TABLE TENNIS - THE BASIC RULES

The goal of the game is to hit the ball over your opponent's net. If your opponent cannot return the ball to your table, you win a point. They miss the ball, hit the ball but it hits the net, or they hit it before it bounces on their table.

Scoring

A game is won by the player who scores between 10 and 11 points. The game must have a minimum gap of two points between the opponents at the end. If the score is 10-10, then the game will be extended until one of the players has gained 2 points. No matter who served, the point goes to the player who ends a rally successfully.

You can have as many games as you want in a match, but you must agree to this beforehand!

Singles

Exceptionally during extra play, when the ball changes every time it switches to the opponent, a player must serve two times before the ball switches to them. There are many ways to determine who is the first to serve at the beginning of the game. We'll let you decide. In singles, service can be either diagonally or straight in singles.

Serving: Doubles

The service must be diagonal from the right court (marked with a white line), to the opponent's left half court.

The following is how service changeovers in Doubles work:

The serving team decides who will serve first at the beginning of each game. A1 is the first player to serve and

A1 serves to provide B1 (2 services).

The B1 serves as a gateway to A2 (2 services).

A2 serves as a bridge to B2 (2 services).

B2 is the equivalent of A1 2 services.

Continue

Between the end of game 1 & the beginning of game 2, team A will take the first serve. B1 must serve A1. Then A1 serves to B2 and so forth.

Rules for doubles

Doubles should be played in a way that allows you to alternate hitting the ball with your partner. For example, A1 might serve the ball to B1, and then return the ball. The ball is returned to A2. B2 hits it and A2 returns it. A1 hits and then B2 returns. A2 hits and B1 and so forth.

Service rules

First, the ball must bounce to your side. Then it should bounce in your favor. Before you can return the ball, your opponent must first allow it to bounce on their side.

The ball must pass over the net cleanly - if the ball 'clips' or goes over the net, it is a let and the serve will be retaken. If the ball lands on the net but doesn't cross the line, it is a point loss. There are no second serves.