In order to play table tennis correctly, you absolutely need the table tennis rules. We have summarized these for you and explained them in detail so that there are no misunderstandings during the game.
In the game, a small, light plastic table tennis ball is hit back and forth across the table. You must not touch the net in the middle. A game round – the so-called set – ends when one of the players makes a mistake, for example missing the ball or the ball gets caught in the net. That means the opposing player wins a point. Whoever has collected the most points or eleven points the fastest at the end wins.
History of table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a ball sport that originated in Great Britain in the late 19th century and quickly became popular. Originally, it was a variation of the game of tennis that was played outdoors in its early form. Because of the rainy weather in England, table tennis had to be moved indoors and onto tables. The first international table tennis competitions took place in Vienna in 1902. Table tennis world championships have existed since 1926 and table tennis has been a discipline of the Summer Olympics since 1988.
Equipment needed
If you want to play table tennis, there are two options: as a hobby or more professionally, depending on which there are different requirements for your equipment.
Hobby: table tennis
Racket and ball
For hobby and home sports, you can use one of the inexpensive playsets that you can buy on the internet, in toy and sporting goods stores.
Table and net
You can pretty much take any table you can find. Whether you use ping-pong tables in the park, buy your own, or repurpose a long desk, the rules aren’t quite as strict in the hobby space. It is only important that you and your teammate(s) pull into a net, whereby a drawn line also goes if you don’t have a net at hand.
Club/professional table tennis
Space / freedom of movement
You need certain basic equipment to practice the sport professionally. Table tennis also needs enough space, not only for the table, but also for the freedom of movement of the players.
In Germany, for example, it is stipulated that a table tennis competition room must be at least 10 to 12 meters long and 5 to 6 meters wide.
Table and net
A table tennis table usually has a matt green or matt blue painting or coating. In the middle, a net about 15 centimeters high is stretched across the table. Players have wooden table tennis bats with a saucer-sized face, rubber coating, and handle.
Racket and ball
A table tennis table usually has a matt green or matt blue painting or coating. In the middle, a net about 15 centimeters high is stretched across the table. Players have wooden table tennis bats with a saucer-sized face, rubber coating, and handle.
Table and net
To be competitive, a table must be 2.74 meters long and 1.525 meters wide. The table surface must be exactly 76 centimeters above the floor. The playing surface can be made of any non-reflective material and is usually dull green or dull blue in color. However, the rule of thumb is that a ping-pong ball dropped from a height of 30 centimeters must bounce 22 to 25 centimeters.
White dividing lines run along the edges and a center line divides the tabletop lengthwise into equal halves. The edge markings running parallel to the net are called the base line, the edge lines running at right angles to the net are the so-called side lines.
The net with suspension is attached to the table on the right and left by means of clamps and must be 15.25 centimeters high. The net tension may not allow the net to drop more than one centimeter if it is loaded with 100 grams in the middle.
Racket and ball
The bats are mostly made of wood. The slightly oval striking surface is about the size of a saucer and consists of wood glued several times in the middle. But there are also rackets made of carbon, Kevlar or fiberglass veneers. For the grip there are variants for the shake hand position preferred by European players and the penholder position preferred by Asian players. The racquets must have a red or black, mostly knobbed, rubber coating on the front and back. There are different types of coatings for professional sports.
Table tennis balls can be made of celluloid or other plastic material in dull white and dull orange colors. They are hollow and therefore very lightweight and must be 4 centimeters in diameter. The prescribed weight is between 2.67 and 2.77 grams.
The rules of the game – table tennis
As with lawn tennis, table tennis can be played as a single competition or as a double competition. There are competitions in singles, doubles and mixed. Two players compete in singles and four in doubles.
The first rules for table tennis based on the rules for lawn tennis were published in 1875 by the English engineer James Gibb. The current set of rules for table tennis applies internationally. There are no age restrictions for practicing this sport, but specific regulations for professional competitions also apply in this regard. In the following the most important rules of the game; the rules in professional table tennis have even more additional details, from the required sportswear to the type of rubber coating on the bats.
Game Start: The table tennis game round is called a set and begins with a player’s serve. Each player has two consecutive serves, after which the right to serve changes. A game is usually played over three winning sets (“best-of-five”) or, in the major tournaments, over four winning sets (“best-of-seven”).
Sentence
The player who scores 11 points first and leads by at least two points wins a set. When both players have reached 10 points, the game goes into lengthening and it is served alternately. Switch sides after each set. In the decisive last set, the sides change as soon as one of the players has reached 5 points.
surcharge
The right to serve is drawn by lot, as is the choice of sides. In singles, there are no rules about which opponent’s half the serve must come up on.
When serving, the ball must first lie freely on the open hand and then be thrown up. Before the shot, the ball must not touch anything and must first bounce on its own half of the table, over the net and then on the opponent’s half of the table.
If the ball touches the net, this is a net service and must be repeated. If the ball touches the net and then goes out of bounds, i.e. on or beyond the opponent’s marked side lines, the opponent gets a point. Also, if you miss the thrown ball on serve, it counts as a mistake and gives a point to the opponent.
Rally
The ball must be hit with the racquet after it has hit your own half of the table and played directly onto the opponent’s half of the table. If the ball touches the net during a rally and then lands correctly in the opponent’s field and not out of bounds, this is not considered a fault. If the ball touches other objects such as clothing, the ceiling or the wall during the rally, this automatically counts as a mistake and gives the opponent a point. It is also always a mistake if the ball touches the side of the table on or behind the opponent’s sidelines (i.e. goes out of bounds). A rally “volley” from the air like in tennis is not allowed. Leaning on the table with the other hand during the rally is also prohibited.
Peculiarities of doubles
In doubles, two players play against each other as men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles, i.e. a female and a male person together in one team. When serving, the ball must first touch the server’s right half of the court and then bounce diagonally across the opponent’s half.
At every rally, it is imperative that the players take turns playing the ball each time. If this order is not followed, the opponents get a point.
If a deciding set has to be played, ends are switched once a doubles team has reached five points.
Table tennis: pros and cons
Advantages
- For at home as a hobby, minimal equipment is sufficient for any table.
- A table tennis home set with a net, bats and balls is very inexpensive.
- There is no age limit for the game.
- The basic rules of the game are explained simply and quickly.
- It is easy to develop your own individual game variants if it is only about having fun with the family or with guests.
- Anyone who wants to practice the sport professionally will quickly find connections and support in sports clubs.
- There are many opportunities to develop in this sport from amateur to professional, to learn new things and to improve your own playing technique (for example the “spins”).
Disadvantages
- The table must be of a certain size to be suitable for recreational table tennis.
- A professional table tennis table is not cheap and requires storage space.
- In addition, you should not use it for other purposes – for example as a kitchen table – in order not to damage the surface.
- The room must be big enough for the table tennis table and the players.
- The basic rules of the game should be explained in detail before each game, especially if children are involved.
- Anyone who has more ambitions than a hobby at home needs to join a club to have professional training opportunities.
Our conclusion on table tennis
Table tennis is a great hobby and fun for the whole family. The equipment for table tennis beginners is not expensive either. The basic rules of the game are explained simply and quickly. If you have ambitions, you will find many opportunities for further development. But you should at least join a table tennis club.
More interesting facts about the popular ball sport
Table tennis (world) records
- 1978: The longest rally is 8.5 hours between Donald Peters and Robert Stiegel.
- 1979: Volker Fernath and Helmut Hanus and played the longest permanent outdoor table tennis game: 105 hours and 8 minutes.
- 1984: Jean Marie Sins played 150 hours and 15 minutes against 20 alternating opponents.
- 1980: Volker Fernath and Helmut and Roland Merkleinund and Hilmar Küttner played the longest doubles game to date with 102 hours of play.
- 1985: Uwe Geiger and Thomas Opiol played the longest single game at 168 hours.
- 1993: Jackie Bellinger and Lisa Lomas top the rallies at 173 per minute.
- 2006: 359 players played at 47 table tennis tables, setting the record for a mass round of uninterrupted table tennis.
- The most expensive table tennis racket in the world costs €469.70.
Who invented table tennis?
It’s hard to say for sure, but the sport was first mentioned by England. However, many also see India as a “place of foundation”.
Is table tennis a ball sport?
Yes.
How is table tennis counted?
Table tennis consists of sets. Within these sets, the opponent’s fault points are counted, who loses as soon as the other player has accumulated 11 points and two more than the opponent.
What size does a table tennis table have to be?
It is standardized according to DIN EN 14468. This means: 2.74 x 1.52 x 0.78 meters (L x W x H).
Since when is table tennis part of the Olympics?
Table tennis has been played at the Summer Olympics since 1988.
What are the differences between table tennis and ping pong?
In pingpong the ball must bounce on your side of the table before going over the net after you hit it. It is this extra bounce that gives the game the onomatopoeic name of pingpong. Apart from this the game is identical to table tennis.
What are the 5 rules of table tennis?
- No Hands On The Table. Believe it or not, leaning your hands on the table is not allowed in the sport.
- When Serving, The Ball Must Be Thrown 15mm. …
- If The Ball Hits The Net On Service, You Should Serve Again. …
- The Ball Must Be Held In A Flat Palm Above The Table. …
- Rubber Colors.
What are the 3 names of table tennis?
Ping Pong or Gossima
Ping Pong
Table Tennis
Whiff Waff
Parlour Tennis
Indoor Tennis
Pom-Pom
Pim-Pam
Netto
Clip-Clap
Royal Game
Tennis de Salon
and others.
How many games are in table tennis?
A match is the best of 5 games. The score begins at 0-0, and the server will serve first. Each player gets to serve for two points in a row, and then the other player has to serve.
What are 5 interesting facts about table tennis?
- The International Governing body and the official Rules of Table Tennis were formulated in 1926.
- Ping Pong Diplomacy took place in 1971.
- Chinese players dominate the game.
- There are more than 1,600 varieties of table tennis rubbers.
- Table Tennis balls are now made from plastic.
