What is the ITTF? The International Table Tennis Federation
The ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) is the world governing body of table tennis, founded in 1926. It writes the official rules, approves balls, tables and rubbers, keeps the world ranking and runs the World Championships and World Cup. It has more than 220 member associations, including USA Table Tennis, and owns WTT, the pro tour.
In this article
You see the letters ITTF everywhere in table tennis: on the box of balls, on the rubber of a paddle, in tournament rules and next to the world ranking. They stand for the International Table Tennis Federation, the body that governs ping pong worldwide.
Here is what the ITTF does, how it started, how the sport is organized under it and what "ITTF approved" actually means.
What does ITTF stand for?
ITTF stands for International Table Tennis Federation. It is the world governing body for the sport, recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with more than 220 national member associations. In the US, that member is USA Table Tennis (USATT); in Brazil, it is the CBTM.
The ITTF is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, home to many Olympic federations.
How the ITTF started
The ITTF was created in 1926. In January that year, representatives from several countries met in Berlin and formed a provisional federation. In December, in London, it was formally founded alongside the first World Championships.
England's Ivor Montagu was its first president and held the post until 1967. In 2026 the ITTF celebrated its centenary with the World Team Championships in London, the same city as the first Worlds. Since 2021 the president has been Sweden's Petra Sörling, the first woman in the role, re-elected in 2025.
For the full story of the sport, see history of table tennis.
What does the ITTF do?
| Area | What the ITTF does |
|---|---|
| Rules | Publishes the Laws of Table Tennis and competition regulations |
| Equipment | Approves balls, tables, nets and rubbers for official play |
| Ranking | Runs the world ranking, updated weekly |
| Events | Runs the World Championships, the World Cup and, with the IOC, the Olympic event |
| Para | Governs para table tennis, with functional classification and its own circuit |
| Officiating | Trains and certifies international umpires |
| Development | Supports smaller national federations and grassroots programs |
The rules you play at your club, like games to 11 and the open-palm serve, come from the ITTF. See table tennis rules. The ranking is explained in table tennis world ranking.
How world table tennis is organized
Below the ITTF are the continental federations (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania), which run regional championships and allocate qualification spots. Next come the national associations like USATT, and within each country, regional bodies, leagues and clubs. That is why sanctioned tournaments require a membership.
ITTF vs WTT
In 2019 the ITTF created WTT (World Table Tennis), the company that runs and markets the pro tour: Grand Smash, Champions, Contender and Feeder events. The ITTF still owns WTT and remains in charge of the rules, the ranking and the federation events. More in what is WTT.
What does "ITTF approved" mean?
ITTF-approved equipment has passed the federation's tests for size, weight, bounce and materials. The ITTF publishes lists of authorized products, and only those can be used in official competition.
- Balls: 40 mm, 2.7 g, white or orange. See the history of the ping pong ball.
- Rubbers: only models on the official list, with the ITTF logo and approval code near the handle. One side must be black, the other a bright color. See table tennis paddle rules.
- Tables and nets: must meet the official dimensions and bounce tests.
For basement ping pong, none of this matters. But if you plan to play tournaments, use a paddle with approved rubbers from day one.
Frequently asked questions
What does ITTF stand for in table tennis?
International Table Tennis Federation, the world governing body of table tennis.
When was the ITTF founded?
In 1926. A provisional federation was formed in Berlin in January and formally founded in London in December.
What does the ITTF do?
It writes the rules, approves equipment, keeps the world ranking and runs the World Championships, the World Cup and, with the IOC, the Olympic event.
What does ITTF approved mean?
That a piece of equipment, such as a ball or rubber, passed the federation's tests and is legal for official competition.
Is USATT part of the ITTF?
Yes. USA Table Tennis is the US member association of the ITTF and runs the sport nationally.