A

• Ace: A shot that the opponent fails to return, resulting in a point for the serving player.

B

• Backhand: A stroke made on the non-dominant side of a player's body (for right-handed players, it's the left side and vice versa).
• Block: A defensive shot played close to the table, redirecting the opponent's shot with minimal backswing.

C

• Chop: A defensive shot with heavy underspin, typically executed with a chopping motion to return a topspin shot.

D

• Drop shot: A softly hit shot with minimal spin, designed to land close to the net on the opponent's side, often used as a surprise tactic.
• Drive: An aggressive offensive shot with medium speed, often used to counter-attack or hit a ball at waist height.

F

• Fault: A violation of the rules, such as failing to make a legal serve or hitting the ball out of bounds, resulting in a point for the opponent.
• Footwork: The movement and positioning of a player's feet to allow effective shot execution and court coverage.
• Forehand: A stroke made on the dominant side of a player's body (for right-handed players, it's the right side and vice versa).

L

• Let: A serve that hits the net but lands legally on the opponent's side, resulting in a replay of the point.
• Lob: A defensive shot hit high and deep into the opponent's court, typically used to counter an opponent at the net.

P

• Paddle: Another term for a ping pong racket or bat used by players to hit the ball.
• Penhold grip: A grip style where the player holds the paddle similarly to holding a pen, using both sides of the paddle.

R

• Rally: A series of continuous exchanges of shots between players during a point.

S

• Serve: The shot used to initiate a point, where the ball is hit from behind the baseline diagonally into the opponent's court.
• Side spin: Spin applied to the ball by brushing the paddle against the side of the ball, causing it to curve in flight.
• Smash: An aggressive offensive shot with a powerful downward stroke, typically executed against a high ball.
• Spin: The rotation imparted to the ball, which affects its trajectory and bounce.

T

• Topspin: Forward rotation applied to the ball, causing it to dip and bounce higher on the opponent's side.

U

• Underspin: Backward rotation applied to the ball, causing it to float and bounce lower on the opponent's side.

V

• Volley: Hitting the ball in mid-air without allowing it to bounce on the player's side of the table.

W

• Wrist action: The movement of the wrist during a shot, which adds power and spin to the ball.