Table tennis has been a popular game since its origination as an after-dinner parlour game in 19th century England. It’s rules haven’t changed much over time. Rules to the game of table tennis are as follows:
STEP 1: HOW MANY POINTS?
Table tennis used to be played until the first player reaches 21 points and has a two-point lead. In professional table tennis have been changed so that the first player to get 11 points with a two-point leads wins. This means that there are more ‘critical’ points. If a game is tied at 11 points, the winner must win by two points. The game will then continue on until a player wins by two points.
STEP 2: HOW MANY GAMES?
Players compete to win the best of five games, so the first player to three wins. In international Table Tennis, players often play to win the best of seven.
STEP 3: HOW TO SCORE A POINT
Players hit the ball back and forth until one player earns a point. A player can earn a point in several ways. First, a player receives a point of their opponent fails to complete a serve. Second, if your opponent fails to return the ball you also receive a point. Third, if the ball passes beyond the end of the table without touching his court after it was struck by your opponent. Finally there are several technicalities that will result in an earned points. YOu can score a point if any of the following happens: your opponent obstructs the ball, your opponent hits the ball twice in a row, your opponent touches or tampers with the net or court surface with their free hand.
STEP 4: DECIDE WHO SERVES
In table tennis, the first serve of a game is decided by a player flipping a coin. From there, each player gets two serves in a row before handing the serve over to the other player. If the scores is tied at ten-all the players alternate serves until one player wins by two clear points.
STEP 5: HOW TO SERVE
Prior to serving, the server should have the ball resting on the palm of their non-paddle hand. Then, the server throws the ball into the air, aiming to throw as straight upwards as possible as a height of about 6 inches. As the ball falls, the server’s goal is to hit the ball so that it bounces first on the server’s side of the table and then bounces for a second time on their opponent’s side. Until the moment that the ball is struck during the serve it should remain above court-level and behind the line of player. Servers should always remember to serve the ball from inside the active parameter of the court lines.
STEP 6: LET
A “let” is a table tennis term that is given when an instance occurs that leaves the server able to serve again and no points are given as a result of their first attempt at a serve. A let is given if during a serve the ball touches the net, if play should be interrupted, or if the server serves and the receiver wasn’t ready.
STEP 7: HOW TO RETURN A SERVE
A good return comes when the ball bounces back on the server’s side of the table. After the initial serve, a ball can hit the net and is still considered to be in play.
