Discussion
Dear Pingskills,
I noticed that doubles matches in high level competitions are usually best of 5 sets, whereas singles matches are best of 7. Is there any reason that doubles matches are played in less sets than singles?
Tables tennis competitive matches also tend to be shorter in duration than some racquet sports like tennis. Is there also a reason why the matches are capped to best of 7 sets resulting in the shorter durations to other racquet sports? Thanks.
Regards,
Kenneth
Alois Rosario Answered 5 years ago
Hi Kenneth,
I think the number of sets is really a reflection on the perceived importance of Singles as opposed to Doubles. Unlike a lot of other racket sports Doubles has never really had a high importance for the players. I think this is changing slowly especially with the introduction of Mixed Doubles at the Olympics this time. At the Olympics this year the Mixed Doubles is best of 7.
When Table Tennis changed from games up to 21 to games up to 11 they increased the number of sets. At one stage they did trial Best of 9 sets but that hasn't really taken off. We also tend to play more than one match in a day so having longer matches can be taxing at the highest level.
Question actions
What should you do when the score is 9–9 or deuce? One point can be the difference between victory and frustration. In this video, we break down how to win close table tennis matches with a smart, pressure-tested strategy.
🏓 In this video, you'll learn:
🎯 Takeaway: Winning close matches isn’t about playing harder—it’s about playing smarter.
💬 Question for you:
What’s your go-to serve or tactic at 9–9? Or… what mistake do you often make in tight matches? Let us know in the comments!
Thoughts on this question (1)
Jasper Low Posted 5 years ago
I've been seeing doubles to best of 7 the whole time... I think you have been watching matches that comes from a team event. In team events all matches are played to best of 5.
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.