game-rules-of-table-tennis

Table Tennis Game Rules

Table: The table is 2.74 meters long, 1.525 meters wide, and 76 centimeters high. It is made of a suitable material, usually wood - based, and has a smooth surface. The playing surface is divided into two equal - sized halves by a net. The table's surface is colored dark, usually green or blue, with a white border (2 cm wide) around the edges and a white center line (3 mm wide) dividing each half - court lengthwise in doubles play.
Net: The net is 15.25 centimeters high. It stretches across the full width of the table and is suspended by two vertical posts, each 15.25 centimeters from the side of the table. The net must be made of a fine cord and have a top - edge supported by a white tape.
Ball: The ball is spherical, with a diameter of 40 mm and a mass of 2.7 grams. It is made of celluloid or a similar plastic material and is white or orange in color.
Racket: The racket (paddle) can be of any size, shape, or weight. However, the blade must be made of natural wood, with at least 85% of its thickness consisting of natural wood. The hitting surface of the racket must be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber (with pimples outwards) having a total thickness (including adhesive) not exceeding 2 mm, or sandwich rubber (pimples inwards) with a total thickness (including adhesive) not exceeding 4 mm. One side of the racket must be black and the other red.

Points: A point is scored when the opponent fails to make a legal return of the ball. This can happen if the ball bounces twice on their side of the table, goes out of bounds, hits the net and fails to land on the opponent's side, or if the player commits a fault (such as incorrect serving).
Game: A game is won by the first player to reach 11 points, with a margin of at least 2 points. If the score reaches 10 - 10 (deuce), the game continues until one player gains a 2 - point lead.
Match: In most professional and Olympic play, a match is typically the best - of - 7 games for singles and the best - of - 5 games for team events (including doubles in team play). In doubles, the match is also often best - of - 5 or best - of - 7 games.

Coin Toss: At the start of a game, a coin toss is conducted. The winner of the coin toss can choose to serve first, receive first, or choose the side of the table.
Serving Motion: The server must hold the ball in the palm of the open hand, above the playing surface and behind the end - line of the server's court. The ball must be tossed vertically upwards, at least 16 cm high, without imparting spin. After the ball starts to descend, the server strikes the ball so that it touches first the server's court and then, passing over or around the net assembly, touches the receiver's court.
Serving Order: In singles, the server serves two consecutive points, then the receiver becomes the server and serves two points. This rotation continues throughout the game. When the score reaches 10 - 10, the players alternate serving one point each.
Doubles Serving: In doubles, the server serves from the right - hand half of their court diagonally to the right - hand half of the receiver's court. After the first serve, the receiving side then serves from the right - hand half of their court to the right - hand half of the new receiver's court. The serving and receiving order must be maintained throughout the game. The partners on each side must alternate their turns at serving and receiving.

Legal Return: The receiver must allow the ball to bounce once on their side of the table before returning it. The ball must then pass over or around the net assembly and land on the opponent's side of the table.
Let Serve: A let serve occurs when the served ball touches the net during service and then lands correctly on the receiver's side of the table. In this case, the serve is re - played, and the server does not lose the point. However, if the ball touches the net and fails to land on the receiver's side, it is a fault, and the receiver scores a point.
Faults: A fault is committed if the server does not follow the proper serving rules, if the ball is hit out of bounds (not landing on the opponent's side of the table), if the ball is hit before it bounces on the player's own side of the table, or if the player touches the table with their free hand during play. Also, if a player's racket or any part of their body touches the net or net post during play, it is a fault.

Composition: A team usually consists of three players in Olympic and most international team events.
Match Format: In a team match, there are four singles matches and one doubles match. The order of play is usually determined in advance. For example, in a men's or women's team match, the first two matches may be singles, followed by the doubles match, and then two more singles matches. Each match within the team event is a best - of - 5 games. The team that wins three matches first wins the overall team event.