can you play doubles in ping pong
Table tennis can be played in doubles. Table tennis doubles consists of two players on each side of the table, taking turns hitting the ball. Doubles requires more cooperation and collaboration, trust, encouragement and understanding between the players, as well as flexible footwork and hitting ability.
Rules and Format of Table Tennis Doubles Matches
Rule of Serve: In doubles matches, the serving team must stand within their own half of the court and hit the ball after it has been thrown up. When the ball is served, it must first land on the side's tee or center line and then on the opponent's tee or center line. The order of serving is that the first player is determined by one team at the beginning of each set, and the receiving team can determine the first receiver at will, after which the serving and receiving teams take turns exchanging serves in that order.
Scoring rules: Doubles matches are generally played in a best-of-three system with 11 points per set. If the score is tied at 10-10, each player has one chance to serve until one side is ahead by two points and the winner ends the set. In a tie-break, when one side scores the first five points, the two sides shall exchange courts.
Stands and batting order: In doubles matches, both players need to bat in order, not by the same person twice in a row. If the strokes are hit in the wrong order, the opponent is awarded a point.
Table Tennis Doubles Matching Skills and Strategies
Cooperation and tacit understanding: In a doubles match, the two players need to be in agreement mentally, with mutual trust, encouragement and understanding. At the same time, they need to have flexible footwork and the ability to hit the ball without obstructing their partner's movement and vision, and at the same time, it is beneficial for them to hit back the next incoming ball.
Use of Tactics: Tactics play a greater role in doubles than in singles. Players can imply each other's intention to serve through hand gestures, strive to take the initiative in serving, and create offensive opportunities by using tactics such as tightly nailing a corner, cross-court attacking two corners, or combining long and short.
Serving strategy: When serving, the player should try to create conditions for the partner's attacking, and the receiving serve should be mainly attacking and pulling. The serving team should accurately grasp the timing and strength of the serve to ensure that the ball can fall smoothly to the opponent's serving area or center line.
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