The game: first to 11
A modern game of ping pong is played to 11 points, win by 2. This has been the official ITTF rule since 2001 — before that, games were played to 21. The change was made to make matches more TV-friendly: shorter, more dramatic, and finishing in a more predictable amount of time.
A "match" is the best of an odd number of games — almost always best of 5 (recreational and league) or best of 7 (Olympics, World Championships). The first player to win the majority of games wins the match.
The two-serve rotation
Each player serves twice in a row, then the serve switches to the other player for two serves. Not once like tennis. So a typical service rotation looks like: A serves point 1, A serves point 2, B serves point 3, B serves point 4, A serves point 5...
This continues for the entire game. The two-serve rotation is one of the things basement ping pong gets wrong most often — most people switch the serve every single point, like tennis, which is incorrect.
Deuce at 10-10
When the score reaches 10-10, the game enters deuce. From that point onwards:
- — The two-serve rotation switches to one serve each. Players alternate serves point-by-point.
- — You must win two consecutive points from any score in deuce to win the game.
- — There is no cap. A deuce game can theoretically go on indefinitely — though in practice it rarely lasts more than a few extra points.
Side changes
- — Players change ends at the end of every game — not just at the end of the match.
- — In the deciding game of a match (game 5 in a best-of-5, game 7 in a best-of-7), players also change ends as soon as one player reaches 5 points.
- — When changing ends in the deciding game at 5, the player who is "up" to serve still serves their next serve as planned — the side change does not affect the rotation.
scoreboard
live.
Doubles serving
Doubles ping pong adds two complications. First, every serve in doubles must be diagonal from the right half of the server's side to the right half of the receiver's side. The right half is to your right as you face the table. A serve to the wrong half is a fault.
Second, partners must strictly alternate hits. If A1 serves to B1, then B1 must return to A2, then A2 must return to B2, then B2 must return to A1. Hitting out of turn loses the rally. The serve order also rotates through all four players over the course of a game.
Lets
A serve that touches the net cord and lands legally on the receiver's side is a let — replay the serve, no penalty. There is no limit to the number of lets in a row. Just keep replaying until a serve doesn't hit the net.
A let is also called if play is interrupted (a ball from another table rolls onto yours, an external noise distracts a player, etc.). The point is replayed.
Frequently asked
Is ping pong played to 11 or 21?
11. The ITTF moved from 21-point games to 11-point games in 2001 to make matches finish faster and produce more dramatic finishes for TV. Anyone still playing to 21 is using basement rules — fine for fun, not for league.
How many serves do you get in ping pong?
Each player serves twice in a row, then the serve switches. Not once like tennis. After 10-10 (deuce), the rotation switches to one serve each, alternating point-by-point.
When do you change sides in ping pong?
At the end of every game. In the deciding game of a match, you also change sides as soon as one player reaches 5 points.
Do you have to win by 2 in ping pong?
Yes. A normal 11-point game requires a 2-point lead. At 10-10 (deuce), you must win two consecutive points to win the game. There is no cap — deuce can theoretically run indefinitely.
How is doubles different from singles in ping pong?
Two things. First, every serve in doubles must be diagonal from the server's right half to the receiver's right half. Second, partners must strictly alternate hits — if A1 serves to B1, B1 must return to A2, then A2 must return to B2, etc. Hitting out of turn loses the point.
Is there a difference between ping pong and table tennis?
They are the same sport. "Ping pong" is the original 1901 trademarked name. "Table tennis" is the international/ITTF name and what every competitive event uses. Casually they are interchangeable.