Ping Pong Rules, Serving & Scoring: Everything You Need to Know

Table tennis has 33 official rules in the ITTF handbook. You need about six of them to play a real game. This guide strips it down to what actually matters: legal serves, scoring, rotation rules for doubles, and the specific faults that cost you points.

How to Serve in Ping Pong

The serve is the most misunderstood part of recreational ping pong. The ball must rest on your open palm (visible to opponent), toss at least 16cm straight up, and be struck on the way down. Your free arm must move out of the way after the toss — no hiding the ball from your opponent’s view. In singles, the ball can land anywhere on the opponent’s half. In doubles, it must go diagonally from right half to right half.

Scoring: How to Win

Games are played to 11 points. Win by 2. Each player serves two consecutive points. At deuce (10-10), serves alternate every point. A match is best of 5 games (casual) or best of 7 (tournament). You score when your opponent fails to return, volleys illegally, or commits a fault.

Singles vs Doubles

Doubles adds three rules: diagonal serve (right half to right half), alternating hits between partners, and rotation after each game. Partners must take turns — you can’t hit two consecutive shots.

Common Mistakes

Volleying is illegal (ball must bounce on your side first). The serve doesn’t need to go diagonally in singles. Edge balls are in, side balls are out. You get one serve, not two like tennis — a fault gives your opponent the point. Net cords during rallies are live (only serve net cords are replayed).

Where to Play Ping Pong in Oakville

The Long Shot has regulation tables with paddles and balls included. $25/hr, walk-ins welcome, open until 2 AM weekends. Also features billiards, batting cages, and 100% halal food.

Address: 450 South Service Rd W, Unit 2, Oakville, ON L6K 2H4
Phone: (905) 844-9885

FAQ

How many points to win in ping pong?

A game is played to 11 points, win by 2. A match is best of 5 or best of 7 games.

Can the ball hit the net during a serve?

Yes — it’s a let (re-serve, no point). During rallies, net balls that go over are still in play.

Is ping pong the same as table tennis?

Yes. “Table tennis” is the official ITTF name. “Ping pong” is the informal name. Same rules, same equipment. Read our full comparison.