Table tennis is a great recreational game that is popular all over the world. It is commonly referred to as ping-pong, but it is also a competitive sport played with paddles (officially called bats) and a small and resilient plastic ball. The rules of the game require play to start with a serve and the receiver must hit the ball back over the net so that it hits the other side of the table.
The Serve
The table tennis ball is put into play when one player serves the ball to his opponent. On a successful serve, the player will toss the ball into the air and hit the ball with either a forehand or backhand stroke so that it strikes the table before it reaches the net, goes over the net and then hits the opponent's side of the net. After this happens, the other player may return the ball and a rally may develop. The return must go over the net and strike the opponent's side of the net only. The play goes on in this manner until one player cannot return a shot successfully.
Game Format
Games are played to 11 or 21 points. Most games go to 21 points. A match is usually determined by the player who can win three games in a best-of-five matchup. In each game, whoever serves first will serve for the first five points of the game. Then the other player will serve the next five points. Serves will alternate in this manner until the game is complete. Whoever served last in the previous game will receive serve first in the next game. All games must be decided by a margin of two points.
Overtime Rules
If a game is tied 20-20 (or 10-10), players will alternate serves after each point. The server will serve one point and the receiver will serve the next point. If the server of the first point after the score is tied wins that point and the next, he wins the match. In order to win a tied match, one player will have to win two consecutive points after the score is tied.
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