Can I hit the ball on the full in Table Tennis?

Can I hit the ball on the full?
Photo courtesy of ITTF

As soon as someone hits the ball on the full in Table Tennis the point is over. However the person who hit the ball on the full does not always lose the point. To determine who wins the point you need to identify if the ball was hit over the table or not.

If you hit the ball on the full over the table then the point is awarded to your opponent.

If you hit the ball on the full behind the baseline of the table then you win the point.

The easy way to remember this rule is to note that the first mistake counts. If your opponent has hit the ball out of play and past the end of the table, then they lose the point. If you hit the ball while it is still in play (over the table) you lose the point. Either way as soon as the ball is hit on the full the point stops.

Hitting the ball on the full is also known as a volley, or volleying the ball. Whatever name you give it, the same rules apply.

We cover this and other rules in our lesson “Table Tennis Rules Made Easy”

Posted by Jeff Plumb on January 21st, 2008

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  1. Suresh DS

    commented on October 5th, 2009 at 7:56 am

    In singles, while serving, can one stand outside the width of the table ? I’ve just drawn a diagram for it below.

    Man
    —————
    | | |
    |————-|
    | | |
    |————-|
    Man

  2. Suresh DS

    commented on October 5th, 2009 at 7:57 am

    Sorry, the diagram didn’t appear properly. If my question is understood, fine.

  3. Jeff Plumb

    commented on October 5th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Hi Suresh DS,

    You certainly can serve from outside the width of the table, as long as you serve from behind the baseline of the table.

  4. Suresh DS

    commented on May 16th, 2010 at 9:10 am

    1) In doubles while serving, one always has to serve from the right half of the table on his side. Can one stand on the left half (left side of the middle line) of the table and serve from the right half ? Is it enough if the ball first pitches on the right half of the table or the person who serves should also stand on the right half of the table ?

  5. Jeff Plumb

    commented on May 16th, 2010 at 4:23 pm

    Hi Suresh DS,

    You can stand wherever you like as long as the ball bounces on the correct side.

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