Rules
Basic Rules In Table Tennis
In table tennis, the most important rules are serving rules, and playing rules. All of the rallies start with a serve, so knowing a legal serve is crucial. Understanding some example of illegal serves will also help.
Beside the official table tennis rules, new players should learn the “etiquette rule” in table tennis. Etiquette rules are the unofficial rules that guide you to behave correctly in this sport.
Table tennis serving rules
Table tennis serve (or service) is very important. Based on Liu Guoliang’s advice, it takes more than 50% of exchange rallies in table tennis. Liu Guoliang once said that “Serving is the most important stroke in table tennis”.
Serve is easy to make but difficult to master. That’s the reason that you should always improve your from the fundamental skills to the advanced level.
Many amateur players ask “what is the serving rules in ping pong?”. Well, the rule is very simple. First, you must do a legal serve. Based on the rule of ITTF, a legal service has these criteria:
- Toss the ball at least 16cm.
- Don’t throw the ball back, but vertically upward
- Don’t hide the ball. The opponent must see the contact point.
- Hit the ball at the falling phase. Don’t throw the ball into your racket. Don’t hit the ball when the ball is on the rise.
Second, after each point, we must change the server. You serve the first 2 points, and then your opponent serves the next two points. At 10-10, each player serves only 1 point.
Table tennis score rules
Why we use 21 points and 11 points in a ping pong match?
- Like any sport, you can’t finish the set with the even score like 10 or 20. You need an odd score. Because the even score means “equal”.
- Of course, you can finish the set in ping pong in 13, 15, 17, 21. But in the beginning, to simplify, people just choose 20+1=21 points. (Old system).
- Today, there are in general 10+1=11 points in a table tennis match.
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Score in a ping pong match: 21 (Old system) and 11 (Nowadays)[/caption]
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In history, table tennis set ends with 21 points. Today table tennis score is 11 points system.[/caption]
Can we play table tennis with both hands? A player asked me, “Dear coach, can we play table tennis with both hands? Is it legal to use both free arm and racket arm to hit the ball ?” Answer: Yes. You can hold the paddle with both hands while in play in an ITTF sanctioned …
Playing table tennis with both hands – Good or Bad? Read More »
Table Tennis Olympics is the most prestigious tournament (Games of the XXXII Olympiad, Tokyo 2021). Therefore, there are some specific rules that you should know. Unlike the normal tournament, there are some different rules than the basic rules in table tennis. Qualification Rules There are limit of participants allowed in Olympic Games table tennis. Here …
Special Rules of Table Tennis in Olympics Tokyo 2021 Read More »
Welcome back to PingSunday, the best place to learn table tennis. Today, let’s discuss the hand signals for doubles in table tennis. Is it the same for everyone? Is there any convention, a universal signal used by the pro players? And which one should you use? A player from Jakarta, Indonesia: “Dear coach, I’m new …
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In the previous article “Why Yoshimura Serve is so effective?”, there are many opposing opinions. Some said Yoshimura serve is legal. Other players don’t agree. Today we talk about the “Upside-down service” of Yoshimura. Is it really effective? And is this service really illegal? If you don’t know the serving rule, I recommend you read …
Is Maharu Yoshimura serve legal? Read More »
In table tennis, there are 8 umpire hand gestures that you need to know. Why? Why do you need to learn the umpire gestures? Because the role of the umpire is not to talk to you. The umpire is not there to explain to you the rule. They don’t talk much, but just only give …
8 Umpire Hand Signals You Need to Know Read More »
What is the role of an umpire and referee in table tennis? The umpire shall be responsible for many things, but here is the main responsibility of an umpire. The main role of table tennis umpire Based on the ITTF handbook, a table tennis umpire is mandatory in table tennis. There are currently 2381 official …
What is the role of a table tennis umpire? Read More »
In football, the score of 0 is called as “Nil”. For example, when England wins France 2-0, it’s called “Two-nil”, but not “Two-Love”. But in table tennis, or in other racquet games (like tennis), the score is called “Love”. Why? The Origin of “Love” in table tennis Firstly, I want to explain to you another …
Table Tennis Score: Why 0 is called “Love”? Read More »
After a very hard table tennis training session, we need some funny jokes to relax. Here are some short funny jokes and humor for table tennis lovers. You can also submit your own jokes in the comment. I will update the list frequently. Now, have fun, and laugh with these user-submitted jokes in table tennis. …
Best Table Tennis Jokes & Funny Memes Read More »
Why do top professional table tennis players make “cho” (or “cho-lei”) sounds after scoring points? What is the meaning of “Cho”? Shouting “Cho” or “Cho-lei” is becoming the culture in table tennis. It is something like, if you don’t Cho, you are not a real table tennis player. Why table tennis players shout “Cho”? Table …
Why do table tennis players say “Cho”? Read More »
In table tennis, you should learn to control your temper. No matter what, who is right, who is wrong. Keep the right “etiquette” or you will be punished. Fang Bo controversy During the Chinese Super League, there was a dispute between Fang Bo and Zhao Zhaoyan. Fang Bo can’t control his temper, and he has violently kicked …
Fang Bo Controversy – Learn to Control Your Temper Read More »