Table tennis scoring explained: points, games and who serves

Table tennis scoring is simple once three ideas click: every rally counts, games go to 11, and you have to win by 2. It still causes confusion, because many people learned the old 21-point system or mix in rules from volleyball and tennis.

Here is how the official ITTF scoring system works, who serves at each moment and how to call the score the right way.

How table tennis scoring works

Every rally ends with a point for someone, unless it is a let, which is replayed. It does not matter who served: whoever makes the mistake gives up the point. There is no "side out", no advantage for the server and no "breaking serve".

There is no point cap. From 10-10, a game can end 12-10 or go well beyond, until one side leads by 2.

Who serves each point

The serve is tied to the score:

• From the start of the game until 10-10: each player serves 2 points in a row, then the serve passes over.
• From 10-10: the serve switches every point until the game ends.
• Next game: the player who received first in the previous game serves first.

A quick way to check who should serve: add both scores. If the total is 0, 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 and so on, the player who started the game serves. If it is 2, 3, 6, 7, the other player serves. For everything about the serve itself, see table tennis serve rules.

How to call the score

Under the official rules, the score is called with the server's score first. If you are serving and you are behind 4-7, you say "4-7". It tells your opponent who is serving and avoids confusion.

In tournaments, the umpire calls the score as soon as the rally ends. In casual games, agree that the server calls the score before every serve. It is the best way to avoid arguments at the end of a game.

From games to a match

The game is the basic unit. A match is a series of games played as the best of an odd number, such as best of 3, 5 or 7. You win the match by taking most of them: 2 of 3, 3 of 5 or 4 of 7.

On a score sheet, a result looks like this:

In this best-of-5 example, player A won 3 games to 1. Learn more about formats in how many games are in a table tennis match.

Why games are no longer played to 21

Until 2001, games went to 21 points and each player served 5 times in a row. The ITTF switched to 11 points with 2 serves each, and that is the system used in all official competition today. Shorter games make every point matter more and comebacks more common.

Plenty of people still play to 21 at home. That is fine for fun, but if the question is "what are the official ping pong scoring rules", the answer is 11.

Scoring and time: the expedite rule

There is no time limit on the score, with one exception. If a game passes 10 minutes and fewer than 18 points have been scored in total, the expedite rule comes in: the serve alternates every point, and if the receiver makes 13 good returns in a rally, the receiver wins the point. It is rare and mostly shows up between very defensive players.

Frequently asked questions