Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a popular sport played by over 30 million competitive players worldwide. Like any sport, table tennis has its own unique culture, lingo, and intriguing aspects that lend themselves well to riddles. Below are 53 fun and challenging riddles about various table tennis topics, ranging from basic equipment to advanced techniques and strategies. The answers follow each riddle – no peeking ahead! Test your table tennis IQ and see how many you can get right.
Riddles About Table Tennis Equipment
The Table
1. What has legs but cannot walk?
The table tennis table
2. I’m made of wood or metal but you won’t find me in a forest or mine. Players meet over me but I never say hello. What am I?
The table tennis table
3. I come in all different sizes and shapes, some regulation and some not. You need me to play the game, but I do nothing more than get bounced off of. What am I?
The table tennis table
The Net
4. I separate rivals but bind the game. I fall but never get hurt. You can peer right through me but I obscure your view. What am I?
The net
5. I stretch but never pull. You can serve over me or catch me unaware. What am I?
The net
6. I’m strung tightly across, a few inches above the playing field. Balls may graze me but hopefully won’t touch, lest a point be forfeit. What am I?
The net
The Ball
7. Small and round and white, I soar across the table. Rackets redirect but never hold me. What am I?
The table tennis ball
8. I’m spherical when still but look more like a blur once rallies start. You can’t play the game without me, though I don’t mind getting bashed about. What am I?
The table tennis ball
9. Bounce me too high and your opponent attacks, bounce me too low and into the net I lack. Keep me just right so we can have a long rally fight. What am I?
The table tennis ball
The Racket
10. Flat face framed by a handle, waving me empowers the ball. A gentle touch or a strong attack, control is found upon impact. What am I?
The table tennis racket
11. Oval head and a flared grip is how I’m typically made. Sponge and rubber on one side, wood on the inside. Skilled hands use me to slice and hook, chop and drive. What am I?
The table tennis racket
12. Quick hands grab and spin me round, contacting the little white sphere. Eye-hand coordination will help me strike balls far and near at varying speeds, curves and heights – what fun! What am I?
The table tennis racket
The Rubbers
13. We’re applied to racket faces in two colors, red and ___?
Black
14. Iovers use me for more speed and spin, penholders for more control. Match my sides properly or miss out on my properties. What am I?
The rubbers
15. I’m usually made of sticky rubber with tiny pores. Club players use me for extra spin and speed. What am I?
Table tennis rubber
Riddles About Table Tennis Techniques
Serving
16. You hold me hidden til the very last stride, then unleash me quickly across the net divide. Perform me correctly and you’ll have the first attack – fail, and a point goes to the opponent’s stack. What am I?
The serve
17. Toss me high before starting the point, then strike me hard to the left or right joint. Catch me off guard and you likely score – so watch how I fly when we near the net’s core! What am I?
The table tennis ball on the serve
18. Up I go behind servers’ backs, coming down unseen yet controlling first attacks. Master me right and service points are yours; neglect me and rivals will even the scores. What am I?
The ball toss on serves
Strokes and Shots
19. My name starts with an F and I send the ball flying fast. Execute me well with good timing – opponents will be surpassed. What am I?
The forehand
20. Backhands are my forte since the other side seems too far away! Hit me with topspin or chop underspin…I can handle shots however they come in! What am I?
The backhand
21. Sending balls low and short, keeping them barely above the net, is the best way to perform me with threat. What type of stroke am I?
The short underspin stroke
22. Smashing down winners at high speed is this stroke indeed! Time me off a bounce or block for a point guaranteed. What am I?
The table tennis smash
Spins
23. Brush me upwards ever so slightly and behold what happens next – the ball dips down deceptively on the other side of the net! What am I?
Topspin
24. I’m the opposite of topspin – rub the ball downwards instead. Low skidding trajectories are what you’ll get when you do me right. What am I?
Underspin
25. Mix me up or disguise me well if you really want to excel! Though keep me moderate – too much and control you’ll expel. What am I?
Spin on the ball
26. Deceptive and disguised, I might look like I’ll pop up but then sink rapidly with unexpected drop. Often paired with speed variation, what type of spin could I be?
Sidespin
Returns
27. React quickly when balls come your way – block, flip or counter-hit without delay! Smash if you can or chop it back, varying pace or spin to throw opponent’s off track. What am I?
Returning the ball
28. Force your opponent on the defensive by doing this return. Drop short, low backspin strokes close to the net at varied depths. What am I?
The short underspin block/push
29. Aggressively loop topspin shots mid-distance from the table. This return builds counter-attacks to seize control. What am I?
The topspin counterloop
Footwork and Movement
30. Shuffle quickly left and right to reach shots on time. Bounce on your toes – be light! Don’t cross feet during play lest balance you lose outright. What am I?
Table tennis footwork
31. Keep me wide so you can sprint either way. Position well on shots to unleash forehands without delay! Narrow me down and mobility’s gone – angles to hit balls will go way wrong. What am I?
Stance and ready position
32. Explode this first in the opposite direction of your stroke. Transfer weight from back to front foot as you accelerate stroke execution. What am I?
The lunge
Riddles About Table Tennis Strategies
Tactics
33. Rally gently at first to discern your opponent’s style. Aggressively attack what makes them fall out of rhythm awhile. Then adapt your game to counter their strengths once more. Hit to weaknesses uncovered from points before. What overall approach am I?
Using tactics of disruption, variation and targeting weaknesses
34. Play patient but consistently force errors by using this tactic off key shots. It frustrates foes and tempts them to go for too much. What am I?
Keeping the ball low and short
35. Confuse your adversary by mixing up the placement, speed, spin and depth of your shots. Don’t be too predictable or they’ll quickly adjust! What tactic am I?
Using controlled variation
Strategies
36. My goal’s getting you back away from the table, allowing me to unleash more aggressive topspin drives and loops. Achieve this and I’ve succeeded in part of my quest. What common strategy am I?
Pushing the opponent back from the table
37. Play a balanced combo of offense and defense. Be patient, forcing mistakes with consistency but also pull the trigger attacking on weaker returns. Adapt my strategy based on changing conditions. What classic approach am I?
The all-around blocking and hitting strategy
38. Counter-hitting away from my opponent’s strong side makes it tougher for them to attack with their favorite shots. Hitting cross-court forehands to a lefty’s wide backhand makes them uncomfortable. What am I?
A cross-court counter-hitting strategy
Serving and Receive Tactics
39. Disguise me initially so opponents can’t easily read my spin or placement off the bounce. Mix up my variations too for optimal bewilderment! What key serve tactic am I?
Deception and variation on serves
40. Using heavy topspin, serve me short and low to either elbow. This tests opponents’ underspin pushes and limits their attacking options. What type of serve am I?
The short, low heavy topspin serve
41. React fast on opponent serves – push soft shots short, keep them close to the net. This limits their options and affords you control. What receiving tactic is this?
The short underspin push return
Defensive Strategies
42. Chopping aggressively with varying underspin drives while blocking topspins to disrupt timing is my forté. Counter when chances arise but keep balls frustratingly low otherwise! What defending approach am I?
The chopper blocking strategy
43. Angle racket slightly when blocking topspins instead of facing shots square-on. Absorb pace and return action for optimal control. What tactic am I?
The angled medium-long block
44. Back away from the table while blocking or chopping returns. Use footwork to cover wider angles opened up. Counter-attack on mid-distance balls. What common defending approach am I?
The backhand counter-chopper strategy
Playing Styles
45. My game relies on placement and control more than power. Drop shots, lobs and touch shots confound foes. What style do I play?
The all-around blocking and hitting strategy
46. Blistering topspin loops and dynamic footwork let me rule the table! Rally patiently then suddenly strike with speed and spin -catch me if you can! What offensive style am I?
The topspin driver
47. Combining aggressive looping topspins with a barricade of blocks and chops, I patiently construct points before unleashing deadly counters. What style of play do I utilize?
The counter-driver
48. Quick hands and fancy footwork are my claim to fame. Deceptive serves and third ball attacks seek to end rallies before opponents ever get set. What lightning style do I play?
The hitter
Strategic Principles
49. Attacking weaknesses while hiding your own is the key concept behind me. Force errors from opponents where they break down. What overriding strategic principle am I?
The principle of weakness
50. Taking and relinquishing the attack by turn in a rally is what I’m about! Control the initiative then play patient defense….then seize attack once more! Back and forth the battle goes. What principle governs this strategic rhythm?
The principle of attack and defense
Riddles About Table Tennis Champions & History
Famous Players
51. Hailing from China, my penhold shook up the sport in the early 90s. My speedy loops and deceptive serves dominated rivals through three Olympic cycles. Name me if you can!
Liu Guoliang
52. This defensive “shakehand” genius tamed China in the 80s with his blocking and tactical wizardry. To counter his spins, they had to adapt technologically. Who is this table maestro?
Jan Ove Waldner
53. Before priming China’s talent pipeline, this powerhouse physicist laid the groundwork for their looper dominance, earning fame for his speed and spin. Name me please if able!
Zhuang Zedong
Conclusion
How’d you fare with these tricky table tennis riddles? Puzzling out aspects of any sport leads to a deeper appreciation of its texture and charm. Hopefully these riddles revealed some intriguing qualities of competitive ping pong. From key equipment like rackets and balls to essential techniques, tactics and overall playing strategies, world class table tennis encompasses a rich diversity in styles and methods for gaining an edge over opponents. Master champions seem to intuitively grasp the governing principles that tilt their rivalry in their favor point after point. Maybe now having worked through these riddles and answers, we too can elevate our ping pong IQs closer to their rarified level!
