The official table tennis rules

We have summarized the most important Table tennis-rules are summarized here for you, so that you can play your next match in the Sportcenter Wittenau don't have to have any discussions, but can concentrate fully on having fun.

Whether you call it „ping pong“, „table tennis“ or simply „swinging a trowel“ - these rules will keep you on the safe side.

1. a set goes up to 11 points

A set is played until one of the players 11 points has achieved. Important: You must start with two points ahead win (e.g. 11:9). If the score is 10:10, the game goes into extra time (e.g. to 12:10). A match usually consists of „best of five“ (whoever wins 3 sets first) or „best of three“ (whoever wins 2 sets first).

2. change of serve every two points

Each page has two serves in a row, then the right to serve switches to the opponent. Exception: At 10:10 (extra time), the serve changes to each Point. Can you lose due to a service error? Yes! There is no „second chance“ when serving like in tennis.

3. the ball must be thrown up when serving

How do you serve correctly? Hold the ball on the flat, open palm of your hand, behind the edge of your table. Throw the ball at least 16 cm straight up and hit it when it falls down again. It must land on your side first and then on your opponent's side. Note: As soon as the ball leaves your hand, it is in play. If you then miss it, it is a point for the opponent.

4. in singles, the serve may land anywhere

Contrary to what is often assumed, individual no restriction, where the ball must land. You can play it short, long, diagonally or straight. It only has to land in the opponent's half.

5. in doubles: always diagonally from right to right

This is where it gets tactical: In doubles, the serve must always come from your right half of the table into the right half of the opponent's table. The partners change places after their team has served twice.

6. net serve is „repetition“ (Let)

Can the ball touch the net?

In the rally: Yes, if the ball touches the net and still lands on the other side, the game simply continues.
On the serve: No! If the ball touches the net on the serve and lands correctly on the other side, it is a „let“ (replay). The serve is repeated - no matter how often this happens.

7. in doubles: always alternate strokes

Perhaps the most important rule for our doubles pairs at the Sportcenter Wittenau: the partners must alternating hit the ball. It is not permitted for a player to touch the ball twice in succession.

8. volleys are NOT allowed

Can you hit the ball directly out of the air? No. Unlike in tennis, you must wait until the ball has landed on your side of the table. A volley (hit out of the air) leads to an immediate loss of points.

9. when the ball bounces back by itself

If you give the ball so much backward spin (undercut) that it lands on the opponent's side and jumps back over the net, without the opponent having touched it, the Your point.

10. the „racket hand“ counts as a racket

What happens when the ball hits your finger? As long as the ball hits your Racket hand (everything below the wrist) and is played back cleanly, this is allowed and the game continues. But: You may never hit the ball with your free hand touch! This immediately leads to a point for the opponent.

11. the free hand must not touch the table

You must not support yourself on the table with your free hand. If your free hand touches the table surface during the ball change, the point is lost.

12. edge counts, side does not

A ball that Top edge touches the table top is „good“ and counts. However, a ball that hits the side of the table edge (and usually falls downwards) is „out“.

13. fair play comes first

If there is no referee present (which is likely to be the case in your recreational matches), the principle of honesty applies. If you disagree, simply replay the point („replay“). Table tennis is a sport for gentlemen and gentlewomen!

Are you still missing the equipment? No problem. At our counter in the entrance area you can Racket (4,00 €) and Balls (1,00 €) borrow without any complications.

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