Touching the table with free hand

Alfredo Torres Asked 3 weeks ago

Hi.

A player touches the table with his free hand ("lost his balance"), but claims this happened after he had won the point.  Is this a legal point?

Alois Rosario Answered 3 weeks ago

Hi Alfredo,

In table tennis, the point is officially over when the rally has ended according to the rules. If a player touches the table with their free hand after the point has already been won, the touch does not affect the outcome. However, if the free hand touches the table before or while the ball is still in play, the player loses the point.

To determine the legality of the point, you need to establish the exact sequence of events:

• If the ball was already dead (e.g., the opponent failed to return it legally) before the touch, the player still wins the point.

• If the player touched the table while the ball was still in play, they lose the point.

A clear ruling would depend on when the umpire considers the point to have been decided.