.
Shakehand: shake hands with the slanted racquet, hold it in the palm, thumb and index finger parallel to the straight edge of the rubber, three fingers around the handle, grip loose. Penhold: hold the racquet like a pen, thumb and index finger gripping near the blade, remaining fingers around the back of the blade; its forms are Chinese and Japanese, but Shakehand is commonest worldwide today. - What is footwork's key principle, and which patterns are taught?
Return the ball in front of the body's medial line on the backhand side, with comfortable lateral movement on the forehand side, placing the feet quickly sideways, backwards and forwards with balanced weight. Patterns: one-step, two-step and three-step footwork, pivot footwork and the crossover step. - How does a legal basic service begin?
With the ball resting on an open, stationary, flat palm. Beginners must first develop a legal and consistent serve, because service effectiveness decides many points within the first 40–50 seconds of play. - Compare drive, topspin and smash as attacking strokes.
The drive hits the ball with force; topspin adds forward spin so the ball dips onto the table and is hard to return; the smash is the most powerful finish, played on a high ball with a side-on stance, backswing behind the ball, and weight transferring from back foot to front foot through the strike.
Questions with Answers — Extension
- (Match) Match: Penhold — like holding a pen; Push — defensive, short low balls; Topspin service — attacking, forward spin; Smash — high ball, forceful finish; ITTF — fifteen basic laws.
- (Numbers) What do these numbers mean in this unit: 40+ mm, 15, 11, 40–50 seconds? — Ball diameter 40+ mm; fifteen basic ITTF laws; eleven Paralympic classes; the time within which many points are scored because of service.
- (Classify) Sort into defensive and attacking: forehand push, backhand topspin, backspin service, forehand drive, smash. — Defensive: forehand push, backspin service. Attacking: backhand topspin, forehand drive, smash.
- (Reason) Why must the Shakehand grip stay loose? — A loose grip gives more readiness, flexibility and strength for rotation and stability; a tight grip stiffens the wrist and weakens control.
- (Distinguish) Topspin versus backspin — direction and effect. — Topspin spins forward, making the ball dip onto the table and attack; backspin spins backward, keeping the ball low and defensive.
- (Sequence) Put a rally's learning order in sequence: smash, grip, push, drive, service. — Grip, push, service, drive (and topspin), smash.
- (True / False) Paralympic Class 11 is for wheelchair play. — False. Classes 1–5 are wheelchair, 6–10 standing, 11 intellectually challenged.
- (Apply) Your opponent keeps returning short, low balls with backspin. Which stroke, and why? — The push (forehand or backhand as the side demands): it is made exactly for short, low, backspin balls, keeps control, and prevents the opponent from attacking aggressively.
How to use this page: Read the summary, say the Key Terms in your own words, then try the practice set without looking. Use the Questions with Answers to check yourself afterwards. Ask your teacher or parent to check your answers.