Rules

Table Tennis: Rules & How to play

RULES OF THE GAME

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the table

The surface of the table, the "playing surface", is rectangular, 2.74 m long and 1.525 m wide and lies in a horizontal plane76 cm above the floor.

The playing surface must be uniformly dark-coloured and matt, but along of the edges have a 2 cm wide white "side line" or "end line".

For doubles, each court is marked by a 3 mm wide white "centre line", which runs parallel with the side lines and divides the court into two equal half-courts; the centre line is considered to be part of each right halve-court.

Tischtennis Tisch Regeln

The official European Championship table is from DONIC

RULES OF THE GAME

the net

The net set consists of the net, its suspension and the posts including the clamps used to attach them to the table.

The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25 cm above the playing surface.

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 attached to the supporting posts from top to bottom.

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RULES OF THE GAME

the ball

The ball is evenly rounded.

Its diameter is 40 mm.

The weight of the ball is 2.7 g.

The ball is made of plastic material and is matt white or matt orange.

The official European Championship ball is from Nittaku

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RULES OF THE GAME

the racket

The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid. 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.

Before the start of a match and whenever he or she changes his or her racket during a match a player shall show his or her opponent and the umpire the racket he or she is about to use and shall allow them to examine it.

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RULES OF THE GAME

the serve

Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.

The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16 cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck.



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RULES OF THE GAME

the return

The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

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RULES OF THE GAME

a game

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.

a match

A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.

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