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Unit 4: Fundamental Skills of Sports — Table Tennis – Class 8 Physical Education Chapter 4 Notes & NCERT PDF

Class 8Physical Education and Well-beingChapter 4NCERT book: Khel Yatra - Physical Education and Well-being Class 8

Notes and a simple summary of Chapter 4 of the NCERT Class 8 Physical Education and Well-being book, with the official chapter PDF, flashcards, an MCQ quiz and an AI tutor for your doubts.

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Unit 4: Fundamental Skills of Sports — Table Tennis

Introduction

Table tennis is one of the fastest racquet games in the world. It is 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. Players combine forehand and backhand strokes with defensive and attacking techniques. It needs quick reflexes and eye-hand and sound coordination. The game was earlier called Ping-Pong and Gossima, and it is recreational, remedial and competitive.

Key Ideas

TT-1 Grip

Grip is the first requirement of any racquet sport. There are two types:

  • Shakehand grip – "shake hands" with the racquet; thumb and index finger parallel to the straight edge of the rubber; other three fingers wrap the handle. Keep it loose for flexibility and rotation.
  • Penhold grip – hold the racquet like a pen; thumb and index finger near the blade, other fingers behind. Types: Chinese and Japanese penhold. Today the shakehand grip is more common worldwide.

    • Lead-up – ball tapping: forehand tapping (thumb side), backhand tapping (index finger side) and combination tapping, two minutes each, counting taps.

    TT-2 Footwork

  • The table's end line is 1.525 m wide. Good footwork lets you return the ball in front of your body.
  • Types: side-to-side (shuffle/slide), in-and-out, pivot, crossover step, one-step footwork.
  • Stance: feet shoulder-width, knees slightly bent, on the balls of the feet.
  • Lead-up: players move on calls of "Left! Right! Forward! Back!"; 5 points against you means you lose the round.

    • Strokes – four stages each: stance → backswing → strike → follow-through

    TT-3 Forehand Push (defensive)

  • Returns short, low balls with backspin.
  • Contact underneath the ball in front of the body and snap the wrist; follow through forwards and downwards.

    • TT-4 Backhand Push (defensive)

  • Contact underneath or behind the ball, in front of the body; follow through forwards and downwards.
  • Lead-up variation: a thread tied four inches above the net – pass the ball between thread and net.

    • TT-5 Basic Service

  • Most players score a point within the first 40–50 seconds, mainly through effective serves.
  • Ball rests on an open, stationary palm; racquet behind and above the end line.
  • Toss the ball at least 16 cm (6 inches) near vertically; strike it while it is falling; it must bounce on your side first, then cross the net.
  • The ball must not be hidden by any body part.

    • TT-6 Topspin Service – racquet angle slightly closed; brush the top of the ball; follow through forwards and upwards. The ball dips quickly and bounces aggressively.

    TT-7 Backspin Service – racquet angle open; strike the bottom of the ball; follow through forwards and deep downwards. The ball slows after bouncing and can even come back towards the net.

    TT-8 Forehand Drive (attacking) – forward and slightly upward motion with light topspin; weight shifts onto the front foot; hips and waist rotate forward. Lead-up: hit through a hula hoop.

    TT-9 Backhand Drive (attacking) – feet parallel to the end line; racquet goes back towards the waist; contact in front of the body, slightly left; close the wrist over the ball.

    TT-10 Forehand Topspin – rotate hips, waist and shoulders upwards and forwards; quickly close the elbow; snap the wrist; brush the top of the ball.

    TT-11 Backhand Topspin – square to the table; rotate to the left and downwards, then forwards and upwards using the legs; snap the wrist.

    TT-12 Smash – the most powerful stroke, used on a high return. Stand side-on, slightly back; bring the arm straight back behind the ball; transfer weight onto the front leg and hit ahead of the body.

    TT-13 Table Tennis Game – a five-point game using all skills; the rally winner scores a point and serves next.

    Activities & Drills

  • Tapping drills while walking, running or zig-zagging
  • Direction-call footwork game; cone and ladder variations
  • Push rallies (first to 5 points) with target zones
  • Service into a tub placed on the opponent's side
  • Drive rallies, target challenges and timed rallies
  • Smash on high tossed balls aimed at target zones

    • Safety First

  • Warm up wrists, arms and shoulders; cool down with slow stretches and deep breathing.
  • Practise slowly with control before adding speed and spin.
  • Play fairly – follow legal service rules.

    • Key Terms

  • Racquet / paddle – bat used to hit the ball (रैकेट)
  • Shakehand grip – handshake-style grip (शेकहैंड पकड़)
  • Penhold grip – pen-style grip (पेनहोल्ड पकड़)
  • Footwork – movement of the feet to position (पैरों का संचालन)
  • Push – defensive stroke with backspin (पुश)
  • Drive – attacking stroke with light topspin (ड्राइव)
  • Topspin – forward spin, ball dips (अग्र-घुमाव)
  • Backspin – backward spin, ball slows (पश्च-घुमाव)
  • Service – the shot that starts a rally (सर्विस)
  • Smash – powerful attacking stroke (स्मैश)
  • End line – the table's back edge (अंत रेखा)
  • Rally – continuous exchange of shots (रैली)

    • Fun Facts

  • Table tennis is played in team events such as the New Swaythling Cup and Corbillon Cup, and at the Olympics.
  • The Paralympic event has 11 classes: classes 1–5 wheelchair, 6–10 standing disabilities, and class 11 intellectual impairment.
  • The game follows fifteen basic laws of the International Table Tennis Federation.

    • Common Mistakes

  • Gripping the racquet too tightly – a loose grip gives better rotation.
  • Tossing the ball less than 16 cm or hitting it on the way up – both make the serve illegal.
  • Hiding the ball with the body or free arm during service.
  • Standing flat-footed – stay on the balls of your feet.

    • Check Yourself

  • How high must the service toss be?
  • Which part of the ball do you strike for topspin and for backspin?
  • Name the two grips and the two types of penhold grip.
  • How are Paralympic table-tennis classes divided?

    • 💡 Key Learning Points

    • ✓Table tennis uses a 40+ mm ball on a dark matte wooden table and was earlier called Ping-Pong and Gossima.
    • ✓The two grips are shakehand (most common today) and penhold (Chinese and Japanese types).
    • ✓Every stroke has stance, backswing, strike and follow-through; pushes are defensive, drives and topspins attacking.
    • ✓A legal serve starts from an open stationary palm, with a near-vertical toss of at least 16 cm, struck as the ball falls.
    • ✓Topspin comes from brushing the top of the ball; backspin from striking the bottom with an open racquet.

    👨‍🏫 Teaching Tips

    • →Begin every session with two-minute forehand, backhand and combination tapping and let students count their taps.
    • →Use 'Left! Right! Forward! Back!' calls to train footwork before introducing strokes.
    • →Demonstrate each stroke slowly in four stages and let pairs practise without scoring first.
    • →Place a tub on the opponent's side for service practice and check toss height and legality.
    • →Tie a thread four inches above the net to train low, controlled backhand pushes.
    • →Compare topspin and backspin by letting students watch how the ball bounces after each.
    • →Discuss the Paralympic classes to highlight inclusion in the sport.

    📋 Assessment Questions

    1. Can the student demonstrate both shakehand and penhold grips?
    2. Can the student perform a legal basic service?
    3. Can the student play forehand and backhand pushes in a rally?
    4. Can the student explain the difference between topspin and backspin?
    5. Can the student choose when to use a smash instead of a topspin?

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    Keep learning

    All chapters in Khel Yatra - Physical Education and Well-being Class 8

    1. 1. Unit 1: Foundations of Physical Education and Well-being
    2. 2. Unit 2: Physical and Motor Fitness
    3. 3. Unit 3: Fundamental Skills of Sports — Athletics
    4. 4. Unit 4: Fundamental Skills of Sports — Table Tennis
    5. 5. Unit 5: Fundamental Skills of Sports — Volleyball
    6. 6. Unit 6: Yoga