Why do table tennis players say sorry?
It is a sportsmanship tradition. When you win a point with a net ball or an edge ball, you won it by luck, so you raise a hand and apologize instead of celebrating. It is not a rule: the point counts as normal. The gesture acknowledges that your opponent had no chance to return it.
In this article
A long rally, both players looping, and suddenly the ball clips the top of the net, changes direction and dies on the other side. The player who won the point does not celebrate. Instead, they raise a hand, make an apologetic face and maybe say "sorry".
This gesture is one of the strongest traditions in table tennis. You will see it in a basement game and in an Olympic final, and the logic is simple: you do not celebrate a lucky point.
The two lucky balls
Net ball. During a rally (not on the serve), the ball clips the net, loses speed and drops onto the other side. Sometimes it dies right behind the net, impossible to reach.
Edge ball. The ball grazes the top edge of the table and changes direction, usually downward. The opponent was ready for a normal bounce and cannot react. By the rules an edge ball is good, but a ball that only hits the side of the table, below the edge, is out. The difference is explained in edge ball vs side ball.
In both cases the point is valid and the score changes as normal.
Why apologize if the point counts?
Because you did not win the point with a good shot. Your opponent was ready and got beaten by chance. Raising your hand is a way of saying:
- "I know that was lucky";
- "you played that point well";
- "I am not celebrating your bad luck".
It is similar to other racket sports. In tennis, for example, players also tend to raise a hand when they win a point off the net cord.
Do you have to say sorry?
No. No rule requires the gesture, and the umpire will not penalize you for skipping it. It is etiquette, not a rule.
But the etiquette is taken seriously. Loudly celebrating a net ball, yelling "cho" or pumping your fist after an edge ball is seen as disrespectful. If the celebration is over the top and aimed at the opponent, an umpire can even warn you for unsporting behavior. See why table tennis players say "cho" for when shouting is accepted.
When you don't apologize
| Situation | Say sorry? |
|---|---|
| Ball clips the net during a rally and drops over | Yes, that is the custom |
| Edge ball | Yes, that is the custom |
| Serve clips the net and lands in | No, it is a let and the serve is replayed |
| Ball clips the net and the opponent returns it | No need, the rally continued |
| Point won with a good shot | No, celebrate if you want |
The net serve is different: it is a let and gets replayed, so nobody wins a lucky point. All the let situations are in let in table tennis.
How to do the gesture
The most common way is simple:
- Right after the point, raise your open free hand to shoulder height, facing your opponent.
- If you like, say "sorry" or give a short nod.
- Do not celebrate or look at your coach as if you hit a great shot.
- Go back to your normal routine and get ready for the next point.
On big points, like 10-10, the gesture is even more appreciated. That is when luck weighs the most, and acknowledging it shows respect.
Is the apology sincere?
People often joke that the table tennis apology is not very sincere: nobody gives the point back. And that is true, the point stays with whoever won it. The gesture is not about regret, it is about acknowledging your opponent. In a sport where players stand only 9 feet (2.74 m) of table apart, small signs of respect help keep the game friendly.
For beginners, it is one of the first customs worth learning, along with the basic rules of table tennis.
Frequently asked questions
Why do table tennis players say sorry?
Because they won the point with a net ball or edge ball, which is luck. Raising a hand is a sign of respect for an opponent who had no chance to return it.
Do you have to apologize for a net ball in ping pong?
No. It is etiquette, not a rule. The point counts as normal and the umpire does not penalize anyone for skipping the apology.
Is a net ball a point in table tennis?
During a rally, yes: if the ball clips the net and lands on the other side, play continues as normal. On the serve, a ball that clips the net and lands in is a let and the serve is replayed.
Can you celebrate an edge ball?
You can, but it is frowned upon. The custom is not to celebrate and to raise a hand in apology.