Why do people wipe near the net?

It cools/dries your hand. It's best to do up there as the ball won't hit there very often.

there is a built-in fan in that part of the table that sends streams of air so if u put ur hadn there (like in bowling) it dries it up.

It's a great way to prevent your opponents most dangerous serves from being effective (spin wise).

skip3119 wrote: Also, "Why do people blow air at the end of the blade's handle?"

I've seen this as well. Anyone care to explain these trivial table tennis gestures?

skip3119 wrote: Also, "Why do people blow air at the end of the blade's handle?"

I do this very often. It dries your hand and handle.

Wiping one's hands on the table surface is an utterly disgusting sight anyway, and should be prohibited from the sport as soon as possible.
It is much the same nasty action to watch as if one pissing or vomiting in full view of the public.





At major events with a large attendance of spectators umpires should penalize the player wiping his hands on the table just the same way as they would do about spitting on the floor or obscene language, I believe, and will try my very best so as the proposal of 2006 has been eventually validate by ITTF someday in the future.

Page 54

16. Proposed by the USA Table Tennis Association
3.5.2 MISBEHAVIOUR
3.5.2.1
Players and coaches shall refrain from behaviour that may unfairly affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into disrepute, such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball or hitting it out of the playing area, kicking the table or surrounds, wiping the hands on the surface of the table and disrespect of match officials.

RACIONALE:
While one player is wiping his hand in his towel every 6 points, the other is wiping his hand on the surface of the table, some times at every point and some times more than one time between the two points.
▪ It looks rather offensive on the TV
▪ It disruptive to the continuous play.
▪ It delays the game and that in it is against the rules.
▪ It creates arguments between
the player and the umpire, as there
is no specific mention to it in the rules.

At major events with a large attendance of spectators umpires should penalize the player wiping his hands on the table just the same way as they would do about spitting on the floor or obscene language, I believe, and will try my very best so as the proposal of 2006 has been eventually validate by ITTF someday in the future.

Page 54

16. Proposed by the USA Table Tennis Association
3.5.2 MISBEHAVIOUR
3.5.2.1
Players and coaches shall refrain from behaviour that may unfairly affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into disrepute, such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball or hitting it out of the playing area, kicking the table or surrounds, wiping the hands on the surface of the table and disrespect of match officials.

RACIONALE:
While one player is wiping his hand in his towel every 6 points, the other is wiping his hand on the surface of the table, some times at every point and some times more than one time between the two points.
▪ It looks rather offensive on the TV
▪ It disruptive to the continuous play.
▪ It delays the game and that in it is against the rules.
▪ It creates arguments between
the player and the umpire, as there
is no specific mention to it in the rules.

I honestly don't see the big fuss about wiping your hand on the table. You create such a thin film of water that it evaporates nearly instantaneously. Saying it can "unfairly affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into disrepute" seems extremely far fetched to me.

Profanity or lack of sportsmanship (like cheering when one gets a luck net or edge) I have an issue with. If you have your rituals that help you calm down and get ready for the next point, they do it. I shouldn't let it affect me and if it does, then I have to work on my mental game.

Then again, people see things differently.

I disagree about Ma Long being the best at breaking rhythm. I think that's Ma Lin.

Your hand sweating is a result of play so I think it's a lot more reasonable than snot or earwax.

As for disgusting, you're constantly throwing off dead skin cells all over the place. There's bacteria all over your skin and when you touch a playing object (say the ball) that gets transferred all over the place. Then the ball sometimes touches the floor and who knows where the other peoples' shoes have been. But that's taking it way too far and getting paranoid.

If sweat is so nasty, and you guys take offense by it, then how do you propose we penalise those players who drips sweat on the table from their forehead? Prevent them from leaning over the table at all?

I wouldn't mind having a rule against wiping sweat off against the table, but not because it's nasty, rather because it break the rhytm of play. Towel down after every six points should be enough.

Are all of the responses in this thread legitimate? I seem some people arguing that wiping the hands should be illegal, but it seemed like they were just joking and then others were taking them seriously. I don't know how you could be against something that helps peoples consistency. A quick wipe at the front of the table doesn't take much time at all. My hand sweats a lot when I play and if i don't wipe it off it definitely affects me. 

I sweat a lot and I can count on 1 hand how many times I've wiped my hand on the table.  I wear wristbands to help, but I either dry my hands on my towel, or+ my shorts.  

zephyr wrote: Are all of the responses in this thread legitimate? I seem some people arguing that wiping the hands should be illegal, but it seemed like they were just joking and then others were taking them seriously. I don't know how you could be against something that helps peoples consistency. A quick wipe at the front of the table doesn't take much time at all. My hand sweats a lot when I play and if i don't wipe it off it definitely affects me.

Put me in the "serious column" for thinking hand wiping on the table should be illegal. Dried sweat leaves a greasy spot, especially when there is a build-up of it from repeat serial sweat offenders.

The whole table is always potentially in play, and deliberately imparting a sweat blob that could affect or alter the way the the ball bounces or spins should obviously be illegal as a matter of logic and common sense. Don't you think most players would object if an opponent decided to wipe his greasy palms in the middle of the table? The issue is not where the sweat is wiped on the table, but that no sweat or other forms of human bodily fluids should be allowed to be deliberately imparted onto the playing surface.

Sorry, but a little sweat wiping spot in the corner is not OK. Every now and then a ball does land on that spot. An analogy might be:  I like to play pool also. The pool surface velvet makes a very nice hand wiper for my sweaty palms. Think it would be acceptable  to wipe on an inconspicuous small spot on the velvet?

Specific language forbidding the table hand wiping act would be welcome, IMO.