The rules of table tennis are simpler than they look: a game goes to 11 points with a two-point margin, each player serves twice in a row, and on the serve the ball must bounce first on your side of the table and then on your opponent’s. Most arguments in casual play start with the serve or with doubles, so both are explained in detail below. Everything here follows the official ITTF Laws of Table Tennis, which are also used in Slovenian club leagues.
Table, net, ball and racket
For a family game in the garden any table will do, but clubs and tournaments use fixed dimensions. If you are buying a table or equipment, it helps to know the official values, because every manufacturer refers to them.
| Item | Official ITTF requirement |
|---|---|
| Playing surface | 2.74 m × 1.525 m, 76 cm above the floor |
| Net | top edge 15.25 cm above the table along its whole length |
| Ball | 40 mm diameter, 2.7 g, plastic, matt, white or orange |
| Racket | one side matt black, the other a bright colour clearly different from black and from the ball |
The two-colour racket rule is not a formality: your opponent needs to see which rubber you used, because different rubbers put very different amounts of spin on the ball.
Scoring: games, matches and changing the serve
A game is won by the first player to reach 11 points. At 10–10 play continues until one side is two points ahead (12–10, 13–11 and so on). A match is always played over an odd number of games: in competitions usually best of five or best of seven, in casual play often best of three.
- The serve changes every two points, no matter who won them.
- At 10–10 each player serves only one point before the serve passes over.
- Players change ends after each game, and in the deciding game once more when one side first reaches 5 points.
- The player who received first in the previous game serves first in the next one.
In official matches there is a short break between games, players may use a towel after every six points, and each player or pair can ask for one one-minute time-out per match.
A legal serve: where most players go wrong
The serve is the only stroke where the player has the ball completely under control, so it is also the most precisely regulated. A legal serve has to meet all of the following conditions:
- The ball starts resting freely on the open, flat palm of the free hand.
- You toss it almost vertically upwards, without spin, so that it rises at least 16 cm.
- You strike it only as it falls.
- It must stay above the level of the table and behind the end line – serving from below the table or from the side is not allowed.
- The ball must not be hidden from the receiver; move your free arm out of the space between the ball and the net as soon as you toss.
- The ball bounces first on your half, crosses the net and then bounces on your opponent’s half.
When a point is replayed (a let)
If an otherwise good serve touches the net and then lands on the opponent’s side, the point is replayed – with no limit on how many times. A let is also called if the receiver was not ready and made no attempt to return, or if play is disturbed by something outside the players’ control, such as a ball rolling in from the next table.
When you lose a point
You lose the point when you fail to make a good return, meaning the ball does not cross the net and land on your opponent’s half. Your opponent also wins the point if you:
- touch or stop the ball before it has bounced on your side while it is still above the table or travelling towards it;
- deliberately hit the ball twice in a row;
- move the table, or touch the net with your body, clothing or racket;
- put your free hand on the playing surface;
- in doubles, hit the ball out of turn.
It is worth knowing that the racket hand below the wrist counts as part of the racket. If the ball hits the fingers or knuckles of your racket hand, the shot is good.
The expedite system
To stop games between two very defensive players from dragging on, table tennis has the expedite system. It comes into force when a game has lasted 10 minutes and fewer than 18 points have been scored, or at any time if both players ask for it. From then on players serve one point each in turn, and the receiver wins the point by making 13 good returns in a single rally.
Doubles: the diagonal serve and order of play
In doubles the table has a white centre line running along its length. The serve must bounce first on the server’s right half-court and then on the receiver’s right half-court, as seen from each player’s side. The centre line counts as part of both right halves.
After the serve, players hit in strict rotation: server, receiver, server’s partner, receiver’s partner, and then round again. After two points the receiver becomes the server and the previous server’s partner becomes the receiver. In the deciding game the receiving pair also changes its receiving order at 5 points. Beginners break these rules most often, so agree briefly before the match who stands where.
From casual games to the world rankings
Table tennis is accessible to almost anyone: all you need is a table, two rackets and a few balls. In Slovenia, players who want to take it further can join one of the clubs under the Table Tennis Association of Slovenia and play in leagues where exactly these rules apply.
Top players collect points at international tournaments, from which the ITTF compiles its world rankings for singles and doubles. Slovenia has some well-known names, including Darko Jorgić and Deni Kožul, and in October 2026 the Stožice arena in Ljubljana hosted the European Individual Table Tennis Championships. For games at home you can simplify the rules – for example by playing best of three – but agree on that before the first point, not in the middle of an argument at 10–10.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a game of table tennis?
A game is played to 11 points. At 10–10 you play on until one player leads by two. Until 2001 games were played to 21 points.
Can the ball touch the net on a serve?
Yes. If a legal serve touches the net and lands on the opponent’s side, the point is replayed. If it does not land on the opponent’s half after touching the net, you lose the point.
Can you hit the ball with your hand?
Only with the hand holding the racket, and only below the wrist – that shot counts. Hitting the ball with your free hand, or with your wrist or forearm, is not allowed.
How do you serve in doubles?
Diagonally: the ball bounces first on the server’s right half-court and then on the receiver’s right half-court. The centre line counts as part of the right half.
