You have entered your first table tennis tournament but the only rules that you know are the basement rules that you have always played by. To have any kind of chance for real success in a tournament, you are going to need to know and understand the rules. The rules are governed by the International Table Tennis Federation.
Match Length
A match consists of an odd number of games, usually three, five, or seven, says AllAboutTableTennis.com. The first player to win a majority of the games wins the match. For example, if you play a seven-game match, the first player to win four games wins. Each game must be won by two points, according to Pongworld.com.
Scoring
Pongworld.com says that games are played to 11 points and each player serves two points in a row. A point is scored after each serve. If a game becomes tied at 10 then the server changes after each point until someone takes a two-point lead. The player with the two-point lead wins the game. Players switch sides after each game, and in the last game of the match, players switch sides again after one of the players reaches five points.
Legal Service
AllAboutTableTennis.com says that for a serve to be legal, you must start with the ball rested on an open hand palm. It must be tossed at least 6 inches in the air and then struck with the paddle. The ball must bounce first on the server's side of the net and then the opponent's side. A serve that hits the net after bouncing on the server's side and then bounces on the opponent's side is a let serve and must be replayed. If it bounces again on the server's side after hitting the net, the server loses the point.
Scoring
In order to score a point you have to keep the ball in play longer than your opponent. You lose a point when you fail to make a good serve, the ball bounces more than once on your side, you don't hit the ball after it bounces on your side, or your shot does not hit the table on your opponent's side. You also lose a point if you hit the ball before it bounces if it would have obviously hit the table, you hit the ball twice in a row, or you put your non-playing hand on the table or net, according to AllAboutTableTennis.com.
Equipment
A regulation size table is 2.74 meters long, 1.525 meters wide, and 0.76 meters high. The top of the net along the entire width of the table must be 15.25 cm above the playing surface. The paddle can be of any size or shape but the blade must be flat and rigid. The blade must also be covered with rubber and red on one side and black on the other. Either an orange or white ball can be used. It must be 40 mm in diameter, according to PongWorld.com.
Doubles
If you are playing in a doubles tournament, there are a few differences. Each player still gets two serves that alternates between teams. The difference is that it also alternates between you and your partner when it is your serve.
AllAboutTableTennis.com says that the only other differences are that the serve must bounce on the right half of the table on both the server's and the receiver's side of the net. You must also alternate hitting shots. If you hit out of turn you lose the point.
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