Congher Mckenzie Salvador

Table Tennis Rules Singles

A singles match involves two players with a predefined set of rules which are as follows:

1. Serve Rules

You must know the service rules of Table Tennis. This will restrict you from doing illegal services. the
essential points of the rules and regulations.

1. The following rules will guide you in delivering a legal table tennis serve.
2. Stand behind the end of the table. You can stand in any position to serve.
3. You should take the ball in the open palm of your non-playing hand and throw it vertically
without imparting any kind of spin, so it rises to a minimum height of 16 cm or 6.3 inches.
4. During the period of service, the ball must be above and behind the playing surface.
5. At the time of falling, hit the ball, so it hits your side once and then bounces over the net. After
bouncing over the net, the ball must also drop on the table of the opponent’s side to make it a valid
service.
6. You can’t hit the ball over the table. You must hit the ball behind the table.
7. If the ball hits the net and doesn’t go over, the point goes to your opponent player.
8. When the server throws the ball for service, the ball is “in play”.
9. You can’t hide the ball from your opponent during service.

2. No. of Table Tennis Serve

 ITTF changed the rule in 2001. Till 2000, a player had a consecutive 5 service. Then it was the
turn of the opponent player until the game ended at 21 points. If it reached a stage of 20-20 (i.e.
the Deuce), the service altered until a player gained 2 points lead to win the game.
 Now a player serves for 2 consecutive times until either of the players reaches 11 points to finish
the game. At 10-10, the service alternates for each player, till a player gains a lead of 2 points.

3. Let in Table Tennis

 Let is the situation when a rally is interrupted, and you have to serve again. In many
circumstances, an umpire may call “let”.
 The ball must pass cleanly over the net. If the ball touches the net and still bounces on the other
side, then it is “let in table tennis” and you have to serve again. There is no rule on the number
of consecutive ‘let’ services.
 If you deliver the service, but your opponent is not ready to react.
 If the umpire or the assistant interrupts during a match.
 If you fail to deliver a service or a return due to some outside occurrence that is beyond your
control, then the umpire may call it “let”.

4. Don’t Touch the Table with Your Free Hand

 At the time of returning a serve, you can stand any position behind the table, but it does not
allow you to touch the table with your free hand or move the table.

5. Don’t Volley the Ball Like in Tennis

  In tennis, you can volley a ball, but table tennis does not allow you to do so. You have to allow
the first bounce. Then you hit the ball so it goes over the net and bounces on your opponent’s
side.

6. If the Ball Strikes the Net But Bounces on the Other Side, it is a Correct Return

 After returning the serve, if the ping pong ball strikes the net but bounces on your opponent’s
table then it is considered a correct return. The ball may also touch the edge of the table, but
not the vertical portion of the table.

7. If You Strike the Ball and it Bounces Back to Your Side, it’s Your Point

 If you impart backspin during service or rally, the ball may come back over the net to your court
after bouncing on the other side. In this situation, your opponent has to reach out to hit the ball
and if he fails, the point goes to you.

8. If the Ball Touches Your Racket-handle, it Counts a Valid Return

 While returning the ball in a rally, if the ball touches the handle of your racket, then it is a valid
return. The racket handle includes your fingers and the portion before your wrist.