Ping pong is easy to pick up, but almost every basement game has at least one argument: Did that serve count? Can you hit it before it bounces? Who serves at 10-10? This guide covers the official rules of table tennis, as set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), in plain English, plus the common house rules you can safely ignore.
If you only need the essentials, start with the quick summary below. The sections that follow explain each rule in detail.
Ping Pong Rules at a Glance
- A game is played to 11 points, and you must win by 2. At 10-10, play continues until one player leads by two points (ITTF Law 2.11.1).
- A match is best of 3, 5 or 7 games. Best of 5 is the most common format outside of elite events (ITTF Law 2.12.1).
- Each player serves 2 points in a row, then the serve switches. From 10-10, the serve switches after every point (ITTF Law 2.13.3).
- The serve must bounce once on your side, then once on your opponent’s side. In singles, it can land anywhere on the opponent’s half. It doesn’t have to go diagonally (ITTF Law 2.6.3).
- Toss the ball at least 6 inches (16 cm) straight up from an open palm, and hit it as it falls (ITTF Laws 2.6.1–2.6.3).
- A serve that clips the net and still lands in is a “let”: no point, serve again (ITTF Law 2.9.1.1).
- During a rally, the ball can touch the net and play continues if it lands on the other side.
- You must let the ball bounce once on your side before you hit it. No volleys.
- In doubles, partners alternate hits, and every serve must go diagonally, right half to right half.
- A point is scored on every rally, no matter who served.
How to Play Ping Pong: The Basics
Two players (singles) or two teams of two (doubles) stand at opposite ends of the table. One player serves, and the players then hit the ball back and forth over the net. Each return must clear the net (or go around it) and bounce on the opponent’s half of the table. The first player who fails to make a good return loses the point.
Before the first game, decide who serves first. Officially, this is done by a coin toss or similar draw. The winner chooses to serve, receive, or pick an end of the table. Most casual players simply rally until someone misses and give the serve to the winner.
The Equipment
| Item | Official specification |
|---|---|
| Table size | 9 ft long × 5 ft wide (2.74 m × 1.525 m) |
| Table height | 30 in (76 cm) from the floor |
| Net height | 6 in (15.25 cm), extending 6 in past each sideline |
| Ball | 40 mm diameter, 2.7 g, white or orange, matte finish |
| Paddle (racket) | Any size or weight; blade at least 85% natural wood; one side black rubber, the other a bright approved color (traditionally red) |
These specifications come from ITTF Laws 2.1 (the table), 2.2 (the net), 2.3 (the ball) and 2.4 (the racket). A few equipment details surprise people:
- There is no size limit for the paddle. The rules regulate the blade material and the rubber, not the dimensions (ITTF Law 2.4.1).
- The two sides of the paddle must be different colors. One side must be black. Since 2021, the other side can be red, blue, green, violet or pink, so your opponent can tell which rubber you’re using (ITTF Law 2.4.6).
- Each table half is divided by a white center line. The line only matters in doubles serving. In singles it’s decoration.
If you’re shopping for your first paddle, our guide on how to choose a table tennis racket explains what to look for.
Ping Pong Serving Rules
The serve causes more disputes than anything else in ping pong. Here is what makes a serve legal under the ITTF rules:
- Start with the ball resting on your open, flat palm, with your hand still. You can’t cup the ball or hold it in your fingers (ITTF Law 2.6.1).
- Toss the ball nearly straight up, without spin, so it rises at least 16 cm (about 6 inches) after leaving your hand (ITTF Law 2.6.2).
- Hit the ball as it falls, not on the way up (ITTF Law 2.6.3).
- Keep the ball behind your end line and above the level of the table from the moment you toss it until you hit it (ITTF Law 2.6.4).
- Don’t hide the ball. Your opponent must be able to see it the whole time. Move your free arm out of the way as soon as you toss the ball (ITTF Laws 2.6.4–2.6.5).
- The ball must bounce once on your side, then clear the net and bounce once on your opponent’s side. (ITTF Law 2.6.3)
Do You Have to Serve Diagonally in Ping Pong?
In singles, no. Under official rules, a singles serve can land anywhere on your opponent’s half of the table, including straight down the line. Many casual players use a “diagonal serve” house rule, which is fine as long as everyone agrees on it before the game.
In doubles, yes. The serve must bounce in the server’s right half of the table and then in the receiver’s right half (ITTF Law 2.6.3). The center line counts as part of both right halves, so a ball that lands on it is good (ITTF Law 2.1.6).
What Happens If the Serve Hits the Net?
If the serve touches the net or net post and then lands correctly on the receiver’s side, it’s a let. Nobody wins the point, and the server serves again. There is no limit on the number of lets in a row (ITTF Law 2.9.1.1).
If the serve touches the net and doesn’t land on the receiver’s side, the server loses the point.
Who Serves and When?
- Each player serves two points in a row, then the serve passes to the opponent (ITTF Law 2.13.3).
- At 10-10 (deuce), each player serves one point at a time until the game is won.
- The player who served first in one game receives first in the next game (ITTF Law 2.13.6).
In the old days, players served five points in a row and games went to 21. The ITTF switched to the current 11-point format in 2001, though you’ll still see 21-point games in some backyards.
Ping Pong Scoring Rules
How Many Points Is a Game of Ping Pong?
A game goes to 11 points, but you need a lead of at least 2 points to win. So 11-9 wins the game, but 11-10 doesn’t (ITTF Law 2.11.1). The game continues until someone leads by two, such as 12-10 or 15-13.
Unlike volleyball’s old system, a point is scored on every rally, whether you served or received.
Keeping score? Use our free ping pong scoreboard. It tracks the score, games and whose serve it is, for singles and doubles.
How Many Sets Are in Table Tennis?
What tennis players call “sets,” table tennis calls “games.” A match is played as the best of an odd number of games:
- Best of 3 (first to win 2 games): common in casual play and early tournament rounds
- Best of 5 (first to win 3 games): the standard for most leagues and tournaments
- Best of 7 (first to win 4 games): used in major championships and the Olympics
Changing Ends
Players switch ends of the table after each game. In the final possible game of a match (for example, game 5 of a best-of-5), players also switch ends when the first player reaches 5 points (ITTF Law 2.13.7).
Rally Rules: How Points Are Won and Lost
Once the serve is in, the rally begins. A return is good if the ball goes over or around the net and bounces on your opponent’s half of the table. You lose the point if you:
- Miss the ball, or hit it into the net or off the table.
- Let it bounce twice on your side before hitting it.
- Volley the ball. If you hit the ball (or it touches you) before it bounces on your side while it’s over the table or heading toward it, that’s called “obstruction,” and you lose the point (ITTF Laws 2.5 and 2.10.1.6).
- Deliberately hit the ball twice in a row. An accidental double touch during one stroke is legal (ITTF Law 2.10.1.7).
- Touch the table with your free hand (the hand not holding the paddle) (ITTF Law 2.10.1.11).
- Move the table or touch the net with your body, paddle or clothing while the ball is in play (ITTF Laws 2.10.1.9–2.10.1.10).
Commonly Misunderstood Rules
The ball touches the net during a rally. Play on. Unlike on the serve, a net touch during a rally is not a let. If the ball goes over and lands on the other side, it’s a good return.
Edge balls. If the ball clips the top edge of the table, it’s in and play continues. If it hits the side of the table below the top surface, it’s out. Watch how the ball deflects: an edge ball usually keeps moving forward, while a side hit drops toward the floor.
Hitting the ball with your hand. Your paddle hand counts as part of the paddle, below the wrist. If the ball bounces off your fingers on the paddle hand and goes over legally, the shot is good. Hitting it with your free hand is not allowed (see the definition of “strikes” in ITTF Law 2.5).
Going around the net. A return doesn’t have to go over the net. If you’re pulled wide, you can hit the ball around the net post, even below the height of the net, as long as it lands on the other side.
Catching a ball that’s going long. If the ball has already passed your end line without touching your side of the table, it’s not obstruction to catch it. Your opponent’s shot was out, so you win the point.
Touching the table. Leaning on the table with your body or paddle hand is allowed, as long as the table doesn’t move. Only the free hand is off-limits.
Serving before your opponent is ready. If the receiver isn’t ready and doesn’t try to return the serve, it’s a let and the serve is replayed (ITTF Law 2.9.1.2).
Ping Pong Doubles Rules
Doubles follows the same rules as singles, with three important differences:
- Diagonal serves. Every serve must go from the server’s right half to the receiver’s right half.
- Partners alternate hits. After the serve, the players hit in a fixed order: server, receiver, server’s partner, receiver’s partner, and so on. Hitting out of turn loses the point (ITTF Laws 2.8.2 and 2.10.1.12).
- A rotating serving order. Each serve still lasts two points, but the roles rotate. If A and B play X and Y, and A serves to X first, the order is: A serves to X, X serves to B, B serves to Y, Y serves to A, and then the cycle repeats (ITTF Laws 2.13.4–2.13.5).
In the next game, the pair that received first now serves first. In the deciding game of a match, the receiving pair changes their receiving order when the first team reaches 5 points (ITTF Law 2.13.6).
Other Official Rules Worth Knowing
- Time-outs: each player or pair may take one time-out of up to 1 minute per match.
- Breaks: players can rest up to 1 minute between games, and can towel off after every 6 points and when changing ends.
- The expedite rule: if a game is still unfinished after 10 minutes of play, the expedite system starts, unless at least 18 points have already been scored in that game. Players then alternate serves every point, and if the receiver makes 13 good returns in a rally, the receiver wins the point. Once introduced, it stays in place for the rest of the match. This rule prevents endless defensive rallies (ITTF Law 2.15).
- Sportsmanship: umpires can show a yellow card as a warning for bad behavior such as shouting, throwing equipment or deliberately damaging the ball. Further offenses cost penalty points.
Casual “House Rules” vs. Official Rules
Plenty of home and office games use their own variations. Here’s how the most common ones compare to the official rules:
| House rule | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Games to 21, five serves each | Games to 11, two serves each (since 2001) |
| Singles serves must go diagonally | Singles serves can land anywhere on the opponent’s half |
| Rally for serve before each game | Serve is decided once per match by a draw, then alternates |
| “Let” on any net touch | Lets only apply to serves; net touches during rallies are in play |
| Last point must be won on your own serve | No such rule; every rally scores |
House rules are fine for fun, but agree on them before the game starts. If you play in a club, a league or a tournament, the official rules apply.
Next Steps
Once the rules feel natural, the fastest way to improve is to work on your serve and your consistency. Our table tennis tips for new players will help you build good habits from the start. If you’re curious about the bigger picture, read whether ping pong counts as a sport and how good table tennis is as exercise.
Ping Pong Rules FAQ
Can you hit the ball before it bounces in ping pong?
No. You must let the ball bounce once on your side of the table. Hitting it in the air while it’s over the table or heading toward it (a volley) loses the point.
Does the serve have to bounce on your side first?
Yes. A legal serve bounces once on the server’s side, then once on the receiver’s side. Hitting the ball directly over the net without that first bounce is a fault.
What is a let in ping pong?
A let is a replayed point with no score. The most common let is a serve that touches the net and still lands on the receiver’s side. A let is also called if the receiver wasn’t ready, or if play is interrupted, for example by a ball rolling onto the court from another table.
Can you serve straight in ping pong?
In singles, yes. The serve can land anywhere on the opponent’s half. In doubles, the serve must go diagonally from right half to right half.
What happens at 10-10 in ping pong?
At 10-10 (deuce), each player serves one point at a time, and the game continues until someone leads by 2 points.
Can you touch the table in ping pong?
You can touch the table with your body or your paddle hand as long as you don’t move it. Touching the playing surface with your free hand loses the point.
Is it legal to hit the ball with your hand?
Only with the hand holding the paddle, below the wrist. Contact with your free hand or any other part of your body loses the point.
How many serves do you get in ping pong?
You serve two points in a row, then the serve switches. From 10-10, the serve switches after every point. There is no second serve as in tennis: a faulty serve loses the point immediately.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Rule numbers refer to the Laws of Table Tennis (Chapter 2 of the ITTF Statutes, 2026 edition). Time-outs and breaks are set by the ITTF’s regulations for competitions. Local leagues and tournaments may use small variations, so check with the organizer before you play.
