BSED II SCIENCE

RULES AND REGULATIONS IN PLAYING TABLE TENNIS

We’ve summarized the essential ping pong rules from USA Table Tennis right here to help you
settle those garage or office disputes. This list is not exhaustive, but we have found that these ones are
common points of contention among many players. Whether you call it ping pong, table tennis, or whiff
whaff, these official table tennis rules should help you keep things straight.
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 mis-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
The serve must bounce in the server’s right court, and receiver’s right court (NOTE: landing on center
line is fair). Doubles partners switch places after their team serves twice.
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 table 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 Table
The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m
long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the floor. The playing surface
shall not include the vertical sides of the tabletop. The playing surface may be of any material and
shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of
30cm. The playing surface shall be uniformly dark colored and matte, but with a white side line, 2cm
wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m edge. The playing
surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel with the end lines, and
shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.  For doubles, each court shall be divided into
2 equal half-courts by a white center line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre
line shall be regarded as part of each right half-court. 

The Net Assembly

The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts, including
the clamps attaching them to the table. The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end
to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side
line. The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface.  The
bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the playing surface and the
ends of the net shall be attached to the supporting posts from top to bottom. 

The Ball
The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm. The ball shall weigh 2.7g. The ball shall
be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt. 

The Racket

 The racket can be any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.    
 The surface covering material shall be matt and bright red on one side and black on the
other.     
 At least 85% of the blade thickness shall be of natural wood.
Definitions

 A rally is the period which the ball is in play.             

 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.     
 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.   
 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in the rally.
 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes anywhere
other than between the net and the net post or between the net and the playing surface. 

The Service
Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free
hand. The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it
rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything
before being struck. As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her
court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court;
in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver. From the start
of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the
server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his or her doubles
partner or by anything they wear or carry. As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free
arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net.

The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite
upward extension. It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant
umpire can be satisfied that he or she complies with the requirements of the Laws, and either may
decide that a service is incorrect. If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the
legality of a service he or she may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the
server; but any subsequent service by that player or his or her doubles partner which is not clearly
legal shall be considered incorrect. Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a
correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability. 

The Return
The ball, having been served or returned shall be struck so that it passes over or around the
net assembly and touches the opponents court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

The Order of Play
In singles the server shall make a first service and the receiver shall make a return
and thereafter alternately shall each make a return.
In doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a return, the
partner of the server shall then make a return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a return
and thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make a return.

A Point
Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point:

 If an opponent fails to make a correct service; 

  If an opponent fails to make a correct return; 
 If, after he or she has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the
net assembly before being struck by an opponent; 
 If the ball passes over his or her court or beyond his or her end line without touching his or
her court, after being struck by an opponent; 
 If an opponent obstructs the ball; 
 If an opponent deliberately strikes the ball twice in succession; 
 If an opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply
with the requirements of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5; 
 If an opponent, or anything an opponent wear or carries, moves the playing surface; 
 If an opponent, or anything an opponent wear or carries, touches the net assembly; 
 If an opponent's free hand touches the playing surface; 
 If a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the first server and
first receiver;  
 As provided under the expedite system (2.15.4). 
 If both players or pairs are in a wheelchair due to a physical disability and 
 His or her opponent does not maintain a minimum contact with the seat or cushion(s), with
the back of the thigh, when the ball is struck; 
 His or her opponent touches the table with either hand before striking the ball; 
 His or her opponent's footrest or foot touches the floor during play. 
 As provided under the order of play (2.8.3). 

A Game
A game shall be won by a player or pair first scoring 11 points unless both players or pairs
score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining a lead
of 2 points.

A Match
A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.