Questions & Answers
Get answers to your questions about the rules and laws of table tennis.
What Happens If The Ball Bounces Back Over The Net On Service?
What happens when a ping-pong player serves the ball with so much backspin that it comes back over the net by itself without being touched by the opponent? Who wins the point?
What happens when a ping-pong player serves the ball with so much backspin that it comes back over the net by itself without being touched by the opponent? Who wins the point?
Is it Legal to Volley the Ball Onto Your Side of the Table?
According to the table tennis rules, is it legal to volley the ball onto your side of the table, then your opponent's, so that the ball does touch your side of the table as required by the laws of ping-pong?
According to the table tennis rules, is it legal to volley the ball onto your side of the table, then your opponent's, so that the ball does touch your side of the table as required by the laws of ping-pong?
Is it a Fault if the Ball Sticks to Your Hand When Serving?
If you try to serve in table tennis and the ball sticks to your free hand, is that a let or a fault?
If you try to serve in table tennis and the ball sticks to your free hand, is that a let or a fault?
How Many Times Can My Opponent Bounce the Ball Before Serving?
How often can your opponent bounce the ball before serving? What about other annoying pre-service rituals?
How often can your opponent bounce the ball before serving? What about other annoying pre-service rituals?
Can You Hit Your Table Tennis Bat on the Table?
Is it legal to hit your table tennis bat on the table during a point?
Is it legal to hit your table tennis bat on the table during a point?
Can You Only Win a Point in Ping-Pong When You Are Serving?
Under the laws of table tennis, is the server the only one who can win a point and get it added to his score? Or can the receiver win a point as well?
Under the laws of table tennis, is the server the only one who can win a point and get it added to his score? Or can the receiver win a point as well?
Can You Switch Hands During a Point? Or Throw Your Racket?
Is it legal to change your racket hand during a rally? Or between points?And is it legal to drop your racket and hit the ball with your hand instead? Or to throw your racket in order to hit the ball? Your guide to About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, Greg Letts, explains the official answers to these questions.
Is it legal to change your racket hand during a rally? Or between points?And is it legal to drop your racket and hit the ball with your hand instead? Or to throw your racket in order to hit the ball? Your guide to About.com Table Tennis / Ping-Pong, Greg Letts, explains the official answers to these questions.
Are You Allowed to Stamp Your Foot When Serving? What About During the Rally?
In ping-pong, are you allowed to stamp your foot when you are performing your serve? How about during the rally - is stamping allowed then? Find out the answer from your Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Guide, Greg Letts.
In ping-pong, are you allowed to stamp your foot when you are performing your serve? How about during the rally - is stamping allowed then? Find out the answer from your Table Tennis / Ping-Pong Guide, Greg Letts.
Can I Use Any Sponge Under the Topsheet of My Table Tennis Rubber?
Are you allowed to use any sponge you like under the topsheet of your table tennis rubber? Or are you restricted in your choices?
Are you allowed to use any sponge you like under the topsheet of your table tennis rubber? Or are you restricted in your choices?
Can My Serve Cut the Sideline in Table Tennis / Ping-Pong?
When serving in table tennis, is it legal for your serve to go off the sideline of your opponent's court? Or must the ball go over the endline of your opponent's court? Find out the answer here.
When serving in table tennis, is it legal for your serve to go off the sideline of your opponent's court? Or must the ball go over the endline of your opponent's court? Find out the answer here.
Which Ping-Pong Scoring System Should I Use at Home?
When I play ping-pong at home, should I use the old (to 21 points) or new (to 11 points) scoring systems?
When I play ping-pong at home, should I use the old (to 21 points) or new (to 11 points) scoring systems?
What Happens When the Ball Hits the Net Clamp on the Opponent's Side?
What happens when the ball goes over the net, then hits the net clamp on the opponent's side of the table?
What happens when the ball goes over the net, then hits the net clamp on the opponent's side of the table?
What Happens When the Ball Hits a Net Clamp and then Goes Over the Net?
Does a player lose the point in ping-pong if he hits the net clamp with the ball before it goes over the net?
Does a player lose the point in ping-pong if he hits the net clamp with the ball before it goes over the net?
Is It Legal To Use Sponge With No Topsheet on Your Table Tennis Bat?
Do the laws of table tennis prohibit using a bat that has a layer of sponge, but no topsheet?
Do the laws of table tennis prohibit using a bat that has a layer of sponge, but no topsheet?
In Deuce/Ad Situations, Does the Person Who is Behind Always Have the Serve?
In table tennis, when it's a deuce/ad situation (e.ge at 11-10), does the person who is behind always have the serve?
In table tennis, when it's a deuce/ad situation (e.ge at 11-10), does the person who is behind always have the serve?
In Table Tennis, Is Your Serve Allowed to Bounce Twice on Your Opponent's Court?
In table tennis, are you allowed to serve so that the ball would bounce twice on your opponent's court? Also, can you serve from outside the sidelines of the table?
In table tennis, are you allowed to serve so that the ball would bounce twice on your opponent's court? Also, can you serve from outside the sidelines of the table?
Is Any Table Tennis Serve That Hits the Net and Goes Over the Net a Let Serve?
What happens when the serve hits the net and goes over, but doesn't hit the opponent's court?
What happens when the serve hits the net and goes over, but doesn't hit the opponent's court?
What Happens When the Server Misses the Ball When Serving?
What happens when the server in table tennis misses the ball completely when attempting to serve?
What happens when the server in table tennis misses the ball completely when attempting to serve?
Can the Receiver Volley a Serve in Table Tennis/Ping-Pong?
What happens when the receiver volleys the serve in table tennis/ping-pong?
What happens when the receiver volleys the serve in table tennis/ping-pong?
Can I Volley the Ball in Table Tennis/ Ping-Pong?
When can you volley the ball in table tennis/ping-pong?
When can you volley the ball in table tennis/ping-pong?
Who Gets the Point When the Ball Hits the Edge of the Ping-Pong Table?
In table tennis/ping-pong, who gets the point when the ball hits the edge of the table?
In table tennis/ping-pong, who gets the point when the ball hits the edge of the table?
Is it Legal to Remove the ITTF Logo and Brand Names from a Rubber?
Does the ITTF logo and brand name have to be visible on a table tennis rubber?
Does the ITTF logo and brand name have to be visible on a table tennis rubber?
Can You Hit the Ball Around the Net in Table Tennis?
Can you hit the ball around the net in table tennis?
Can you hit the ball around the net in table tennis?
Table Tennis Flooring - Are Carpet Tiles Legal Ping-Pong Flooring?
Are carpet tiles, carpeting and other surfaces legal for table tennis/ping-pong tournaments?
Are carpet tiles, carpeting and other surfaces legal for table tennis/ping-pong tournaments?