Quick glossary of cross-cutting terms

The previous sections of this chapter — 2.1 to 2.8 — have defined the central variables of equipment: speed, control, spin, catapult effect, dwell time, hardness, stiffness, flex, weight, balance, swingweight and manufacturer scales. They are not repeated here. What follows is a list of terms appearing throughout the book without a section of their own to develop them. Their function is to unblock the reading when the reader meets one before reaching the corresponding chapter.

• Bat: the assembled whole — blade, rubbers, glue — ready to play. The piece without rubbers is called the “blade”, not the “bat”.
• Blade: the rigid body of the bat. It may be pure wood (all-wood) or incorporate composite plies. Chapters 8 to 10 cover it in detail.
• Rubber: the combination of topsheet and sponge, sold as a unit. Each bat carries two, one per side.
• Topsheet: the sheet of rubber that touches the ball. Smooth with the pimples facing inwards (inverted rubber) or with the pimples facing outwards (special rubbers). Defined in 1.1.
• Sponge: the elastic layer between the topsheet and the blade. Its hardness and thickness condition much of the feel of the stroke. Defined in 1.1; developed in 4.2.
• Pimples: the protrusions of the rubber. Facing inwards on inverted rubbers; outwards on special ones — short, medium, long. Chapter 6.
• Anti-spin: an inverted rubber whose topsheet minimises friction: it neither generates nor returns spin. Section 6.5.
• Tensor: a rubber whose sponge is manufactured with internal tension, the origin of the catapult effect. The dominant category in attacking play. Section 5.2.
• Tacky: stickiness of the topsheet, characteristic of Chinese rubbers. It retains the ball by adhesion during contact. Section 5.3.
• Grip: the hold of the topsheet on the ball, through texture or rubber compound. Distinct from tacky: a rubber can have high grip without being sticky.
• Feeling: the overall tactile quality of a bat. Associated with a generous dwell time, good transmission of vibration and a linear response to impact.
• Loop: an attacking stroke with marked topspin and a curved trajectory; the backbone of the modern game. Variants: loaded, drive, at mid-distance.
• Flat hit: a flat stroke, with no appreciable spin. It seeks speed above rotation.
• Chop: a defensive stroke with dense backspin, usually far from the table. It defines the style of the chopper (16.5).
• Block: a containing stroke close to the table, brief in movement, adding little speed.
• Push: a short push with moderate backspin, typical of the opening of the point.
• Flick: a short attacking stroke over the table, with a wrist movement, attacking a ball placed in the short zone.
• Shakehand / penhold: the two families of grip. Covered in 1.6 and 1.7.
• RPB (reverse penhold backhand): the technique allowing a penhold player to strike the backhand with the opposite face. Section 16.3.
• OX: rubber without sponge — only topsheet on the blade — almost exclusive to defensive long pimples. Section 6.3.
• Sweet spot: the area of the bat where impact produces the best response. Defined in 1.4.
• Boost / boosting: a treatment that temporarily increases the tension of the sponge. Regulated by the ITTF. Chapter 14.
• VOC (volatile organic compounds): solvents regulated in glues and treatments. Sections 3.5 and 14.2.
• ITTF: the governing body of the international rules. Its regulations on equipment form the backbone of chapter 3.
• LARC: the official list of rubbers approved for competition. Section 3.4.
• FL, ST, AN: shakehand handle shapes — concave, straight, anatomic. Section 1.6.
• Ply: each sheet of wood or composite forming the blade. Usual constructions: 5 or 7 plies.
• All-wood: a blade without composite. Chapter 9.