Table Tennis Rules: A Complete Guide

Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a fast-paced and exciting sport played all over the world. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting out, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules of the game to ensure fair and competitive play. In this blog, we’ll go over the most important rules of table tennis and how they impact the game.

Table Tennis Equipment

The first step in playing a game of table tennis is making sure you have the right equipment. The ball must be spherical, weigh 2.7 grams, and have a diameter of 40 millimeters. Make the paddle from 85% natural wood and restrict its length to 18 cm and width to 25 cm. Additionally, the net must be 15.25 centimeters high and span the width of the table.

Starting the Game

Typically, play table tennis games as a best-of-five or best-of-seven series, with each game requiring 11 points. To start a game, the players will use a coin toss or another method of random selection to determine who serves first. The player who serves first must start the game by serving the ball over the net and into the opponent’s side of the table.

Table Tennis Scoring Points

Score points when the opponent misses the return, hits the ball out of bounds, or breaks any game rules. If the ball lands on the opponent’s side of the table but doesn’t hit the table, the player who hit the ball loses the point. If the ball hits the net but still lands on the opponent’s side of the table, the player who hit the ball loses the point.

Table Tennis Serve and Return

The serve is the most important shot in table tennis and is often the key to winning a game. The serve must be delivered diagonally, with one bounce on the server’s side of the table and one bounce on the opponent’s side of the table. Make the return with one bounce on the opponent’s side and one bounce on the server’s side of the table.

Table Tennis Faults and Penalties

There are several rules in table tennis that players must follow to avoid faults and penalties. For example, players cannot hit the ball twice in succession, touch the table with their free hand during play, or hit the ball with a part of their body. If a player violates any of these rules, they lose the point. Additionally, if a player causes a disturbance during the game, such as shouting or slamming the paddle on the table, they may receive a penalty.