What Are The Key Rules In Table Tennis? | Know Before You Play

It is necessary to know the key rules in table tennis to get in action. That is why we are bringing the easiest elaboration on some of the essential points. These points will help you to accelerate your gaming skills and strategies to the end level.

The rules we are bringing to you are all authorized and authenticated by the international table tennis federation. So, playing on a professional level will help you with knowing these points.

But even before you start practicing to sharpen your table tennis skills, you need to know about all the key rules to follow. So, let’s explore the necessary key points for table tennis.

Key Rules In Table Tennis

Content Summery

Table tennis is a well-managed game that comes with some exciting geared points. You just need some high-quality table tennis paddles and some spin-friendly table tennis balls to get started. But, let us discuss these points with you to have reliable gameplay.

Rules Of Table Tennis

The Rule For Volley

It has been asked by many of the new players if they are allowed to volley the ball. According to the international rules of table tennis, in professional matches, volleying the ping pong balls results in a score for the opponent. It will help if you wait for the bounce on your side to hit it for a point.

On the other side, you can wait for the ball for regular and practice matches and even volley it. In addition, if your opponent sails the ball at your side without zero collapses, then it counts as a point for you.

Game Points

Table tennis leads the scoring board with a range of 11 points. The player must have to gain a lead of two points from the opponent to get the match. Generally, a single game is a conclusion of the best of five.

Touching The Table

To return the shot, you have to keep your distance from the table to save yourself from touching it. If your touching moves the table from its position, it counts as your opponent’s point. So, it is recommended by the professionals to maintain a distance from the table.

So, just have some high-quality table tennis tables on your side and start practicing this key skill to improve your game.

Fair Gaming

We talk about fair gaming when the situation gets a little messy; that’s where the “Honor System” is applicable. At any point, if the referee is not there, the Honor System will get that. Even if any of the players disagree with the ball shot, they have to develop a mutual solution.

It brought a situation where both players will have to look forward to solving that situation without paying loose to any end.

Ball Tossing

Also, note that you have to serve the ball in your open palm to keep the distraction off. Furthermore, you have to toss the ball six inches in a straight direction. You must hit the ball on your side of the table and then to the other side.

It is important to note that once you hit the ball, it is free to play. After striking, it would be counted as a receiver’s point if your opponent misses the shot. So, it is better to practice this skill with top-rated ping pong robots.

Alternative Serves

In this rule, both sides of the table oscillate, serving two points at a single time. But in the case of a ten-by-ten tied scenario, the service alternate at every point.

You can surely practice this brilliant skill while having just high-quality table tennis conversion tops on your side.

Paddle Handball Touching

In many shots, the ball sometimes touches your paddle hand, and it turns out to be a legal play because of a safe landing. Joining the play session with this scenario has been asked by many players. In the meantime, there is no rule for a false player for the paddle handball touch.

So, you can clearly continue your thrilling and baffling strikes. But if the ball touches the player’s body, then it is counted as a loss of point. On the other hand, if you got a sailing strike by the opponent without touching the table and hitting you is counted as your point.

Service In Single

There is no restriction for your ball landing in single-player mode. It can land firstly on your side and also on the opponent’s side. Thus, in single-mode, you don’t have to worry about your ball landing area.

All you need is to cross the table tennis net on the opponent’s side, and you are done! Moreover, this is one of the key rules in table tennis because it will minimize any confusion factor.

Shot Assumptions

Both of the players on the table will get a pre-assumption of paddle strike by looking at handling the paddle. For this reason, all of the paddles have rubbers on both sides of the paddles. Including black and red, plus that’s how the component will get a hint of the player’s strike after looking at the color.

In addition to this, the wrist movement will particularly take part in changing the paddle’s position (which can be red or black). You can also have some high-quality table tennis paddle rubbers that are marked with different colors.

Net Touching Service

If the ball touches the net and lands on the other in the rally, this is not an issue. You can carry on your game with this condition. But in the case of service, if the ball hits the net, you have to restart the procedure.

This net touching in service can happen often, and there is no limit to resuming the process. All you need is just top-quality ping pong paddle sets to practice this skill all by yourself.

A 15 MM Throw

Before hitting the ball with the paddle, the player will have to toss the ball at a certain height which is 15 mm (according to the rules). Moreover, this height of toss is relatively and entirely professional while not having any tricks. It will also prevent any spin after the player tosses it at that heigh right after putting it on the front palm.

Double Serve

Unlike the single-mode, you are restricted from delivering the shots from the right court to the right court in the dual-mode. Adding up, it is all fine if your ball lands on the centerline of the table. Also, partners can change their places after the team serves twice.

Double Rally Alternative Hitting

It is a must for both partners to alternate the hitting ball in a rally. In this case, it doesn’t matter where your ball is landing, but it has to land within the boundaries.

Ball Bouncing Over The Net

Sometimes due to extraordinary spin, the ball comes back to your side. So new players don’t get the idea of scoring for this condition. In this schema, if your ball comes back quickly with touching the opponent’s side, it would be counted as your point.

Even if your opponent doesn’t touch the ball, it always counts your point. So, it is better that you have some premium-quality table tennis balls for beginners to practice this skill.

FAQs Regarding Table Tennis Rules

Q. What is the most important rule in tennis?

Well, as a matter of fact, all of the mentioned rules are important for the player. Besides, the single tennis rules, the 15 mm height throw, and the volley rule are also essential rules as well.

Q. Does every paddle have red and black rubbers on its sides?

As for the record, the usual paddles come with black and red rubbers on their sides. These colors are way beneficial for the players during the game because the player can assume the way of service that the opponent delivers by seeing the player’s color of rubber having a specific side.

Q. Who serves first in table tennis?

The server is the one who serves first with a score of 0 – 0. During each round, one player serves twice in a row, and then the other does so. Further, serving the ball requires a single touch of the server’s side of the table, bounces on or around the tabletop, and then touches the opponent’s side.

Q. What is a foul in table tennis?

If the ball hits the server’s side, if it doesn’t pass beyond the edge of the table, or if it hits the edge of the table and hits the net, it is considered a foul or let.

Q. What are the roles of officials in table tennis?

As part of the rules, the referee must remain at the venue during the tournament duration. The result of the table tennis matches gives by an umpire. And the ITTF laws and regulations apply during the matches by the umpire based on their judgment.

Main Table Tennis Rules

Final Thoughts

So finally, here we have mentioned all the key rules in table tennis and some important notes. Plus, we have delivered all of the notable points, including the scoring points, ball throw, and serving methods to assist the beginners.

Alongside some tips and explanations are also there delivering a clear guide to avoid any confusion while playing. You can also learn the initial rules to start the game as beginners, with professional tips given for both double and single players.

Sharing is Caring!

Leave a Comment