The Rules of Table Tennis

(This is a stripped down version of the International Table Tennis Federation's official handbook)

Object of the Game

The winner is the player or pair who first scores 11 points, unless both players or pairs score 10 points (called deuce). Then a game will be won by the first player or pair to gain a two point lead.

Starting the Game

Before you start a game, you'll need to decide who's going to serve first. If you're just playing a game with friends, you can use whatever method you like to decide this, but the official rules of table tennis say that you should toss a coin. The winner of the coin toss has three choices...

1. Elect to serve first or 2. Make his opponent serve first or 3. Decide which end of the table he prefers to play at first

If the winner chooses a particular end of the table, his opponent then has the choice of whether to serve first or to make his opponent serve first. If the winner chooses to serve first, his opponent then has the choice of which end of the table he prefers to play at first.

How to serve:

• The server must stand behind the end of the table to serve.
• The basic serve involves holding the ball in the palm of your non-playing hand and throwing it upwards. As the ball is falling, you must hit it with your racket (also known as a paddle or bat) in your playing hand so that it bounces on the table once on each side of the net.
• The ball may bounce anywhere on both sides of the table and unlike tennis, you don't have to serve to one part of the table - unless you're playing doubles where the serve must go from your right hand box to your opponents left hand box.
• If the ball touches the net and still bounces on your opponent's side of the table, the service must be replayed.
• However, if the ball touches the net and does not bounce on your opponent's side of the table, the server loses the point.

How many serves for each player?

• Each player has two serves before service changes.
• Service continues to alternate between opponents until one player scores 11 points, unless both players or pairs score 10 points (called deuce).
• If both players reach 10 points, then service alternates after each point, until one player gains a two point lead.

How to Score a point

A player wins the point if his opponent:

• Fails to make a good serve (for example throwing the ball in the air and failing to hit the ball or failing to hit it onto his opponent's side of the table)
• Allows the ball to bounce twice on his side of the table
• Does not hit the ball after it has bounced on his side of the table
• Does not hit the ball onto his opponent's side of the table
• Hits the ball before it has bounced (volleying the ball) unless it's obviously not going to bounce on his side of the table
• Hits the ball twice in succession (i.e. a double hit)
• Puts his non-playing hand on the table or net or moves the table
• Obstructs the ball with any part of his body or clothing (unless it's obviously not going to bounce on his side of the table)
• Hits the ball out of turn when playing doubles

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