I play ping-pong pretty regularly and one of my regular opponents has started attacking the ball before it bounces on his side of the net. I maintain that this is illegal, and he insists that it isn’t. The rules I have read are so onerously worded that it’s difficult for me to tell whether it’s allowed or not. Any table tennis experts on here know if it’s a legal move or not?
It’s illegal. You’re not allowed to volley a ball in table tennis if the ball is over the playing surface. You can, however, volley the ball if it has passed over the end line or the side of the table already. Of course, there’s no point in doing this since you’ve already won the point at that point.
So, what happens if I return the ball in such a way that it bounces twice before crossing the end line?
Also can you show me the relevant section of the rules that says this?
It’s your point. He has to let it bounce exactly once before returning it.
And see here.
It’s your point if he lets it bounce twice on his side, of course.
If he hits the ball before it bounces off his side of the table and it is over (and not beyond) his side of the table at the time he hits it, it’s your point.
The rules are, as you say, onerously worded, but the offence he’s committing is obstructing the ball. He forfeits the point if anything he does prevents the ball from bouncing on his side of the table after you’ve hit it - including (but not restricted to) hitting it with his bat.
Once the ball’s clearly missed his side of the table, though, it’s his point, and he can catch it, volley it, or put a .45 bullet through it for all the rules care; that point is over.
Thank you all very much, especially Malacandra for the rules reference. That is going to be very handy.
Quite the pointed answer.
Let’s not point fingers.