Table Tennis Rules: Official ITTF Handbook for UK Players

Table tennis is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), which publishes its official rulebook in the ITTF Handbook. The rules cover everything from how a point is played to the exact dimensions of approved equipment. Understanding the laws of the sport removes disputes at the table and reveals the tactical subtleties that separate competitive play from a casual knock-about.

This guide follows the current ITTF regulations, explaining each major area in plain language. Whether someone is preparing for their first league match or settling an argument at a club night, the rules below are the definitive reference for table tennis in the UK.

The Scoring System

A game of table tennis is played to 11 points. The first player or pair to reach 11 points wins the game, provided there is a margin of at least 2 points over the opponent. If the score reaches 10-10 (known as deuce), play continues until one side establishes a 2-point lead - so a game could theoretically continue indefinitely at close levels.

A match is typically played as the best of five games (first to win three) or best of seven games (first to win four) in most competitive formats. The ITTF uses best of seven for World Championship individual events. Club leagues in the UK commonly use best of five.

At the start of each new game - and when the score in a deciding game reaches 5 points each - players or pairs change ends of the table. Service also alternates every two points in normal play. In a deuce situation, service alternates after every single point.

Service Rules in Full

Serving is the most technical area of the rules and the one that produces the most disputes. The ITTF laws are specific.

The Pre-Service Position

The server must begin with the ball resting freely in the open palm of the free hand - the hand not holding the racket. The palm must be stationary and above the level of the playing surface. The ball must be visible to the umpire and the receiver at all times from the start of the service until it is struck.

The Toss

The server projects the ball near vertically upward, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16 centimetres (approximately 6 inches) after leaving the palm of the free hand. This height requirement exists to ensure the ball is clearly visible to the receiver and the umpire and to prevent deceptive hidden-service techniques at the moment of contact.

Contact Behind the Baseline

The ball must be struck so that it first touches the server's court and then, passing over or around the net assembly, touches the receiver's court. The ball must be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line - the baseline - when it is struck. Neither the server's body nor clothing may obstruct the receiver's view of the ball between the time of the last throw and the moment of contact.

Singles vs. Doubles Serving

In singles, the server may direct the ball to any part of the receiver's court. In doubles, the ball must be served from the server's right half-court and must land in the receiver's right half-court - that is, it must go diagonally across the table.

The Let Rule

A let is a rally that does not count. Service is a let when the served ball touches the net assembly before landing in the correct court - provided the service would otherwise have been valid. A let is also called when the receiver is not ready, when play is disturbed by a factor outside the players' control, or when the umpire stops play for a legitimate reason. A let does not result in a point being awarded; the rally is simply replayed.

There is no limit on the number of lets in a single service attempt. Unlike tennis, consecutive net-touch serves do not result in a fault.

Winning a Point

A point is awarded to a player when the opponent fails to make a good return. The specific conditions that result in a lost point include:

• Failing to make a good service (ball doesn't bounce on both sides of the net correctly)
• Failing to return a good service or return - the ball touches the player's side of the table twice, goes off the edge, or is missed entirely
• The ball, after being struck, touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by the opponent
• A player's free hand touches the playing surface during a rally
• A player touches the net assembly or the playing surface with their racket during a rally
• A player or anything a player wears or carries moves the table
• In doubles, a player hits the ball out of the correct sequence

A ball that strikes the top edge of the table and bounces back into play counts as a valid return. A ball that clips the side edge of the table - below the table surface - is out. This distinction causes frequent discussion at club level but is clearly defined in the ITTF rules.

Equipment Standards

The Table

The playing surface must be 2.74 metres long, 1.525 metres wide, and 76 centimetres above the floor. The surface must yield a uniform bounce of approximately 23 centimetres when a standard ball is dropped from a height of 30 centimetres. The surface must be dark, with a matte finish, and divided into two halves by a net. White side lines and end lines mark the boundaries. In doubles, a white centre line divides each half into two half-courts.

The Net Assembly

The net assembly consists of the net, its suspension, and the supporting posts. The net is 15.25 centimetres high along its entire length. It is suspended by a cord attached to upright posts 15.25 centimetres high. The net must overhang by 15.25 centimetres on each side of the playing surface.

The Ball

Since 2015, the ITTF has mandated a 40+ millimetre diameter ball made from a non-celluloid plastic (poly) material. The ball must weigh 2.7 grams, be white or orange, and have a matte finish. Balls used in ITTF-sanctioned competitions must carry the three-star ITTF approval mark. The transition from celluloid to poly altered the spin characteristics and bounce of the ball significantly - a topic covered in depth in the equipment section of this site.

The Racket (Bat)

The racket may be any size, shape, or weight, but the blade must be flat and rigid. At least 85 percent of the blade's thickness must be of natural wood. A reinforcing material - such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, or compressed paper - may form one or more layers of the blade but must not exceed 7.5 percent of the total thickness or 0.35 millimetres, whichever is smaller.

Each side of the blade must be covered with either an ordinary pimpled rubber (with pimples pointing outward), with a total thickness of rubber and sponge not exceeding 2.0 millimetres, or sandwich rubber (pimples pointing inward or outward) with a total thickness not exceeding 4.0 millimetres. The covering rubber on both sides must carry a current ITTF approval mark. One side of the blade must be bright red and the other must be black, so that opponents can identify which rubber a player is using at any time.

Doubles Rules

Doubles play follows most of the same rules as singles but introduces several additional conditions that change the tactical nature of the game considerably.

Service in Doubles

In doubles, the service must be delivered diagonally - from the server's right half-court to the receiver's right half-court. Both the server and receiver are predetermined at the start of each game and the service order is fixed. After every two points, the serving pair and receiving pair change roles.

Striking Order in Doubles

In doubles, partners must alternate strikes. After one player in a pair strikes the ball, their partner must play the next shot, and the opponents follow the same alternating pattern. A pair loses a point if one player strikes the ball twice in succession. This rule creates complex movement challenges because both players must constantly be in position to receive or play the next ball.

End Change in Doubles

In the final game of a doubles match, the receiving pair must change which player receives service when one pair first reaches 5 points. This mid-game switch can disrupt established patterns and is a frequently overlooked rule at club level.

Match Formats in Competition

In UK club leagues, team matches are typically contested between two teams, each fielding three or four players. Individual encounters within the team match are best of five games. National league formats vary by county and region but generally follow the same structure.

In ITTF World Tour and Olympic competition, individual matches from the round of 32 onwards are best of seven games. Team competition uses a format of five individual rubbers (four singles and one doubles), with the match decided when one team wins three rubbers.

The Expedite System

The expedite system is introduced when a game has lasted more than 10 minutes and neither player has reached 9 points - provided both players or pairs agree to its earlier introduction. Once activated, the server has 13 strokes in which to win the point (including the serve itself). If the receiver returns the serve and the following 12 shots, the point goes to the receiver. Service alternates after every single point under the expedite system, regardless of the score.

The expedite system exists to prevent excessively defensive play from stalling a match. It is rarely encountered in attacking play at club level but is a known feature in matches involving highly defensive styles - notably extreme long-pips or anti-spin rubber users who can sustain very long defensive rallies.

Continuous Play and Clothing Rules

Play is expected to be continuous. Players are entitled to a maximum of one minute's break between games, and up to two minutes between the fourth and fifth games of a best-of-seven match. Towelling is permitted at the end of each game and after every six points within a game in international play.

Clothing must be uniform in colour on each side and must clearly contrast with the ball colour. Shirts, shorts, and skirts may carry advertising but may not feature patterns that obscure the ball. Coloured clothing that closely resembles the colour of the ball in use (white or orange) is not permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many points do you need to win a game of table tennis?

A game is won by the first player or pair to score 11 points, provided they lead by at least 2 points. If the score reaches 10-10 (deuce), play continues until one side achieves a 2-point advantage - for example, 14-12 or 17-15.

What is the minimum height the ball must be tossed during a serve?

The ball must rise at least 16 centimetres above the palm of the free hand after being tossed. This is approximately 6 inches. The toss must be near-vertical and must not impart spin on the ball.

Can you serve anywhere in singles?

Yes. In singles, the server may aim the ball at any part of the opponent's court. The diagonal restriction only applies in doubles play.

What happens if the ball hits the net on a serve?

If the ball clips the top of the net and still lands in the correct part of the opponent's court, it is a let - the serve is replayed without penalty. If the ball touches the net and fails to land in the correct court, it is a fault and the opponent wins the point.

Is the edge of the table in or out?

A ball that strikes the top edge of the playing surface - the top surface itself, including its white boundary lines - counts as in play. A ball that strikes the side of the table below the playing surface is out. The distinction matters: edge balls are legal, side balls are not.

What is the expedite system in table tennis?

The expedite system is introduced when a game has lasted more than 10 minutes and fewer than 18 points have been scored in total. Under expedite, if the server does not win the point within 13 strokes (including the serve), the receiver wins the point. Service alternates with every point.

Can you hide the ball during a serve?

No. The server must not obstruct the receiver's or umpire's view of the ball from the moment of the toss through to the moment of contact. This is explicitly stated in the ITTF rules and is one of the most commonly penalised service faults at competitive level.

What rubber thickness is permitted on a bat?

For sandwich rubber (the most common type, also called inverted rubber), the combined thickness of rubber sheet and sponge layer must not exceed 4.0 millimetres on either side. For pimpled rubber without sponge, the total rubber thickness must not exceed 2.0 millimetres.

Do rubbers have to be approved by the ITTF?

Yes. Any rubber used in ITTF-sanctioned competition must appear on the current ITTF approved rubber list and carry the official ITTF approval logo. The list is updated regularly and some rubbers are removed if they fail to comply with updated testing criteria.

What is the correct ball size for table tennis?

The current standard is a 40+ millimetre diameter ball made from non-celluloid plastic (poly). The ball weighs 2.7 grams and must be white or orange with a matte finish. Three-star balls that carry ITTF approval are required for official competition.

Does the blade have to be made of wood?

At least 85 percent of the blade's thickness must be natural wood. However, reinforcing layers of materials such as carbon fibre, glass fibre, or compressed paper are permitted, provided any single non-wood layer does not exceed 7.5 percent of the total thickness or 0.35 millimetres, whichever is smaller.

Why do table tennis bats have to be red on one side and black on the other?

The red-and-black requirement allows both the opponent and the umpire to identify which rubber surface is being used to play each shot. Since different rubbers produce very different spin characteristics, this rule ensures there is no deceptive concealment of which surface contacted the ball.

How does serving alternate in a doubles match?

In doubles, service changes every two points, cycling through all four players in a fixed rotation. The serving player changes within each pair, then the receiving pair becomes the serving pair. The rotation is set at the start of each game and may only be changed between games.

What happens at 5-5 in the deciding game of a doubles match?

In the final deciding game of a doubles match, when one pair first reaches 5 points, the receiving pair must change the player who is designated to receive service. This swap is mandatory and can disrupt established service/return patterns late in a tight match.

Can you touch the table with your free hand during a rally?

No. If a player's free hand (the hand not holding the racket) touches the playing surface during a rally, the opponent wins the point. This is one of the lesser-known rules but is enforced in all forms of competitive play.

How long can you take between games?

Players are allowed a maximum of one minute's rest between each game in a match. In a best-of-seven match, a break of up to two minutes is permitted between the fourth and fifth games. Towelling breaks are allowed at the end of each game and after every six points within a game in international-level play.