In a match what happens if you are injured. Can you continue, are you allowed to recover before playing on?
The answer depends on whether you had a previous injury and have aggravated it or whether you incurred the injury during the match. It also depends on whether the injury is due to your […]
How long do I get for a Timeout?
You are allowed up to 1 minute. If the player that calls the timeout returns to the table earlier than 1 minute then the timeout is finished and the other player must resume play.
How many Timeouts do I get?
You get just one timeout for the match. […]
Another thing you may see at the upcoming World Championships is players taking a break between games.
During a match you are allowed time between games to receive advice form your coach or to just recover and prepare for the next game. The rule states specifically that you are allowed up to 1 minute between […]
So, how long are you allowed between points?
The rule states that play must be continuous. Whereas in Tennis there is a specific number of seconds you are allowed, the Table Tennis rule is a little more flexible and the success of its enforcement can depend on the quality of the Umpire. The rule […]
Over the past few decades Table Tennis has strived to make play continuous. There were periods in the 1970s 80s and 90s where the matches would take forever because of the breaks that were taken between points. I remember watching a Womens’ match at the Asian Championships in 1990 where the umpire was […]
Read more....We had this question from one of our readers.
Dropping Your Bat
If a player drops his bat during a point, does he lose the point?
The player does not lose the point but he will need to pick up his bat pretty fast to return the next ball as you must have a bat in your hand […]
For those new to the game or those returning after a few years will be surprised to find out that Table Tennis is now played up to 11 points instead of 21.
So all games are played up to 11. Players have two serves each. Serving does not depend on whether you win the […]
At this time of year lots of people are getting their first Table Tennis Table for Christmas. If that is you are you are unsure of the rules of the game, just click on the link Table Tennis Rules for your free copy of the rules, presented for you in an easy to understand […]
Read more....What’s your verdict?
What happens when points have been played with the wrong person serving or receiving or both or if players haven’t changed ends when they were supposed to? What happens to the points that have already been played?
The first thing is that as soon as the umpires realises the mistake has been made, […]
A rule that I am often questioned about is where to serve in singles.
Many people think that they have to serve diagonally in singles. I think this comes from watching Tennis.
Remember in Singles you can serve from anywhere to anywhere on the table. That line down the middle of the table is only […]
A rule that is often misunderstood is the rule about whether you can touch the table or not. This is an extract from the ITTF rules.
Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point:
if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;
if his opponent, or anything […]
What are the rules regarding the size of your racket?
The ITTF rule states:
2.04.01 The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.
So we can use any size racket. So why don’t they use an enormous bat? The answer is simple, it […]
Below is the Time-out rule from the ITTF Regulations for International competition.
The interesting aspects are that the time-out does not have to last for the full one minute. If the person calling the time-out is ready before the one minute is up the time-out is complete. So the person calling the timeout has […]
Doubles rules are often misunderstood… Remember these and you can’t go too far wrong.
The 4 extra rules of doubles
1. You must take it in turns with your partner to hit the ball
2. You always serve from your right hand box to the diagonal box
3. You serve your 2 serves at a time to the same […]
What is a Let Serve?
Many players that are new to the game get this one wrong.
A let is when the serve hits your side, then hits the net and goes onto the other side of the table correctly.
If the ball does not hit your side and/or your opponents side it is a fault.
How Many Lets?
You […]
Two rules that I am often asked about are related to serving.
When you are serving if you throw the ball up and miss it what happens?
This is simple. The ball is in play as soon as you throw it up. So if you throw it up and miss it the other […]
Read more....When it comes to knowing the rules some people need all the detail. At PingSkills we have the official rules here for you. Just click the link for access to the Official ITTF Laws of Table Tennis.
The Laws cover the following topics. If you need any other information on rules just Ask […]
Basic Rules
There are 4 extra rules when you play doubles:
1. You must take it in turns to hit the ball
2. You can only serve from your right hand box to diagonally. You never serve from your left box.
3. When you serve, you serve to the same side and to the same player for both of […]
Timeout!Photo courtesy of ITTF
Use Your Timeout Effectively
One of the big changes in Table Tennis has been the ability to use a timeout. The rule is starting to be used effectively now that players and coaches are getting used to the concept.
In it’s infancy, players would save their timeout till the end of the match […]
Read more....There have been many rule changes in Table Tennis over the years. One of the latest has been the rule where if the ball is out of play and you volley it you don’t lose the point.
This is a rule that has proved effective at the top level of Table Tennis but at the […]
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 […]
Read more....You can’t change your bat during a match - it’s the rules
At this years Australian Open William Henzell was leading Simon Gerada 3 sets to 1 and 10-3 in the 5th set. Simon Gerada was agitated about being down 7 match points and hit his racket which subsequently broke. Simon then conceded the match to […]
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