Table tennis rules | all the rules explained + a few strange rules

Rules and Regulations… Yawn! Or not?

There are quite a few strange rules and myths when it comes to table tennis, but they are certainly not boring! 

In this article we not only explain the most important rules of table tennis, but we also put an end to the countless arguments that occur in most games. 

This way you will never have to quarrel with your table tennis partner about how exactly to serve, saving a lot of time and probably frustration.

Whether you're a casual player or an ambitious beginner, in this post you'll find all the mythical made-up table tennis rules going around and we'll put an end to them once and for all.

You will also find a short summary of the basic rules of table tennis.

If you are an experienced player, this article may still be helpful. There are some strange and difficult to understand rules and regulations in table tennis. If you don't believe us, before reading this article, try a referee take an exam, and see how many rules you already know!

Table tennis rules: Myth-busters

There are so many myths and made up rules around the table, you probably know a few from this list. Below are some of the most famous myths, which one did you believe?

Shouldn't you serve diagonally in table tennis?

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No! In tennis, squash and badminton you have to serve diagonally, but in table tennis singles can be served anywhere you want.

Yes, that goes for the sides of the table too, if you can get enough sidespin. In table tennis doubles you have to go diagonally and always from your right hand to the right hand of your opponent.

The ball hit you, so that's my point

A common one you hear from the kids at school: “If the ball hits you I earn a point”.

Unfortunately, if you hit the ball into the opponent and they didn't hit the table first, that's a miss and the point goes to the hit player.

Also read: can you hit the ball with your hand in table tennis?

I thought you had to play till 21? I don't like to play until 11

In this case, many of the older players would probably agree with you, but the ITTF changed the scoring system from 21 points to 11 points way back in 2001.

If you want to start playing competitively, the game is maxed out at 11, so you might as well adjust to it!

You can't hit around the net

Actually you can. And it can be a pretty tough shot to hit back.

If you stick a ball very wide, your opponent is well within the rules to return it around the net.

This even means that in some cases the ball can just roll on your side of the table and not even bounce!

That is very rare, but it does happen. There are countless videos on YouTube:

The ball must go over the net four times before you start play for serve

This one can stir up a lot of emotions around the table. But… Play for serve (a rally to determine who gets to serve first) has been invented! In a competitive game, the server is usually decided by a coin toss or by choosing which hand you think the ball is in.

If you really want to “play who gets to serve”, just agree together what the rules are before you start the rally.

However, it's probably easier to keep the ball under the table and guess which hand it's in like you always did in the schoolyard and you don't have a coin for the toss.

View examples of previous awards here the very best table tennis bats for every budget: make your serve a killer!

Table tennis basic rules

We've summarized the ITTF's official (and very lengthy) rules in these basic table tennis rules. This should be all you need to play a game.

There are also different game rulebooks can be found, usually from the different clubs.

Service rules

The serve must begin with the ball in an open palm. This prevents you from giving it a spin beforehand.

The ball must be thrown vertically and at least 16 cm in the air. This prevents you from serving directly from your hand and surprising your opponent.

The ball must be above and behind the serve during the serve the table located. This will keep you from getting any crazy corners and give your opponent a fair chance to hit back.

After throwing the ball, the server must move his free arm and hand out of the way. This is to show the receiver the ball.

Read more about storage in table tennis, which are perhaps the most important table tennis rules!

Can you serve anywhere in table tennis?

The ball must bounce at least once on the opponent's side of the table and you can serve to and from any part of the table. In doubles, however, the serve must be played diagonally.

Is there a maximum number of net services or does table tennis also have a double fault?

There is no limit to the number of net services you can have in table tennis. If the server continues to hit through the net but the ball always lands on the opponent's half, this can essentially continue indefinitely.

Can you serve with your backhand?

You can also serve with your backhand in table tennis. This is often used from the center of the table to create a high spin serve.

The following video, taken from the Service Mastery training at Table Tennis University, is another great summary of the basic rules of table tennis services:

En here at table tenniscoach.nl you will find some more tips on how to improve your service.

Table Tennis Doubles Rules

In doubles, the serve must run diagonally, from the right side of the server to the right side of the receiver.

This ensures that you don't tangle up the opposing pair of players before they've even touched a ball.

A double pair must alternately hit the ball. This makes it doubly challenging. Not like on the tennis court where everyone can hit him every time.

On the change of service, the previous recipient becomes the new server and the partner of the previous server becomes the recipient. This ensures that everyone does everything.

After eight points you are back at the start of the cycle.

General match game

You have two rallies before it is your turn to serve twice. It used to be five rallies each, but since the move to 11 it's now just two.

On 10-10 it's deuce. You get one serve each and must win by two clear points.

This is sudden death or table tennis equivalent of a deuce.

If you're playing the best of 3, 5, or 7 sets (as opposed to just one set), you'll need to switch ends after each game. This ensures that both players end up on both sides of the table with all the associated circumstances, such as lighting for example.

You also switch sides when the first player reaches five points in the last game of a match.

What makes a serve illegal in table tennis?

The ball must not be hidden from the receiver at any time during the service. It is also illegal to shield the ball with the free hand or free arm. It also means that you cannot place your bat in front of the ball before serving.

When is it a let?

A let is declared when:

• An otherwise good serve hits the net and then bounces on the opponent's half of the table. Then you have to serve again and this ensures that your opponent has a fair chance to hit back.
• The receiver is not ready (and is not trying to hit the ball). This is just common sense and you should take the service again.
• If the game is disrupted by something beyond the player's control. This allows you to replay the point if someone from the table next to you suddenly comes in to pick up their ball or something like that.

How do you make a point in table tennis?

• The serve is missed, for example does not bounce on the opponent's half.
• The serve is not returned by your opponent.
• A shot goes in.
• A shot goes off the table without hitting the opposite field.
• A shot hits your own half before hitting the opponent's half (except on your serve of course).
• A player moves the table, touches the net or touches the table with his free hand during play.

Can you touch the table during table tennis?

So the answer is no, if you touch the table while the ball is still in play you automatically lose the point.

Strange table tennis rules

Here are a few table tennis rules and regulations that surprised us:

You may walk to the other side of the table to hit the ball, if necessary

There is no rule that says a player can only stay on one side of the net. Of course, it's not often necessary, but it can lead to funny situations.

Let's say player A hits a shot with very heavy backspin so that it lands on player B's side of the table (a good return) and the backspin causes the ball to bounce backwards, over the net to the side of the table. table of player A.

If player B fails to hit that shot so it comes off his bat and then makes contact with player A's half, the point is awarded to player A (because player B didn't make a good return).

However, Player B can attempt to return that shot even if he/she has to run past the net and hit the ball straight down into Player A's side of the table.

Here's an even funnier scenario I've seen in a performance (never in a real competition):

Player B runs around to player A's side and instead of hitting the ball straight to player A's side of the table, player B hits his/her return so it makes contact with player A's side and is aimed back to player B's half.

In that case, player A can run to player B's original half and hit the ball on player B's side.

This would result in the 2 players having changed sides of the table and instead of hitting the ball after it bounced on the court they should now knock the ball out of the air directly onto the side of the court where they are standing and make it pass. it just goes.

The rally would continue until a player missed the ball in such a way that it would touch the opponent's side of the table first (as defined by their original positions at the start of the rally) or would miss the table altogether.

You may accidentally 'double hit' the ball

• The rules state that you lose a point if you intentionally hit the ball twice in a row.

You can have a maximum of two advertisements on the back of your shirt, in international matches

• Would they ever check if players have three?
• We've certainly never heard of a player having to change a shirt because they had too many ads on their backs.

The playing surface of the table can be made of any material

• All it needs to do to comply with the rules is give a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a ball falls from 30in.

Also read: the best table tennis tables reviewed for every budget

The bat can be any size, shape or weight

We recently saw some funny homemade paddles from local league players. One was made of balsa wood and about an inch thick!

We thought, “It's fine here locally, but they wouldn't get away with that in a real tournament”.

Well, apparently yes!

Also read: the best bats you can buy right now to improve your game

If a wheelchair player plays in an able-bodied tournament, his opponents must play 'wheelchair rules' against him

• Last summer we came into contact with this rule. The referee of the tournament and the referees of the hall told that this was the case!
• We have since discovered that the rules state that wheelchair service and reception rules apply if the recipient is in a wheelchair regardless of who the server is in.

Can you lose in table tennis while serving?

At the game point you cannot lose the game, during your own serve. At the game point, you cannot win the game on your opponent's serve. If you make an edge ball, the opponent gets a point.

How often do you serve in table tennis?

Each player is served 2 x service and it switches until one of the players scores 11 points, unless there is a deuce (10:10).

In that case, each player gets only one serve and it alternates until one of the players gets a two-point lead.

Is touching the table tennis table allowed?

The first answer is that only your free hand should not touch the table. You can hit the table with any other part of your body, as long as you don't move the table. The second answer is that you can always hit the table, as long as you don't interfere with your opponent.

Can you hit a ping pong ball before it bounces?

That is known as volley or 'obstruction' and it is an illegal inclusion in table tennis. If you do this, you lose the point. 

Why do ping pong players touch the table?

It's a physical response to the game. A player sometimes wipes the sweat from his hand on the table. In a place that is unlikely to be used during play, such as near the net where the ball rarely lands. The sweat really isn't enough to make the ball stick to the table.

What happens if you hit the ball with your finger?

The hand holding the racket is considered the "playing hand". It is perfectly legal if the ball touches the finger(s), or the wrist of your playing hand and the game continues

What is the 'rule of mercy' in table tennis?

When you lead a game 10-0, you try your best to give your opponent a point. It is called a "point of grace." Because 11-0 is too rude, but 11-1 is just normal.

Conclusion

Whether you're new to the sport or have been playing for years, we hope you found it interesting. 

If you would like to have a detailed look at the official rules and regulations for table tennis, you can do so on the page ITTF Regulations.

You can even download a PDF document with all the table tennis rules that you can possibly use.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of referees.eu is a content marketer, father and loves to write about all kinds of sports, and has also played a lot of sports himself for most of his life. Now since 2016, he and his team have been creating helpful blog articles to help loyal readers with their sports activities.