Learn table tennis

The essentials, in one place

Table tennis comes down to a handful of numbers worth knowing cold. A game is won by whoever reaches 11 points first — but only if they're ahead by at least two; at 10–10, play continues until someone pulls two points clear. Service rotates every two points until that deuce stage, then alternates after each single point. A match is decided over an odd number of games, usually best of five or best of seven, so there's always an outright winner. The table itself is fixed by the same regulation at every level of play: 274 × 152.5 × 76 cm, with a net stretched to exactly 15.25 cm. Everything else — serving technique, doubles rotation, what counts as a let — builds on those numbers. The guides below cover each one in full.

• The rules
• Serve rules
• Scoring
• Table dimensions

Guides

• The rulesGames to 11, two serves each, win by two — plus edge balls, lets, and the faults players argue about.Read guide
• Serve rulesOpen palm, 16 cm toss, behind the line, in plain view — the six conditions of a legal serve.Read guide
• ScoringHow games, matches and deuce work — and why the old 21-point game disappeared.Read guide
• Doubles rulesThe diagonal serve, strict alternation, and how the receiving order rotates each game.Read guide
• Singles rules11-point games, serve alternation, deuce, lets, and how a match is decided.Read guide
• Table dimensionsRegulation size in metric and imperial, net height, line widths, and the room you actually need.Read guide
• Table heightRegulation table and net height, room clearance, and adjustable-leg options.Read guide
• Net height15.25 cm regulation height, how to measure it, clamps, and DIY outdoor nets.Read guide
• Room sizeITTF playing area vs. a realistic home minimum, garage and garden setups, and folding tables.Read guide
• How to hold the paddleShakehand vs penholder vs seemiller, and the mistakes that limit beginners.Read guide
• Backhand techniqueDrive, block, topspin loop and flick, and the mistakes that limit most players.Read guide
• How to hit topspinForehand and backhand loop technique, contact point, footwork, and drills.Read guide
• Practice drillsTen solo and partner drills, with goal and duration for each.Read guide
• Lets and faultsWhat counts as a let, what counts as a fault, edge balls, and how umpires call them.Read guide
• How to playGrip, stance, serve, the four core strokes, and how to run your first game.Read guide
• Where to playParks, clubs, bars, campuses and rec centres — and how to find the closest table to you.Read guide
• Public tablesConcrete vs steel, weather, etiquette, and how to report or add a table.Read guide
• Tables per capita reportWhich cities and countries have the most public ping pong tables per person — ranked, sourced, and free to cite.Read guide
• Beginner tipsStance, the four basic strokes, common mistakes, and a first-30-days plan.Read guide
• Finding a clubHow clubs work, what membership costs by country, and how to pick one.Read guide
• Ping pong barsHow the format works, what it costs, etiquette, and how to find one near you.Read guide
• Lessons and coachingWhat lessons cost, group vs private, what to look for, and drills to bring.Read guide