What is table tennis and how does it work?

Table tennis is a racket sport played on a rectangular table split in half by a net. Two players (or two pairs) hit a light plastic ball back and forth, and the ball has to bounce once on the side of the player about to hit it. It is one of the most played sports in the world, it has been in the Olympics since 1988, and it fits almost anywhere: a garage, a basement, a school gym or a packed arena.

This guide explains what table tennis is, the objective of the game, how scoring works and what you need to start.

What is table tennis also known as?

Its everyday name is ping pong, especially in the United States. "Table tennis" is the official name used by the international federation (the ITTF) and the Olympics. Both names describe the same sport with the same rules. The story behind the two names is in table tennis vs ping pong.

What is the objective of the game?

The goal is simple: return the ball to your opponent's side in a way they cannot return it back. Every time a player makes a mistake, the other player wins a point, no matter who served.

A point (or rally) starts with the serve and continues with an exchange of shots. It ends when someone:

• misses the table or hits the ball into the net;
• lets the ball bounce twice on their own side;
• hits the ball before it bounces on their side;
• makes an illegal serve.

What is table tennis played to?

Scores are counted in games. A game goes to 11 points, and you must win by 2. At 10-10 the game continues until someone leads by 2, such as 12-10 or 14-12.

A match is best of 3, 5 or 7 games. Each player serves 2 points in a row, and from 10-10 the serve alternates every point. Every detail is in table tennis rules.

Table tennis equipment

You need very little to play:

The paddle is what changes the game most. Smooth rubber with sponge underneath grips the ball and makes it easy to add spin. That is why table tennis has so much spin: a stroke can make the ball rotate thousands of times per minute, which changes its path and its bounce.

Singles and doubles

There are two main ways to play:

• Singles: one against one. The serve can land anywhere on the opponent's side.
• Doubles: two against two. Partners take turns hitting the ball, and the serve must go diagonally from the right half to the right half.

Competitions also have mixed doubles (one man and one woman per side) and team events, which combine several singles and doubles matches.

Why is table tennis so fast?

The table is small and the ball is very light. At a high level, players have a fraction of a second to read the direction, speed and spin of the ball. So the sport demands reflexes, reading and a lot of footwork, even if from a distance it looks like an arm game.

Spin is what surprises beginners most. With topspin, the ball dips quickly and kicks forward after the bounce. With backspin, it floats and slows down. Understanding this is half the battle, and it is explained in table tennis spin.

Where was table tennis invented?

The sport started in England in the late 19th century as a parlour game: people played on dining tables, sometimes with a row of books as the net. The ITTF was founded in 1926, and the first World Championships were held in London the same year. The full story is in the history of table tennis.

Who can play?

Almost anyone. Table tennis has no physical contact, can be played at a gentle or intense pace and is enjoyed by kids, adults and seniors. It has also been part of the Paralympic Games since the first edition in 1960, with classes for wheelchair and standing athletes.

To get started, all you need is a table, two paddles and a ball. The step-by-step guide for your first game is in how to play table tennis.

Frequently asked questions