Table tennis is a wonderful sport with well-detailed rules & regulations, practiced and played all across the world.
For an avid table tennis fan, the following table tennis players guide with an additional focus on table tennis (ping pong) rules for singles, doubles, serving rules, faults & Penalties is going to be quite a helpful and interesting read.
Table tennis, also known colloquially as Ping-Pong, is a diminutive form of lawn tennis having identical principles. Table Tennis is comparatively the oldest, most historical & most popular game all across the world.
How Table Tennis is Played?
Contents
It is played on a flat tabled court (9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high), with small and handheld paddles and a light hollow ball.
The court, similar to that of tennis, is partitioned into two similar-sized courts by a middle, fixed tiny net (15.25 cm).
The Object of Playing
The basic object of the game is to make the lightweight hollow ball dance back and forth over the miniature net, with the help of small paddles held by individuals playing the game.
While the particular object is, unquestionably, to win the match by scoring more points and winning more than half the number of games being played between either 1 vs. 1 (singles) or 2 vs. 2 (doubles).
For obtaining points, one has to play the ball in a way so that the ball clears the net and lands on the other half (opponent’s side) by beating the opponent and making them unable to control it or return it in due time with a lawful hit.
Related Post: 14 Best Recommended Table Tennis Rackets in 2020
Table Tennis Rules & Regulations
The table tennis sport has the following set of interesting rules & regulations for beginners to advanced level playing.
1. Scoring Rules
The score, as usual, begins at 0-0, and it’s the server that serves the ball first. Ping-pong sport comprises the following three integral components of score:
a. Point:
A player or team wins a point when the opponent’s side fails to return the ball after you have hit it to your opponent’s side.
In simple words, when your opponent, by any means, fails to return the ball to you, you earn a point.
Note: In case both the players have scored 10 points, the first player getting a lead of 2 points gains victory in the game.
b. Game:
A player or team wins the game by scoring 11 points before the opponent/opponents and leading the opponent side at least by 2 points.
c. Match:
A match consists of 5 to 7 games or usually an odd number of games. A player or team has to win more than half the number of games to claim victory.
For example: In a match of 5 games, one has to win at least 3 games, similarly 4 games have to be won out of 7 games.
2. Serving Rules
Initially, the ball should rest on a straight and motionless palm of the server’s hand.
Later, it should be tossed up in the air, at least 6 inches high, and hit while the ball is in the air so that the ball must, first of all, bounce on the side of the server and on the opponent’s side afterward.
The serve is declared to be quite fair, except it touches the tiny net fixed in the middle of the court.
If the service comes in physical contact with the net, it becomes a let serve.
A let serve is scoreless and retainable.
a. Serving Rules For Singles
- Initially, the ball should rest on a straight and motionless palm of the server’s hand. This will prevent the server from throwing the ball up with spin.
- The ball should be thrown in the vertical direction, as high as 16 cm. This will prevent the server from striking the ball straight to the other side of the court and thus deceiving the opponent.
- The ball has to be both; above and behind the table while serving.
- This will stop the server from gaining an awkward angle and thereby giving equal opportunity to opponent while replying the serve.
- After the ball is thrown, the server should take his free arm and hand aside. Thus allowing the opponent to have a look at the ball coming his way.
b. Serving Rules For Doubles
- The serve should be made diagonally. It means the ball should go from server’s right-hand side to the receiver’s right-hand side.
- This will not confuse the opponent pair, and they won’t collide with each other while hitting the ball back.
- In doubles, the pair has to strike the ball on alternate turns. Thus, it becomes quite challenging and exciting for both teammates.
3. Rotation Rule for Doubles
This rule makes it rather certain that both teammates have the opportunity to perform as the server and the receiver. This cycle is repeated after every eight points. The rule states;
- When the change of service takes place, the previous receiver has to take the position of the new server.
- Whereas the partner of the previous server has to take the position of the receiver.
Explanation
- A1 (first server) serves the ball to B1 (first receiver), the B1 then returns the ball to his opponent.
- A2 (second server) hits the ball to B2 (second receiver), who again returns this.
- Afterward, A1 serves, and B2 receives and returns, similarly A2 strikes and B1 responds…so on and so forth.
Must Obeyed Service Rules
These Service Rules explain that;
You should, first, make the ball land and bounce on your side of the court and in your opponent’s court later.
On the other end, your opponents, before trying to return the ball, should permit it to land and bounce once on their side.
You should hit the ball in a way that it clears the net comfortably.
In case it goes over the net after clipping it, it is considered a ‘let’.
A let is usually retained by the server.
Conversely, if the ball hits directly to the net and doesn’t cross the net, your opponents get a point.
Note: In this case, there is no other service.
Losing Points
- When you miss a serve.
- When you’re unable to return the serve.
- When your shot collides with the net and falls on your side.
- When your forceful smash make the ball go out of the table without touching the court.
- When you willfully or unintentionally touch the table, move it or even touch the net.
Note: This rule of 21 points was modified by the ITTF in 2001
Important Questions
1. What are Table Tennis Rules 21 Points?
A game is declared to have been won by the player who scores 11 points before his opponent and also leads by at least 2 points.
In case, both the players have scored (10-10) points respectively, the game would jump from 11 points to 21 points as the winning target. However, first player to score two more points wins the game.
2. Who Serves first in Table Tennis?
It’s usually decided by the toss.
3. How does Table Tennis Serve work?
Initially, the ball should rest on a straight and motionless palm of the server’s hand. Later, it should be tossed up in the air, at least 6 inches high, and hit while the ball is in the air so that the ball must, first of all, bounce on the side of the server and on the opponent’s side afterward.
The serve is declared to be quite fair, except it touches the tiny net fixed in the middle of the court.
If the service comes in physical contact with the net, it becomes a let serve. A let serve is scoreless and retainable.
3. What is a Cross Service?
In singles, apparently, there is no limit for serving. One can serve at his own discretion. While in doubles, this privilege is not observed, and the change of service takes place.
This cross-service goes as follows; the previous receiver has to take the position of the new server, whereas the partner of the previous server has to take the position of the receiver.
This makes it rather certain that both teammates have the opportunity to perform as the server and the receiver. This cycle is repeated after every eight points.
For instance: A1 (first server) serves the ball to B1 (first receiver), the B1 then returns the ball to his opponent. A2 (second server) hits the ball to B2 (second receiver), who again returns this.
Afterward, A1 serves, and B2 receives and returns, similarly, A2 strikes, and B1 responds…so on, and so forth.
4. Can you lose on a Serve?
Yes, definitely. You can lose on a service if your serve is unable, by any means, to clear the net easily and reach the receiver.
5. Swing and Miss a Serve Rules?
If the server swings his bat in order to make contact with the ball but unlikely misses the serve, the point goes to his opponent. As per rule, the play starts once the server tosses the ball in the air.
6. Serve faults Rules
There are a number of service faults in ping-pong, such as:
- The ball, after being served wrongly, can go either off the table or from the sides of the table on the receiver side.
- The recipient must return the serve after one bounce. Otherwise, he loses the point.
- You can avail a let as long as you don’t fall prey to a major fault.
- In case of a major fault, you can’t avail another serve.
7. What is an Illegal Serve?
It is considered an illegal serve when the server tries to hide the ball from the receiver during the serve.
It means the server must not hide the ball from his opponent with his free hand, free arm, racquet, torso, etc.
8. How does Scoring Work ?
In table tennis, scoring works uniquely. Here, a game consists points, while a match consists of games.
A game is declared to have been won by the player who scores 11 points before his opponent and also leads by at least 2 points.
In case both the players have scored 10 points respectively, the first player to score 2 more points wins the game.
Whereas a match consists of an odd number of games, either 5 or 7, and is won by winning more than half of the games.
9. Does the Ball have to Bounce?
Yes, it has to bounce. You should, first, make the ball land and bounce on your side of the court and in your opponent’s court later.
On the other end, your opponents, before trying to return the ball, should permit it to land and bounce once on their side.
10. Can the Ball Bounce twice?
The simple answer to this question is NO! The serve can only bounce once on either side of the court. Firstly, it has to bounce once on the server’s side.
Secondly, it should bounce once on the opponent’s side. If it bounces twice on the receiver’s side, the server gets the point as a result of a double bounce on the opponent’s side.
11. Can you hit the Ball twice?
No, you can’t hit the ball twice. If the ball hits your hand, thumb, or finger first and then your bat, it’s considered a double hit, and you are supposed to lose the point.
If the ball hits your hand and the bat simultaneously, this is not considered a double hit, and thus no point is lost, and the rally would continue.
12. If a Ball hits you whose point is it?
What happens if the ball hits your finger in Ping-pong The point usually goes to the other player whose hit has been touched by his opponent.
In simple words, if your opponent touches your hit, you get a point and in case you touch a hit that comes from your opponent, your opponent gets a point.
13. What are the Rules for hitting the Net?
There are two simple rules for that:
(1) If the ball, after being served, touches the net and falls on another side of the net, it’s a let. A let is usually retaken by the server.
(2). If the ball, after being served, collides with the net and falls on the server’s side or falls off the table, the server loses a point.
14. What are Rules for Edge of the Table?
This rule solely depends on the nature of a good return. It means the ball, after hitting the edge of the table, must bounce vertically so that the receiver have a fair opportunity to return the ball.
After all, it seems rather impossible for the ball to bounce that way.
15. Side of Table Table Tennis Rules
For singles, there is no side of the table, but for doubles, each player has to serve diagonally, as it’s done in many racquet sports such as; tennis, squash, and badminton.
16. What are rules for touching the Table?
Touching the table during the play is not permissible in table tennis.
If you are playing with one hand and getting the support of the table with another hand, you are supposed to lose a point.
However, you can touch the table when the ball is not in the play.
17. Why do a Players touch the Table?
Ping-pong players touch the least used area (somewhere near the net) of the table to wipe their sweat from there perspiring hands.
18. Does the Ball have to touch the Table before you hit it?
Yes, it has to touch the surface once. You are supposed to let the ball bounce on the table once before you hit to the opponent.
In case you don’t show patience and volley it, you certainly lose the rally. Volleys are not permissible in ping-pong.
19. Rules for Playing Surface
In ping-pong, the surface is settled on a table. As per the standards of the game, it has to be 9 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2.5 feet high.
The size may vary for kids or individuals blessed with low heights.
20. Can You Volley in Ping Pong?
No, not at all! Volley (when the ball, after being served, is in the air and hasn’t landed or touched the ground) is not permissible in ping-pong. If you try to volley, you are violating the laws of the game.
21. Can You hit the Net while Playing?
No, not at all. If your hit collides with the net and falls on your side, your opponent will get the point.
22. What are rules for hitting with Hand?
The player uses one hand to hold the racquet/bat and strike the ball. He can’t use his hand that is free.
In case his hitting tool drops, his both hands become free and thus you can’t use either of the hands.
23. What are Rules for tie Break?
Both the players get one serve each and have to win the game by scoring 11 points and leading by 2 points.
In case both the players/teams have scored 10-10, it’s deuce.
As a result of deuce, players get one serve each and should win it by availing two definite points.
24. What is a let ?
A Let is declared on strokes and points that do not count. When the serve by the server comes in physical contact with the net and drops on another side of the court (on the opponent’s side), it becomes a let serve.
A let serve is scoreless and retainable.
25. What are Rules out of Bounds?
In: When the ball hits or lands on a white line marked on the surface or even an edge of the surface, it is considered “in.”
Out: When the ball hits or lands on a vertical side, it is declared as “out.”
Conclusion
Let’s now wrap up on this, ping-pong is the game of alacrity, fantastic footwork, quick hand and eye coordination, and scintillating skills.
It’s played on tiny tennis court that is fixed on a table, a bat and a lightweight and hollow ball.
This game can be played in singles and doubles. Singles have slightly different rules for doubles.
To surpass your opponent in a game, you have to score 11 points before him but take the lead by 2 points, and in a match by winning half of the games.
In case the score is equal (10-10), it’s considered a deuce, and thus game must go on till 21 points.
