A post titled “Ping Pong Rules and Regulations” may sound boring, but it’s not!
At least, I hope not. That’s why we’ve slightly modified it to get rid of some ping pong strange rules and myths.
In this post, I will clearly explain the main rules of Ping Pong and thus end the countless discussions that occur every day around the world.
So, if you are a casual player or a beginner. In that case, this post tries to reveal all the mythical rules of ping pong invented that appear on tables around the world (ok, the round the table is fun on vacation, but of course, it is not an official game).
I will also give a summary of the basic rules of ping pong.
If you are an experienced player, I hope you will find this article useful. I recently tried an arbitration exam, and it still failed.
There are some strange and hard-to-understand rules and regulations in ping pong, and I will highlight them and ask for your opinion.
Start. I like to start with Mythbusters first because some can create an “oh, that’s all” moment. Then I will also go into all the rules:
Rules of Ping Pong: Debunking Myths

When I played and trained table tennis, I think I heard all the rules invented out there! Here are some you might hear and why they are bullshit.
1. Shouldn’t you serve diagonally in Ping Pong?
New! You have to serve diagonally in tennis, squash, and badminton, but in ping pong singles, you can serve wherever you want.
Yes, this also applies to the table sides if you can get enough sidespin. In the doubles of table tennis, you have to go diagonally and always from your right hand to your opponent’s right hand.
2. The ball hit you, so that’s my point.
A common one that is felt among children at school If the ball hits you, I earn a point. Sorry, but if you hit the ball against the opponent and did not hit the table first, it is a mistake, and the point goes to the hit player. You can also learn how to play ping pong game.
3. Had to play until 9 pm? I wouldn’t say I like to play until 11 am

In this case, many of the older players would probably agree with you, but the ITTF changed the scoring system from 21 to 11 points way back in 2001.
If you’re playing competitively, the game is at most at 11, so you might as well adapt!
4. You can’t Hit Around the Net
You actually can. And it can be a rather difficult blow to counterattack.
If you stick a very wide ball, your opponent falls within the rules for returning it around the net.
This also means that the ball can roll to your side of the table in some cases and not even bounce!
5. The ball must pass the net four times before starting the game for service
I often hear discussions about this. The game for the service (an exchange to determine who serves first) was invented. In a competitive game, the server is usually decided by flipping a coin or choosing which hand you think has the ball.
If you want to “play who is to serve,” agree on the rules before starting the exchange.
However, it’s probably easier to hold the ball under the table and guess which hand it’s in like you’ve always done in the schoolyard and don’t have a coin for the toss.
6. Can you serve with the reverse?
You can also serve with the backhand in the ping pong. This is often used from the center of the table to create a high-spin service.
Double Ping Pong Rules
In the double, the service must be run diagonally, from the right side of the server to the right side of the receiver.
This ensures that you do not get trapped in the pair of opposing players before they have even touched a ball.
A double pair must hit the ball alternately. This makes it doubly challenging—none of that nonsense on the tennis court where everyone can hit him every time.
The old recipient becomes the new server, and the old server becomes the new recipient when the service changes. This ensures that everyone does everything.
After eight points, you are back at the beginning of the cycle.
General Match
You have two trades before it’s your turn to serve twice. Once, it was five rallies each, but now it’s only two from the transition to 11.
On 10-10 is the devil. You get a service each, and you have to win with two advantage points.
This is sudden death or the equivalent of a devil’s ping pong or table tennis.
If you’re playing the best of 3, 5, or 7 sets (instead of just one set), you’ll need to change courts after each game. Thus, both tennis players will end up on both sides of the table, with all the associated circumstances, such as lighting.
It changes sides even when the first player reaches five points in the last game of a game.
When is a lease?
A let is declared when:
- Otherwise, good service goes to the net and then bounces off the opposing half of the table. So you have to serve again, which ensures that your opponent has a good chance of responding.
- The receiver is not ready (and is not trying to hit the ball). This is just common sense, and you should resume service.
- If the game is interrupted by something beyond the player’s control. This allows you to repeat the point if someone from the table next to you suddenly comes in to pick up the ball or something.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Ping pong and table tennis?
The sport of “Ping Pong” or “Table Tennis” was the same before 2011. However, serious players prefer to call it table tennis and consider it a sport.
In general, Ping Pong refers to “garage players” or amateurs, while table tennis is practiced by players who formally train in this sport.
What is the name of Ping Pong in China?
In those days, everyone called the game Ping Pong. It sounds very Chinese, but oddly enough, the Chinese had no character for Pong, so they improvised and called the game Ping Pong. However, Ping Pang Qiu, or Ping Pong with the ball, is the correct translation.
Can you miss a ping pong while serving?
You can not lose the game during your service at the game point. At the point of the play, you can not win the game at your opponent’s service. An edge ball gives the opponent a point.
Conclusion
Whether you’re new to the sport or have been playing for years, I hope you found it interesting. I tried to tell some boring jokes interestingly and some strange myths and rules.
If you’d like to take a detailed look at the official ping pong rules and regulations for table tennis, you can do so on the ITTF Regulations Page.
You can also download a PDF document with all the rules of ping pong that you can use.
Did I miss something important? Serious or funny. If yes, let me know, and I will update the post.