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Scoring in Table Tennis

The sport of table tennis is a popular sport around the world. Although it has many similarities to the popular lawn tennis, the scoring is one way that it differs.

table tennis scoreboard

Scoring a Point

Points can be scored on the opponent’s serve as well as on one's own serve. A point is scored for a player in table tennis when the opponent does any of the following:

• The Opponent Hits the Ball Off the Table: the ball does not touch the player's side of the table.
• The Opponent Hits the Ball into the Net: the shot hits the net and fails to go over to the player's side.
• The Opponent Hits the Ball Before It Bounces: strikes the ball before it has bounced on their side of the table.
• The Opponent Hits the Ball Twice: hits the ball twice consecutively, intentionally or unintentionally, during a single rally.
• The Opponent Misses the Ball Completely: If the opponent swings at the ball but misses it entirely.
• The Opponent Commits a Service Fault: serving improperly, such as failing to toss the ball at least 16 cm, missing the ball, or the ball not hitting their side of the table first.
• The Opponent Lets the Ball Bounce Twice on Their Side: the ball bounces more than once on the opponent's side of the table before they attempt to return it.
• The Opponent Touches the Table with Their Free Hand: touching the playing surface or the net with their free hand is not allowed, but touching with the racket hand or any other part of the body is OK (as long as the table doesn't move).
• The Opponent Moves the Table: either intentionally or unintentionally moves the table.
• The Opponent Hits the Side of the Table: If the opponent's shot hits the side of the table but not the top playing surface, it is considered out.
• The Opponent's Hits the ball into an Object: If the ball hits an object such as a wall or a light fixture before landing on the table. or any object that is not apart of the game.
• The Opponent Hits the Ball with a Non-racket Part of the Body: You can only hit the ball with your racket or with the hand that's holding the racket.

Winning a Game

A game in table tennis is typically played to 11 points (or 21 points in some variations). The first player to reach 11 points is the winner of the game, however, they need to win by at least a two-point margin. If the score reaches 10-10, play continues until one player achieves a two-point lead.

Winning a Match

A table tennis match consists of a series of games. The most common formats are best of five or best of seven games. Winning a Match: The first player to win three games in a best-of-five match or four games in a best-of-seven match is declared the winner of the match.

Related Pages

• Equipment for Table Tennis
• Fitness for Table Tennis
• Anthropometry for Table Tennis
• Scoring in Tennis
• List of Table Tennis Polls
• Rules of Sports

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