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Introduction
Equipment
Scoring
You lose a point
when
Good return
Order of serving
Table
Net
Ball
Racket
Definitions
Good serve
Good return
Order of play
Let
Point
Game
Match
Choice of serving, receiving and
ends
Out of order of serving, receiving and ends
Expedite system
What Do You Think
Introduction
Most of you have played table tennis at some time or
other. Most of you have enjoyed your playing! Because
it is played indoors and requires relatively little
equipment, it is an ideal recreation for everyone.
Although it has many similarities with tennis (mainly in
the rules), the comparison ends there. The lightness of
the ball, the small area of the table, and the time of the
response make it a game of great delicacy requiring
great agility, lightning responses and of course a high
level of physical fitness.
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Equipment
Table tennis is played on thick wooden or composite
wood, plastic and even metal varieties table. The
surface of the table should have a matt finish and it is
usually dark green or blue. The table is 274 cm in
length, 152.5 cm in width, and 76 cm in height.
The table is divided by the net into two courts. The net
is 15.25 cm height and extends 15.25 cm beyond each
side of the table.
The racket consists of two parts: the rubbers and the
blade. There are a lot of different kinds of rubbers and
blades. There are offensive, all-round and defensive
ones. The player style will dictate the kind of racket to
use.
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Scoring
A game is won by the first player or pair (in doubles
play) to score 21 points, unless the score reaches
20-20 in which case the player or the pair needs two
clear points more than the other in order to win the
game. A match consists of the best of three games or
in big tournaments, like World & European
Championships, the best of five games.
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You lose a point when:
You fail to make a good serve.
You fail to return the ball from the opponent.
You hit the ball before it has bounced on your
side.
The ball bounces twice on your side.
In some special occasions when you execute the
serve.
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Good return
A good return is a single hit of the ball by the racket
hand below the wrist, after it has bounced on the
player's side of the table, so that the ball returns
directly on the opponent's side. Of course the ball is
permitted to hit the net during the return. However if
the ball hits the net during the serve, the serve is
executed again.
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Order of serving
The server changes every 5 points. This continues until
the player wins the game. After the end of the game
the opponents change sides and the player who served
first in the previous game, serves first in the next. In
doubles the rules of serving and changing ends are the
same as in singles except that the serve is executed
from the right hand side. Each 5 points the server
changes corner with his partner so that the other will
be ready to receive the opponent's serve. In doubles
play the ball is returned in a strict sequence. The server
serves and then his partner receives the ball from the
opponent and so on.
Because of its deceptive simplicity most of the people
who have played table tennis tend to take it lightly.
However excellence requires a mastery of a variety of
factors. For example there are a variety of technical
strokes and spins which make the game more exciting
but more difficult to play. The best way to learn how
this fascinating game is played is to start with a
qualified coach in a table tennis club. You can find more
about clubs and national table tennis federations in
ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation).
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2.1 Table
2.1.1 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.
2.1.2 The playing surface shall not include the sides of the table top.
2.1.3 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.
2.1.4 The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, 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.
2.1.5 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.
2.1.6 For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white
centre line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall be
regarded as part of each right half-court.
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2.2 Net
2.2.1 The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting
posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.
2.2.2 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.
2.2.3 The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing
surface.
2.2.4 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 as close as possible to the supporting
posts.
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2.3 Ball
2.3.1 The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 38mm.
2.3.2 The ball shall weigh 2.5gr.
2.3.3 The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or
orange, and matt.
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2.4 Racket
2.4.1 The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and
rigid.
2.4.2 At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive
layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre,
glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of the total
thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.
2.4.3 A side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary
pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including adhesive of
not more than 2mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or outwards, having a
total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4mm.
2.4.3.1 Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or
synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over its surface at a density of not less than
10 per sq cm and not more than 50 per sq cm.
2.4.3.2 Sandwich rubber is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single outer
layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more
than 2mm.
2.4.4 The covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade,
except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left
uncovered or covered with any material.
2.4.5 The blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering material or
adhesive shall be continuous and of even thickness.
2.4.6 The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the
blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the
other.
2.4.7 Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to
accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly
change the characteristics of the surface.
2.4.8 At the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a match a
player shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about to use and shall
allow them to examine it.
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2.5 Definitions
2.5.1 A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.
2.5.2 The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of
the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until it touches anything
other than the playing surface, the net assembly, the racket held in the racket hand or
the racket hand below the wrist, or until the rally is otherwise decided as a let or a
point.
2.5.3 A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
2.5.4 A point is a rally of which the result is scored.
2.5.5 The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.
2.5.6 The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket.
2.5.7 A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand,
or with his racket hand below the wrist.
2.5.8 A player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in
play when it has not passed over the playing surface or his end line, not having
touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.
2.5.9 The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.
2.5.10 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.
2.5.11 The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.
2.5.12 The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain
decisions.
2.5.13 Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing or
carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.
2.5.14 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it
passes over, under or outside the projection of the net assembly outside the table.
2.5.15 The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.
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2.6 Good serve
2.6.1 At the start of service the ball shall be stationary, resting freely on the flat, open
palm of the server's free hand, behind the end line and above the level of the playing
surface.
2.6.2 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.
2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his 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.
2.6.4 The ball and the racket shall be above the level of the playing surface from the
last moment at which the ball is stationary before being projected until it is struck.
2.6.5 When the ball is struck it shall be behind the server's end line but not farther
back than the part of the server's body, other than his arm, head or leg, which is
farthest from his end line.
2.6.6 It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or assistant
umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a good service.
2.6.6.1 If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service but neither he nor the
assistant umpire is sure that it is illegal he may, on the first occasion in a match, warn
the server without awarding a point.
2.6.6.2 If subsequently in the match the same player's service is of dubious legality, for
the same or for any other reason, he shall not be given the benefit of the doubt and
the receiver shall score a point.
2.6.6.3 Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good
service no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point, on the first as on
any other occasion.
2.6.7 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a good service where he
is notified, before play begins, that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
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2.7 Good return
2.7.1 The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or
around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after
touching the net assembly.
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2.8 Order of play
2.8.1 In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make
a good return and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a good
return.
2.8.2 In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then
make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the
partner of the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter each player in turn
in that sequence shall make a good return.
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2.9 Let
2.9.1 The rally shall be a let:
2.9.1.1 if in service the ball, in passing over the net assembly, touches it, provided the
service is otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner;
2.9.1.2 if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready,
provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;
2.9.1.3 if failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to comply with
the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;
2.9.1.4 if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.
2.9.2 Play may be interrupted:
2.9.2.1 to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;
2.9.2.2 to introduce the expedite system;
2.9.2.3 to warn or penalise a player;
2.9.2.4 because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the
outcome of the rally.
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2.10 Point
2.10.1 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point:
2.10.1.1 if his opponent fails to make a good service;
2.10.1.2 if his opponent fails to make a good return;
2.10.1.3 if, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches
anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;
2.10.1.4 if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his
court, after being struck by his opponent;
2.10.1.5 if his opponent obstructs the ball;
2.10.1.6 if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively;
2.10.1.7 if his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface
does not comply with the requirements of 2.4.3;
2.10.1.8 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing
surface;
2.10.1.9 if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net
assembly;
2.10.1.10 if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;
2.10.1.11 if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the
first server and first receiver;
2.10.1.12 as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).
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2.11 Game
2.11.1 A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 21 points unless both
players or pairs score 20 points, when the game shall be won by the player or pair first
scoring subsequently 2 points more than the opposing player or pair.
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2.12 Match
2.12.1 A match shall consist of the best of 3 games or the best of 5 games. 2.12.2 Play
shall be continuous throughout a match except that any player shall be entitled to an
interval of not more than 2 minutes between successive games.
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2.13 Choice of serving, receiving and ends
2.13.1 The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be
decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a
particular end.
2.13.2 When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a
particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.
2.13.3 After each 5 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become
the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or
pairs have scored 20 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences
of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in
turn.
2.13.4 In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall
choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving pair shall
decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent games of the match, the first
server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in
the preceding game.
2.13.5 In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the
server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.
2.13.6 The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of
the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to receive
next shall change their order of receiving when first either pair scores 10 points.
2.13.7 The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in
the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or
pairs shall change ends when first either player or pair scores 10 points.
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2.14 Out of order of serving, receiving and ends
2.14.1 If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire
as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with those players serving and
receiving who should be server and receiver respectively at the score that has been
reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in
doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the
game during which the error is discovered.
2.14.2 If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall
be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with
the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached,
according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.
2.14.3 In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be
reckoned.
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2.15 Expedite system
2.15.1 Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 19 points, the expedite
system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 15 minutes' play or at any
earlier time at the request of both players or pairs.
2.15.1.1 If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by
the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was
interrupted.
2.15.1.2 If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with
service by the player who received in the immediately preceding rally.
2.15.2 Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn and if the receiving player
or pair makes 13 good returns the receiver shall score a point.
2.15.3 Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of
the match.
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