THE LAWS OF TABLE TENNIS
2.1 THE TABLE
2.1.1 The
upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular,
2.74m long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the
floor.
2.1.2 The
playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of the tabletop.
2.1.3 The
playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of about
23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 30cm.
2.1.4 The
playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, but with a white
side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide,
along each 1.525m edge.
2.1.5 The
playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel
with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.
2.1.6 For
doubles, each court shall be divided into 2 equal half-courts by a white centre
line, 3mm wide, running parallel with the side lines; the centre line shall be
regarded as part of each right half-court.
2.2 THE NET
ASSEMBLY
2.2.1 The
net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts,
including the clamps attaching them to the table.
2.2.2 The
net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 15.25cm
high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side line.
2.2.3 The
top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface.
2.2.4 The
bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the
playing surface and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible to the
supporting posts.
2.3 THE BALL
2.3.1 The
ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.
2.3.2 The
ball shall weigh 2.7g.
2.3.3 The
ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white
or orange, and matt.
2.4 THE RACKET
2.4.1 The
racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid.
2.4.2 At
least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive layer
within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre,
glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of the
total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.
2.4.3 A
side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary
pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including
adhesive of not more than 2mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or
outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4mm.
2.4.3.1 Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of
non-cellular rubber, natural or synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over
its surface at a density of not less than 10 per cm2 and not more than 30 per
cm2.
2.4.3.2
2.4.4 The
covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade,
except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left
uncovered or covered with any material.
2.4.5 The
blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering material or adhesive
on a side used for striking the ball shall be continuous and of even thickness.
2.4.6 The
surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the blade
if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the
other.
2.4.7 Slight
deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to accidental
damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly change
the characteristics of the surface.
2.4.8 At
the start of a match and whenever he changes his racket during a match a player
shall show his opponent and the umpire the racket he is about to use and shall
allow them to examine it.
2.5 DEFINITIONS
2.5.1 A
rally is the period during which the ball is in play.
2.5.2 The
ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the
free hand before being intentionally projected in service until the rally is decided
as a let or a point.
2.5.3 A
let is a rally of which the result is not scored.
2.5.4 A
point is a rally of which the result is scored.
2.5.5 The
racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.
2.5.6 The
free hand is the hand not carrying the racket; the free arm is the arm of the
free hand.
2.5.7 A
player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand,
or with his racket hand below the wrist.
2.5.8 A
player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in
play when it is above or travelling towards the playing surface, not having touched
his court since last being struck by his opponent.
2.5.9 The
server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.
2.5.10 The receiver is the player due to strike the ball
second in a rally.
2.5.11 The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.
2.5.12 The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist
the umpire with certain decisions.
2.5.13 Anything that a player wears or carries includes
anything that he was wearing or carrying, other than the ball, at the start of
the rally.
2.5.14 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around
the net assembly if it passes anywhere other than between the net and the net
post or between the net and the playing surface.
2.5.15 The end line shall be regarded
as extending indefinitely in both directions.
2.6 THE SERVICE
2.6.1 Service
shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary
free hand.
2.6.2 The
server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting
spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand
and then falls without touching anything before being struck.
2.6.3 As
the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his
court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly
the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right
half court of server and receiver.
2.6.4 From
the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the
playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from
the receiver by the server or his doubles partner or by anything they wear or
carry.
2.6.5 As
soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be removed
from the space between the ball and the net. The space
between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite
upward extension.
2.6.6 It
is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the
assistant umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a correct
service.
2.6.6.1 If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service
he may, on the first occasion in a match, declare a let and warn the server.
2.6.6.2 Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that
player or his doubles partner will result in a point to the receiver.
2.6.6.3 Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the
requirements for a correct service, no warning shall be given and the receiver
shall score a point.
2.6.7 Exceptionally,
the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where he is
satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
2.7 THE RETURN
2.7.1 The
ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or
around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or
after touching the net assembly.
2.8 THE ORDER OF
PLAY
2.8.1 In
singles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a return
and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a return.
2.8.2 In
doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a
return, the partner of the server shall then make a return, the partner of the receiver
shall then make a return and thereafter each player in turn in that sequence
shall make a return.
2.8.3 When
two players who are in wheelchairs due to a physical disability are a pair
playing doubles, the server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then
make a return but thereafter either player of the disabled pair may make returns. However, no part of a player’s wheelchair shall protrude
beyond the imaginary extension of the centre line of the table. If it does, the umpire shall award the point to the
opposing pair.
2.9 A LET
2.9.1 The
rally shall be a let
2.9.1.1 if in service the ball, in
passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is
otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner;
2.9.1.2 if the service is delivered
when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the
receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;
2.9.1.3 if failure to make a
service or a return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance
outside the control of the player;
2.9.1.4 if play is interrupted by
the umpire or assistant umpire;
2.9.1.5 if the receiver is in
wheelchair due to a physical disability and in service the ball, provided that
the service is otherwise correct,
2.9.1.5.1 leaves the receiver’s half
after touching it in the direction of the net;
2.9.1.5.2 comes to rest on the receiver's half;
2.9.1.5.3 in singles leaves the receiver’s half after
touching it by either of its sidelines.
2.9.2 Play
may be interrupted
2.9.2.1 to correct an error in the
order of serving, receiving or ends;
2.9.2.2 to introduce the expedite
system;
2.9.2.3 to warn or penalise a
player or adviser;
2.9.2.4 because the conditions of
play are disturbed in a way which could affect the outcome of the rally.
2.10 A POINT
2.10.1 Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point
2.10.1.1 if his opponent fails to make
a correct service;
2.10.1.2 if his opponent fails to make
a correct return;
2.10.1.3 if, after he has made a
service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly
before being struck by his opponent;
2.10.1.4 if the ball passes over his
court or beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by
his opponent;
2.10.1.5 if his opponent obstructs the
ball;
2.10.1.6 if his opponent strikes the
ball twice successively;
2.10.1.7 if his opponent strikes the
ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply with the
requirements of 2.4.3, 2.4.4 and 2.4.5;
2.10.1.8 if his opponent, or anything
his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;
2.10.1.9 if his opponent, or anything
his opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly;
2.10.1.10 if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;
2.10.1.11 if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the
sequence established by the first server and first receiver;
2.10.1.12 as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).
2.11 A GAME
2.11.1 A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring
11 points unless both players or pairs score 10
points, when the game shall be won by the first player or pair subsequently gaining
a lead of 2 points.
2.12 A MATCH
2.12.1 A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of
games.
2.13 THE ORDER OF
SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS
2.13.1 The right to choose the initial order of serving,
receiving and ends shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve
or to receive first or to start at a particular end.
2.13.2 When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to
receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall
have the other choice.
2.13.3 After each 2 points have been scored the receiving
player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end
of the game, unless both players or pairs score 10 points or the expedite
system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be
the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.
2.13.4 In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the
right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first
game of a match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive
first; in subsequent games of the match, the first server having been chosen,
the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in the preceding game.
2.13.5 In doubles, at each change of service the previous
receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall
become the receiver.
2.13.6 The player or pair serving first in a game shall
receive first in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a
doubles match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of
receiving when first one pair scores 5 points.
2.13.7 The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall
start at the other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible
game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first one player or
pair scores 5 points.
2.14 OUT OF ORDER
OF SERVING, RECEIVING OR ENDS
2.14.1 If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall
be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall
resume with those players serving and receiving who should be server and
receiver respectively at the score that has been reached, according to the
sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in doubles, to the
order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game
during which the error is discovered.
2.14.2 If the players have not changed ends when they should
have done so, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is
discovered and shall resume with the players at the ends at which they should
be at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at
the beginning of the match.
2.14.3 In any circumstances, all points scored before the
discovery of an error shall be reckoned.
2.15 THE EXPEDITE
SYSTEM
2.15.1 Except where both players or pairs have scored at least
9 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished
after 10 minutes’ play or at any earlier time at the request of both players or
pairs.
2.15.1.1 If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached,
play shall be interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the
player who served in the rally that was interrupted.
2.15.1.2 If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached,
play shall resume with service by the player who received in the immediately
preceding rally.
2.15.2 Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn
until the end of the game and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 returns
the receiver shall score a point.
2.15.3 Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in
operation until the end of the match.