Table Tennis Rules Explained ...
A Good Return

What do the table tennis rules say about making a good return?
Find out here ...

The official rules of table tennis are a comprehensive set of rules and regulations which cover a multitude of situations which may arise during a game.

But let's take a look at just a few of the situations which occur fairly regularly whilst you're playing table tennis, but for which you may not know what the rules of table tennis say about them.

We'll look at what constitutes a good return and whether you can you use your hand to play a shot ... Also, what happens if you move the table, touch the playing surface or touch the net.

OK, let's start with ...

  Striking the ball - what is a good return?

Rule 2.05.07 states that ...

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.

This means that all of the following are legal and will constitute a good return. You can hit the ball with ...

• the rubber on your racket, or

• the edge of your racket, or

• the handle of your racket, or

• any part of your racket hand below the wrist, including the fingers of your racket hand

However ... your hand is only your racket hand if it's holding your racket. This means that you can't drop your racket and then hit the ball with your hand ... because your hand is no longer your racket hand.

Additionally, you can't make a good return by throwing your racket at the ball. You must be holding your racket when it hits the ball for it to be a good return.

Of course, you could transfer your racket from one hand to the other hand. Your other hand would then become your racket hand ... but that's quite difficult to do!

However, Andrej Grubba of Poland was particularly good at that. Here's a short video clip which shows him transferring his racket from his right hand to his left hand during a rally.

You can see that although he was right-handed, he was pretty good at playing left-handed too ...

 

Let's now take a look at what happens if you ...

  Move the table

Rule 2.10 states ...

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface.

This means that if you cause the table to move whilst the ball is still in play, you lose the point.

This usually happens when you rush forward to play a shot. After you've played your shot, your forward momentum can cause you to move the table.

However, if the ball wasn't in play when you moved the table, there's no penalty. For example, once the ball has bounced a second time (either on the table, floor, surroundings, or hits your opponent), the ball's no longer in play.

 

But what about just ...

 

  Touching the playing surface

Rule 2.10 also states that ...

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface.

This means that if you touch the playing surface (i.e. the top of the table) with your hand which is not holding your racket whilst the ball is still in play, you lose the point.

So, if you're right handed, and you touch the playing surface with your left hand, you lose the point.

 

And what about ...

 

  Touching the net

Rule 2.10 also states that ...

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly.

This means that if you touch the net or the net posts whilst the ball is still in play, you lose the point.

As with moving the table, this usually happens when you rush forward to play a shot and your forward momentum may cause you to touch the net.

Want to know more about the rules ... ?

Take a look at my other pages which explain the table tennis rules in more detail.

  The basic rules of table tennis

If you're just starting to play and you need to know the basic rules of table tennis, you can find them here ...

  The Official Laws of Table Tennis

The official rules of table tennis are known as The Official Laws of Table Tennis and if you need clarification on any rule, you can find them here ...

  Table tennis terminology

Do you know your table tennis terminology or are you confused by your chops, pimples and twiddles? Here's my table tennis glossary ...

  Table tennis table dimensions

Do you know the size of a table tennis table? What do the official rules of table tennis say are the official size dimensions of a table tennis table?

  Table tennis room size

What table tennis room size do you need? It's probably more than you think! Find out here ...

  Expedite system

Do you know how long a game of table tennis can last? If both players keep the ball in play, can they continue playing forever?

Do the table tennis rules say anything about this?

  When is the ball in or out?

What do the table tennis rules say about the ball hitting the white lines, net or edges of the table? Is the ball in or out? Find out here ...

  What do the rules say about your racket?

Do you know what the table tennis rules say about the size of your racket, which colours are allowed, when you can change your racket, and whether your opponent is allowed to examine your racket? Find out here ...

  What do the rules say about the service?

The service is one of the most controversial aspects of the game. Make sure you know your table tennis rules. Read them here ...

  What do the rules say about playing doubles?

Whether you're playing singles or doubles, the rules of table tennis are essentially the same. However, for doubles play there are a few subtle variations to the rules of table tennis. Read them here ...

  What do the rules say about volleying the ball?

Do the table tennis rules allow you to volley the ball?
Yes and No ... Let me explain ...

  Are players allowed to take breaks during matches?

What time limits are specified in the official table tennis rules?
What happens if a player is time-wasting? Find out here ...

Go to Rules of Table Tennis page from Table Tennis Rules

Go to All About Table Tennis home page from Table Tennis Rules