Scoring:
The player who first scores 21
points, wins the game. However, you must win
by two
points so a game could go on to 30-50 points before
being decided. A match is usually the best two out
of three games, and in international championships,
it is best three out of five games. In other words,
if you lose the first game it's not the end of the
world; winning the next games can make you the
winner.
Choice of Ends and Service:
Who starts serving and which player gets to stand at
which end? You can flip a coin. if you win the flip
you can choose to SERVE or RECEIVE from the end you
like. After each game you will alternate the ends.
Should there be a tie, for instance, one game to one
game, the players will change ends after the first
player reaches 10 points in the final game.
The Serve:
Stand behind your end of the table. Hold the ball in
the palm of your free hand and throw the ball
straight up in the air. As the ball falls, hit it so
it lands on your half of the table, makes one
bounce, and lands on the other side of the table. If
the serve touches the net, it is a let, and you must
serve again. If it touches the net and lands on the
floor, you lose a point. If the serve goes into the
net, you lose the point. You serve until five points
have been scored, and then the other player gets to
serve for the next five points. At 20 to 20 (you
must win by two points), you alternate the serve
after each point.
The Server:
The server is the player who starts the game by
being the first to put the ball into play.
The Receiver:
- The receiver is the player who receives the ball from the server and returns it over the net.
- If you are the receiver, remember: The ball must not bounce twice on your side of the table and you can hit the ball only once to return it. Try to hit the ball on its highest peak and you will have a better angle hitting it back onto the opponent's side. If your return touches the net and goes over, it's okay.
- If it goes into the net, it is bad news! You lose a point. If your return goes over the net but misses the table, bad news again! You lose another point. Should your returning ball touch the edge of the table on your opponent's side, that's great! It's very hard to return an edge ball. As long as the ball hits the edge while dropping, it counts. Should the ball hit the side of the tabletop, it is not considered an edge ball and will not count.
Win A Point:
If the opponent fails to return your shot. Your shot
can hit the boundary lines(white lines) on your
opponent's side or even the edge of the table and it
is legal. Your serve can also hit the edge and it is
legal. If you hit the ball off the table but it
lands on your opponent's paddle before it touches
the floor or wall. This may seem odd that you can
win a point by missing the table, but this rule is
to prevent any volley play.
Lose A Point:
- If when attempting to serve or make a return, you miss the ball.
- If you hit the ball into the net, including the top of the net, and it comes back to your side of the table.
- If you hit the ball wide or too far so the first bounce hits the floor or the wall.
- If you hit the ball before it bounces on your side of the table. No volley is allowed.
- If the ball bounces twice on your side of the table before hitting it.
- If you move the table or touch the net during play.
Legal Point:
It is legal to hit the ball around the side of the
net to land the ball on your opponent's side.
