subject: Table Tennis Rules to Play By [print this page] Many people around the world enjoy the sport of table tennis (also known as ping-pong). Perhaps you have advanced past the basic knowledge and now want to know the official table tennis rules. The following should give you a good start on playing by the rulebook.
1. Table
The table must be rectangular. The official size should be 2.73 m in length and 1.525 m in width, rising 76 cm from the floor. The table can be made from any material as long as the average bounce of a ball is 23 cm when someone drops it from a 30 cm height. The top of the table needs to be made of a matte, non-shiny finish and in a dark color with 2.74m white side lines.
2. Ball
The current table tennis rules dictate that the diameter of the ball be 40mm and shall have a weight of 2.7 grams. It must be of a plastic element such as celluloid. The regulation colors are either to be white or orange and to be in a matte finish.
3. Paddle
The paddle or racket can have any shape, weight, or size as long as the blade portion is flat and contains at least 85% real wood. The sides of the blade need to be overlaid with rubber of a thickness no more than 2mm. If an opponent changes his racket at any point in the match, both his opponent and the umpire are entitled to look it over.
4. Game and Match
The game is won by the first player to reach 11 points. If, however, both players get to 10 points then the winner is the player who first gains a lead of 2 points. The table tennis rules indicate a match should consist of the best of any certain odd number of games played.
5. Points
If an opponent does not make a correct return or correct service, then their opponent gets the point. If the ball is served and passes over the opponent's side of the table without touching it, then the opponent gets the point. If the ball is hit twice in succession by a single player, then the opponent of that player gets the point. If a player moves the playing surface or net, then their opponent gets the point. If a player's free hand rests or touches the playing surface while the ball is in play, then the opponent gets the point. These are the official table tennis rules.
