Table Tennis Singles: Rules and Strategies for Winning

Learn how to play singles in table tennis with these rules and strategies for winning a friendly or competitive match. Understand service rules for singles vs doubles and how to score in doubles.

Table Tennis Singles: Rules and Strategies for Winning

Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a fun, engaging and active game that can be played by two or four players. Generally speaking, the rules of individual table tennis are simpler than those of double table tennis. If you're looking to play a friendly or competitive individual table tennis match, it's important to learn the following rules and strategies. When playing singles, all you have to do is hit the ball so that it goes over the net and hits half of the opponent's table. In doubles, however, the ball has to reach the right field of half of the opponent.

A game is played with 11 points and must be won by two points. Usually, one game is the best three of five games. The service rules for singles are different from the service rules for doubles. The entire serve, from the throw of the ball to the first contact with the racket, should start behind the bottom line and above the table. If you don't throw high enough, the referee can use the VAR system in table tennis to verify the height of your pitch.

An otherwise legal serve or hit may come into contact with the upper edge of the horizontal surface of the table top and be considered valid, even if it bounces sideways. In doubles table tennis, teams and players rotate and come together to serve and receive. Teams must hit balls alternately on a rally, no matter where the ball lands on the table. Scoring in doubles can be difficult due to this rotation. Being resourceful, thinking about your feet, and having a strategy seem like the best way to win an individual table tennis game. Many players don't throw high enough, so they hit the ball straight out of their hand or drop it and hit it quickly.

It's also important to remember that if your opponent's blow goes over your side of the table without touching it and hits any part of you or your paddle, that's still your point. Table tennis is a great way to stay active and have fun with friends or family. By learning these rules and strategies for playing singles in table tennis, you'll be able to play a friendly or competitive match with confidence.