Sport guide
Table tennis
Table tennis is played on a table divided by a low net, with players using small rubber-faced bats to hit a 40 mm plastic ball so that it bounces once on the opponent's half. Rallies are fast and spin-heavy. It is played in clubs, schools and homes worldwide and has been an Olympic sport since 1988.
Importance 5 out of 5Importance rating
At a glance
- Also known as
- Ping-pong
- Court
- 2.74 m × 1.525 m (9 ft × 5 ft)
- Played with
- A bat and a ball
- Formats
- Singles, Doubles, Mixed doubles, Team
- Governing body
- International Table Tennis Federation
- Origin
- Being verified
The court
Formats
- Singles
- Doubles Partners must hit the ball alternately.
- Mixed doubles
- Team
How it is played
Table tennis is played by two players or two pairs across a table divided by a net: the ball must bounce once on the opponent's half after each stroke. Every rally scores, a game goes to 11 with a two-point lead needed from 10-all, and a match is the best of an odd number of games.
Explore table tennis
- RulesServe, scoring, rally and losing the point, each point from the official rules
- EquipmentBat, ball and net limits, in metric and imperial
- CourtsCourt size 2.74 m × 1.525 m (9 ft × 5 ft), drawn to scale · 2 famous venues
- Players20 players on the men’s and women’s tours, with the titles they have won
- Organisations1 organisation, from International Table Tennis Federation to national federations, by region
Related sports
Sources
- ITTF Statutes 2026 (including the Laws of Table Tennis), International Table Tennis Federation, 2026 (effective 1 January 2026), consolidated clean version v1documents.ittf.sportOfficial rulebook or governing body (tier 1 of 5)