UK Table Tennis Rules

Table tennis has a rich and varied history. According to the International Table Tennis Federation, the game evolved from lawn tennis, becoming widespread after Englishman David Foster patented a table tennis table that moved away from a board-based version using counters and dice. The continued evolution of the game has resulted in the modern version, which is enjoyed the world over.

The Serve

Serves must clear the net completely.

A table tennis serve is correct, according to the British Olympic Association, when the ball is thrown at least 16 cm in the air and struck, bouncing first in front of the serving player and over the net to the opposing player. The table tennis ball must bounce in this way in any of the quadrants, rather than on opposite sides.

If the ball strikes the net and lands on the opponent's half, the serve must be replayed. If the ball strikes the net and does not land on the opponent's half, the non-serving player is awarded a point. Each player serves twice in alternation, until the set is decided.

Points

Following an accepted serve, the opposing player must return the ball to bounce anywhere on the other half of the table. This process, labeled a rally, continues until a player scores a point. A point is scored if either player fails to return the ball, if the ball touches the net or the ball passes beyond the end line of the table once it's been touched by an opposing player.

Fouls

Fouls also incur a point against the offending player, and the British Olympic Association stipulates five circumstances in which a foul is called. The first instance occurs when a player obstructs the ball, and the second way a foul incurs a point is when she strikes the ball twice with her table tennis paddle.

The final three instances of fouling occur when a player touches the playing surface. Therefore, if a player moves the table, touches the net assembly or touches the table with his free hand, he forfeits a point.

Sets

Sets enter a tiebreak situation when the score reaches 10 to 10.

The first player to score 11 points wins each set. If the score reaches 10 to 10 (also called "deuce"), the match continues until one player gains a lead of two points over his opponent.

Match

Decided by either the two players themselves (during an informal match) or the table tennis tournament organizers, the winner will be the first player to reach a decreed number of sets (either five, seven or nine). If a player wins three out of five sets, or four out of seven, she wins the match.