About Table Tennis

In Table Tennis (also known as ping-pong), players bat a little white, lightweight ball over a net on a table using ping pong paddles (or “table tennis rackets” if you want to sound fancy). Except for the initial serve, players must allow a ball played toward them only one bounce on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. Points are scored when a player fails to return the ball. Play is fast and demands quick reactions.

The equipment used in table tennis is serious business. The ping pong table must measure 9 ft long, 5 ft wide, and 30 inches high with a masonite (a type of hardboard) or similarly manufactured timber, layered with a smooth, low-friction coating. The table or playing surface is divided into two halves by a 6 inch high net. An ITTF approved table surface must be in a green or blue color.

A game of ping pong is won by the player first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10 points...you must win by two. A match is the best of any odd number of games. In competition play, matches are typically best of five or seven games.