THE LAWS OF TABLE TENNIS

THE TABLE

• Playing Surface - rectangular 2.74m x 1.525m x 76cm

• shall not include the sides of the table top

• may be of any material

• uniform bounce 23 cm dropped from 30cm

• uniformly dark coloured and matt

• with white side line & end line of 2cm. Wide

• divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net

• divided into 2 equal half-courts by 3mm centre line

• centre line is regarded as part of the right half-court

 Centre line 3 mm

Side line 2 cm

Left ½ Right ½
court court

End line 2 cm
 NET ASSEMBLY

• consists of net, its suspension, supporting posts and

clamps

• suspended by a cord attached to an upright post

• outside limit 15.25 cm

• net height shall be 15.25cm above playing surface

• bottom and ends of the net shall be closed to the post

 Suspension line

Post

Clamp
 THE BALL

• shall be spherical with diameter 40 mm

• shall weigh 2.7gm

• made of celluloid or similar plastics

• shall be white or orange., and matt

 40 mm

Weight 2.7 g
 THE RACKET

• may be of any size, shape or weight

• shall be flat and rigid

• shall be of natural wood (at least 85%)

• adhesive layer may be of fibrous material not thicker

than 7.5% or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller
 ITTF logo

Surface

Blade

Handle
• striking side shall be covered with rubber

• covering material shall extend up to the limits of the

blade except the part nearest the handle

• covering shall not go beyond the limits of the blade

• part for gripping may be left uncovered or covered

with any material

• the blade & covering material shall be continuous &

of even thickness
• a side of the blade if uncovered, shall be matt

• the racket shall be bright red on one side and

black on the other

• slight deviations (continuity of surface/uniformity

of colour) may be allowed

• a player shall show his racket to his opponent and

the umpire

i) at the start of a match

ii) whenever he changes his racket
 Ordinary Pimpled Rubber

• is a single layer of non-cellular rubber with pimples

outwards

• total thickness plus adhesive not more than 2 mm

• pimples density 10 - 30 per sq cm

Rubber with pimples outwards

2 mm

Adhesive Blade
 Sandwich Rubber

• is a single layer of cellular rubber (sponge) covered

with a layer of ordinary pimpled rubber
(inwards or outwards)

• thickness of pimpled rubber not more than 2mm

• total thickness (incl. Adhesive) not more than 4mm

 Rubber with pimples outwards

4 mm

Adhesive Sponge
Blade
 DEFINITIONS

* Rally - period during which the ball is in play

* In Play - from the last moment at which the ball

is stationary on the palm before being
intentionally projected in service

* A Let - a rally of which the result is not scored

* A Point - a rally of which the result is scored

* Racket Hand - the hand carrying the racket

• Free Hand - the hand not carrying the racket

• Strikes - touches the ball with his racket

held in his hand or his racket
hand below the wrist

• Obstructs - anything he wears /carries

touches the ball when it has not
passed over the playing surface
or his end line before touching
his court
Over or - means passes over, under or
Around outside the net assembly outside
the table

End Line - is regarded as extending

indefinitely in both directions
 A GOOD SERVICE

• the ball shall be stationary, resting freely on the

flat palm.

• the ball shall be behind the end line and above

the level of the playing surface.

• project the ball near vertically upwards without spin.

• rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm.

• without touching anything and falls.

Good Service

16 cm
• strike it as the ball is falling.

• from the last moment at which the ball is stationary

before being projected until it is struck, ball and
racket shall be above the level of playing surface.

• strike the ball behind the end line but not farther
back than the furthest part of the body.

• the server is responsible to serve so that the umpire

or his assistant can see the service.
• for doubtful service, warn the server on the first
occasion (without showing a yellow card).

• fault the server for the subsequent dubious legality.

• for a clear failure of a good service, no warning but

fault the server on the first as on any other occasion.

• requirements for a good service may be relaxed

when the notified that compliance is prevented by
physical disability.
 A GOOD RETURN

The ball, having been served or returned, shall

be struck so that it passes OVER or AROUND
the net assembly and touches the opponent's
court, either directly or after touching the net
assembly.
 THE ORDER OF PLAY

In Singles :

•The server (A) shall first make a good service

•The receiver (X) shall then make a good return

•Thereafter they alternately shall each make a

good return.
In doubles :

•The server (A) shall first make a good service

•The receiver (X) shall then make a good return

•The partner of the server (B) shall then make a

good return

•The partner of the receiver (Y) shall then make

a good return

•Thereafter each player in turn in that sequence

(A>X>B>Y) shall make a good return
 A GAME:

- A game shall be won by the player/pair

first scoring 11 points.

- If both players/pair score 10 points, the

game shall be won by the first player/pair
subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
 A LET

PURPOSE

- to end a rally without awarding a point

*NET CORD SERVICE

-the ball TOUCHES the net assembly while

passing over it in service, provided the service
is good.

-the ball touches the net assembly while passing

over it in service and OBSTRUCTED by the player
or his partner.
*UNREADINESS

-if the service is delivered when the receive / pair

is NOT READY, provided he / his partner makes

NO ATTEMPT to return the ball.

*INTERRUPTIONS

-failure to make a good service / return due to a

disturbance outside the control of the player.
(examples: ball coming into the playing area,
sudden noise etc.)

- to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving

or ends.

- to introduce the expedite system to warn or penalize

a player.
 A POINT

A player shall score a point

- if his opponent fails to make a rood service / return.

- if the ball passes beyond his end line (OUT) without

touching his court.

- if his opponent obstructs the ball.

- if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively.

- if his opponent strikes the ball with the side of
racket blade which does not comply with the
requirements (illegal surface)

- if his opponent moves the playing surface

- if his opponent, or anything he wears or carries,

touches the net assembly .

- if his opponent's free hand touches the playing

surface.

- if a double opponent strikes the ball out of sequence.

- as provided under the expedite system.

 A MATCH

- A match shall consist of the best of any odd number

of games.

- For team event : determined by best of 5 games

- For individual events : determined by best of 5

(preliminary round) or 7 games (semi-finals and
finals) or even 9 games.
 THE ORDER OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS

- Each player shall serve for 2 points until the end of

the game, unless both score 10 points or the expedite
system is in operation. (1 point each)
In a DOUBLES match,

-In the first game, the pair having the right to

serve first shall choose which of them will serve
first (A or B). The receiving pair shall decide which
of them will receive first (X or Y).
A

Y X

B
-In the subsequent games, the serving pair shall
choose which of them will serve first (X or Y), the
first receiver shall be the player who served to him
in the preceding game.

- At each change of service, the previous receiver

shall become the server and the partner of the
previous server shall become the receiver.

Y X

B
 TIME-OUT

1. A player or pair may claim ONE time-out period

of up to ONE minute during A MATCH.

2. In an INDIVIDUAL event, the request of time-out

may be made by the PLAYER or PAIR or by the
DESIGNATED ADVISER (COACH).

3. In a TEAM event, it may be made by the PLAYER

or PAIR or by the TEAM CAPTAIN.
4. The request of time-out may be made ONLY
when the ball is OUT OF PLAY.

5. Request of time-out shall be indicated by

making a 'T' sign with the hands.

6. On receiving a valid request for time-out the

umpire shall suspend play and hold up a
WHITE CARD, and place the card on the
ourt of the player making the request.