TABLE TENNIS

Originally a leisure activity for the upper-class in Victorian-era England, the sport was initially called ping pong
before being renamed to table tennis in 1922. In its early days, the sport was largely played and dominated by
Europeans, especially the Hungarians.

However, table tennis became widely popular in Asia after finding its way to the continent in the 1950s, which
has since been a breeding ground for some of the best players in the world.

Just eight years after hosting its first World Cup in China, table tennis featured at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul and has since been a fixture at the Games.

Here’s a look at table tennis rules, the regulations, equipment used and how the game is played.

Table tennis table

As per the official rules of table tennis, the game is played on a 2.74 x 1.53-metre rectangular table made of
fiberwood and is split into two halves. Two centimeter-thick line runs over the border of the table, marking the playing
surface. The table is divided into two halves by a net that’s suspended using two poles attached to the table. The table
tennis net stands at a height of 15.25 centimeters.

Table tennis racquet

The bat, commonly referred to as a ‘racquet’ or ‘paddle’, is approximately 17cms long and 15cms wide, made
primarily of wood. It has a rubber surface on either side - black and red - that help the players in applying and negating
the spin on the ball.

Table tennis ball

The ball, usually orange or white, weighs about 2.7 grams and is spherical with a diameter of 40 millimeters
as per rules and regulations.

Official Rules of Table Tennis

1. GAMES ARE PLAYED TO 11 POINTS

A Game is played to 11 points. A Game must be won by two points. A Match is generally the best three of five Games.

2. ALTERNATE SERVES EVERY TWO POINTS

Each side of the table alternates serving two points at a time. EXCEPTION: After tied 10-10 (“deuce”), service alternates
at every point. Can you lose on a serve in ping pong? Yes! There is no separate rule for serving on Game Point.

3. TOSS THE BALL STRAIGHT UP WHEN SERVING

How do you serve the ball in ping pong? Hold the ball in your open palm, behind your end of the table. Toss at least 6”
straight up, and strike it on the way down. It must hit your side of the table and then the other side. NOTE: Once the
ball leaves the server’s hand it is in play, and so counts as the receiver’s point if the ball is missed or miss-hit.

4. THE SERVE CAN LAND ANYWHERE IN SINGLES

There is no restriction on where the ball lands on your side or your opponent’s side of the table. It can bounce two or
more times on your opponent’s side (if so, that’s your point), bounce over the side, or even hit the edge.

5. DOUBLES SERVES MUST GO RIGHT COURT TO RIGHT COURT

6. A SERVE THAT TOUCHES THE NET ON THE WAY OVER IS A “LET”

Can the ball hit the net in ping pong? Yes, during a RALLY, if it touches the top of the net and then otherwise lands as
a legitimate hit. BUT not when serving. If a served ball hits the net on the way over and otherwise legally bounces in
play, it’s a “let” serve and is done over. There is no limit on how many times this can happen.

7. ALTERNATE HITTING IN A DOUBLES RALLY

Doubles partners must alternate hitting balls in a rally, no matter where the ball lands on the table.

8. VOLLEYS ARE NOT ALLOWED

Can you hit the ball before it bounces in ping pong? No. In regular tennis you may “volley” the ball (hitting the ball before
it bounces on your side of the net). But in table tennis, this results in a point for your opponent. NOTE: When your
opponent hits a ball that sails over your end of the table without touching it and then hits you or your paddle, that is still
your point.

9. IF YOUR HIT BOUNCES BACK OVER THE NET BY ITSELF IT IS YOUR POINT

If you hit the ball in a rally or on a serve and it bounces back over the net after hitting your opponent’s side of the table
(due to extreme spin), without your opponent touching it, that is your point.

10. TOUCHING THE BALL WITH YOUR PADDLE HAND IS ALLOWED

What happens if the ball hits your finger or hand during a ping pong rally? If the ball touches your PADDLE hand and
otherwise results in a legal hit, there is no rule violation and play shall continue as normal. Your paddle hand includes
all fingers and hand area below the wrist. But what if the ball touches a player’s body anywhere else during a ping pong
rally? You may not touch the ball with your non-paddle hand for any reason. It will result in a point for your opponent.
BUT if your opponent’s hit sails over your side of the table without touching it, and hits any part of you or your paddle,
that is still your point.

11. YOU MAY NOT TOUCH THE TABLE WITH YOUR NON-PADDLE HAND

You may touch the ball or the table with your paddle hand (after reaching in to return a short serve, for example), or
other parts of your body. NOTE: If the table moves at all from your touching it during a rally, that is your opponent’s
point.

12. AN “EDGE” BALL BOUNCING OFF THE HORIZONTAL TABLE TOP SURFACE IS GOOD

An otherwise legal serve or hit may contact the top edge of the horizontal table top surface and be counted as valid,
even if it bounces sidewise. The vertical sides of the table are NOT part of the legal playing surface.

13. HONOR SYSTEM APPLIES TO DISAGREEMENTS

If no referee is present during a match and the players disagree on a certain call, the “honor system” applies and the
players should find a way to agree, or play the point over. Ping pong carries a tradition of fierce but fair play. Help us
keep it that way!

The aim in table tennis is to strike the ball in a manner that the opponent fails to make contact with the ball,
which earns the player a point. This can either be by sheer power, spin or other deceptive means. However, if the ball
hits the net and it fails to bounce over into the opponent’s half, or hits it over the net and out of bounds without coming
into contact with the table, the opponent gets a point.
 In doubles, the rule gets a bit more tricky. Here, the server and the partner have to alternate while attempting
to push the ball on to the opponent’s side of the table. Here the service alternates as well.

The opponent can also be awarded a point if you hit the ball outside the playing surface or if the ball comes
in contact with any part of your body while attempting a shot.

According to the laws of table tennis, a player can win a game of table tennis by scoring 11 points - with one
point awarded for every infringement. Every player gets to serve twice in a row. The first to 11 points is declared the
winner. If the points are tied at 10-10, a player then has to strive for a two-point lead to win the game.