Table Tennis Rules
The various rules in table tennis come automatically to a person who is a regular player of the game. But they can be a little confusing for a beginner or a first-time spectator. In this article, I will tell you about the official table tennis rules, and try to keep them as simple as possible for all to understand.
Table tennis, or ping-pong, as it is called in some parts of the world, is a very popular game that is played on a table, with a racket and ball. It can be played between two players or even between a team of two players each. The game originated in Great Britain in the 1800s, and is now a popular game all around the world. It is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) which was founded in 1926, which is also responsible for all aspects regarding international rules. It has been included in the Olympics since the year 1988. Here, we will talk about the important rules of table tennis, and how the game should be actually played.
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Table Tennis Rules and Regulations
Equipment
Table tennis was earlier played with a 38mm ball, but since the year 2000, the 44mm, 2.7 gram ball has been introduced. It is mostly white in color, but sometimes also orange, depending on the color of the surface of the table. The table is 9ft long and 5ft wide, and its surface is 2½ft above the ground. It is divided into two halves by a net which is 6 inches in height from the surface of the table. The table surface is mostly green in color, though it can also be blue or red too. The racket is made of laminated wood covered with rubber on both sides. One side usually has rubber for spin and the other to defend. The most common grips used around the world are the penhold grip and the shakehand grip. According to the ITTF norms, the rubber on one side should be red and the other black. It can be of any shape and size, but needs to be flat on the surface and rigid. The racket is also known as a paddle or a bat, in some countries.
Serving
The game commences with a toss, and the winner gets to decided whether he would like to serve, receive the serve, or choose the side of play. The server holds the racket in one hand, and the ball in the palm of the other hand, which is known as his free hand, and needs to be higher than the table surface and behind the endline of the table. He needs to toss the ball up at least 6 inches and cannot spin it with his hand, and can only hit it on descent. The serve needs to be executed in such a manner that the ball is clearly visible to the umpire and opponent. The ball, after being hit, needs to bounce once on the server's side and then once on the opponent's side. The server loses the point if the ball hits the net, or even brushes the net and falls out of the table. If it brushes the net and falls on the opponent's side, the serve needs to be retaken. The serve changes to the other player after every 2 points in the game.
Rally
After the serve, every shot needs to be returned directly on the opponent's half side of the table. It is alright if a shot brushes the net on the way to the other side. A player wins a point if his opponent cannot return his shot, or hits the ball in his own half or out of the table. Also, a point is won if it touches the edge of the table in the opponent's half, but not the sides.
Points
A game of table tennis is made up of 11 points for a win. The player to reach 11 points with a difference of at least 2 points wins the game. In case both players are tied at 10 a piece, each player serves once until one player has a difference of 2 points. A match can be a best of 5 or 7 games, depending on the particular tournament being played. Players change sides after every game, and if it's a deciding game, then players change sides whenever one player reaches 5 points first.
These were the basic and important international rules for table tennis that are followed for all tournaments all around the world, and also recognized by the ITTF.
Rules for Singles
The rules for singles differ slightly from doubles. The serve can bounce anywhere on both sides of the table, and need not be diagonal. A game is won when a player reaches 11 points with a difference of at least 2 points. Sides change after every game and when a player reaches 5 points in a deciding game. A match can be best of 5 or 7 games. The serve changes every 2 points, and then every point after a deuce. Shots can be played on any part of the opponent's half of the table.
Rules for Doubles
The rules for doubles are tweaked just a little as compared to singles. Scoring of points is also the same as singles. There are only a couple of things that are different when it is a doubles match. First of all, the serving rules are different. There are 2 players on each side, and the serve has to be taken from the right side of the table. Each half of the table is divided into 2 more halves. The server has to strike the ball in such a way that the ball bounces first in his team's half, and also in the right side half of his team's side of the table. The serve needs to be in a cross or diagonal direction. Meaning, the ball has to land on the opposite side of the table in the right half of the other team's side, as the other team sees it. The serve still changes every 2 points, but each player from a team takes one serve each. Shots are taken by each player alternatively in a rally. This is the major difference from lawn tennis, where in a doubles match, any player can take a shot according to the situation. Also, in a deciding game, after changing sides, the combination of players serving and receiving changes. For example, if player A was serving to player C, and player B was serving to player D, after the change, player A would serve to player D and player B would serve to player C. Besides these few aspects, all the rules are the same as the singles game. In doubles, coordination of both partners between themselves plays an important part in getting that winning edge over their opponents.
Table Tennis Terms
Here are just a few basic tips for your benefit. For the serve, a slow spinning serve is always better than a fast one. Usually, a fast serve is met with an even faster return or a smash. When in a defensive situation, a chop return is always the best. It nullifies the spin effect and also does not allow the opponent to smash or play and aggressive shot in his next chance. When an attacking chance presents itself, choose wisely between a smash shot and a topspin shot. Acquiring a good topspin shot in one's armor is something that can enhance the game level to a great extent. During a game, besides starting with your own game plan, it is also very important to observe your opponent's game and tactics, and then alter your game accordingly. Playing towards your opponent's weakness will give you that much-needed edge. And lastly, you will need to be trained by a professional coach if you are serious about this game and are interested in pursuing it professionally or competitively.
This article has been a humble attempt to list down all the basic rules of table tennis, and the tips required for an individual to understand and play this game. Even if played just for fun, it is a great form of exercise and enjoyment.
 Equipment |
 Serve |
 Forehand |
 Backhand |
 Shakehand Grip |
 Penhold Grip |
 Topspin |
 Table |
 Smash |
 Doubles |
Table Tennis Rules and Regulations
Equipment
Table tennis was earlier played with a 38mm ball, but since the year 2000, the 44mm, 2.7 gram ball has been introduced. It is mostly white in color, but sometimes also orange, depending on the color of the surface of the table. The table is 9ft long and 5ft wide, and its surface is 2½ft above the ground. It is divided into two halves by a net which is 6 inches in height from the surface of the table. The table surface is mostly green in color, though it can also be blue or red too. The racket is made of laminated wood covered with rubber on both sides. One side usually has rubber for spin and the other to defend. The most common grips used around the world are the penhold grip and the shakehand grip. According to the ITTF norms, the rubber on one side should be red and the other black. It can be of any shape and size, but needs to be flat on the surface and rigid. The racket is also known as a paddle or a bat, in some countries.
Serving
The game commences with a toss, and the winner gets to decided whether he would like to serve, receive the serve, or choose the side of play. The server holds the racket in one hand, and the ball in the palm of the other hand, which is known as his free hand, and needs to be higher than the table surface and behind the endline of the table. He needs to toss the ball up at least 6 inches and cannot spin it with his hand, and can only hit it on descent. The serve needs to be executed in such a manner that the ball is clearly visible to the umpire and opponent. The ball, after being hit, needs to bounce once on the server's side and then once on the opponent's side. The server loses the point if the ball hits the net, or even brushes the net and falls out of the table. If it brushes the net and falls on the opponent's side, the serve needs to be retaken. The serve changes to the other player after every 2 points in the game.
Rally
After the serve, every shot needs to be returned directly on the opponent's half side of the table. It is alright if a shot brushes the net on the way to the other side. A player wins a point if his opponent cannot return his shot, or hits the ball in his own half or out of the table. Also, a point is won if it touches the edge of the table in the opponent's half, but not the sides.
Points
A game of table tennis is made up of 11 points for a win. The player to reach 11 points with a difference of at least 2 points wins the game. In case both players are tied at 10 a piece, each player serves once until one player has a difference of 2 points. A match can be a best of 5 or 7 games, depending on the particular tournament being played. Players change sides after every game, and if it's a deciding game, then players change sides whenever one player reaches 5 points first.
These were the basic and important international rules for table tennis that are followed for all tournaments all around the world, and also recognized by the ITTF.
Rules for Singles
The rules for singles differ slightly from doubles. The serve can bounce anywhere on both sides of the table, and need not be diagonal. A game is won when a player reaches 11 points with a difference of at least 2 points. Sides change after every game and when a player reaches 5 points in a deciding game. A match can be best of 5 or 7 games. The serve changes every 2 points, and then every point after a deuce. Shots can be played on any part of the opponent's half of the table.
Rules for Doubles
The rules for doubles are tweaked just a little as compared to singles. Scoring of points is also the same as singles. There are only a couple of things that are different when it is a doubles match. First of all, the serving rules are different. There are 2 players on each side, and the serve has to be taken from the right side of the table. Each half of the table is divided into 2 more halves. The server has to strike the ball in such a way that the ball bounces first in his team's half, and also in the right side half of his team's side of the table. The serve needs to be in a cross or diagonal direction. Meaning, the ball has to land on the opposite side of the table in the right half of the other team's side, as the other team sees it. The serve still changes every 2 points, but each player from a team takes one serve each. Shots are taken by each player alternatively in a rally. This is the major difference from lawn tennis, where in a doubles match, any player can take a shot according to the situation. Also, in a deciding game, after changing sides, the combination of players serving and receiving changes. For example, if player A was serving to player C, and player B was serving to player D, after the change, player A would serve to player D and player B would serve to player C. Besides these few aspects, all the rules are the same as the singles game. In doubles, coordination of both partners between themselves plays an important part in getting that winning edge over their opponents.
Table Tennis Terms
- The hand in which the racket is held is called the racket hand.
- The hand that is not carrying the racket is called the free hand.
- When a rally ends, it is known as a point.
- A rally is the period from when the ball is served till the point is scored.
- The player who strikes the ball first is called the server.
- The player who is supposed to hit the ball second during a rally is called the receiver.
- The person who conducts and controls the match is called the umpire.
- A rally is a let, if for some reason or the other it does not end in a point.
Here are just a few basic tips for your benefit. For the serve, a slow spinning serve is always better than a fast one. Usually, a fast serve is met with an even faster return or a smash. When in a defensive situation, a chop return is always the best. It nullifies the spin effect and also does not allow the opponent to smash or play and aggressive shot in his next chance. When an attacking chance presents itself, choose wisely between a smash shot and a topspin shot. Acquiring a good topspin shot in one's armor is something that can enhance the game level to a great extent. During a game, besides starting with your own game plan, it is also very important to observe your opponent's game and tactics, and then alter your game accordingly. Playing towards your opponent's weakness will give you that much-needed edge. And lastly, you will need to be trained by a professional coach if you are serious about this game and are interested in pursuing it professionally or competitively.
This article has been a humble attempt to list down all the basic rules of table tennis, and the tips required for an individual to understand and play this game. Even if played just for fun, it is a great form of exercise and enjoyment.
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