Ping pong is a fun and competitive game, but not everyone knows how to keep points. The rules are pretty simple. You just need a pen and paper to make sure you don't lose track.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Establishing the Basics
Step 1. Decide who will serve first
In ping pong one of the two players starts the game by serving. You can flip a coin or play rock-paper-scissor to determine this. Whoever beats also decides which side of the table to play from.
Step 2. Learn the rules of service
If you are the first player to beat, you need to do so by following some specific rules.
- To begin with, hold the ball in your outstretched hand parallel to the table.
- Throw the ball up and hit it when it is suspended above the table. It must bounce once on your court and once on your opponent's.
- You can repeat the serve only under certain conditions: if the ball touches the net before the opponent's court, if the other player hits it before bouncing on his court or if he was not ready.
Step 3. Decide how many sets to play
In ping pong, an odd number of sets is always played. Whoever wins more than half of them wins. For example, if you are playing best of 7 sets, the first player to reach 4 wins the game.
Step 4. Decide whether to score 11 or 21 in each set
To win a set you need to get a certain number of points. Most matches are played in sets of 11, but it's possible to go up to 21, especially if you want the match to last longer.
- The player who reaches 11 or 21 points first, with at least 2 points advantage, wins the set. For example, it is possible to win a set 11 to 9, but not 11 to 10.
- In the event that a set reaches the score of 10 to 10 or 20 to 20, you must continue indefinitely, until one of the players gets two points ahead and wins the partial.
Step 5. Learn how to judge if a ball is in or out
This is one of the most important rules to know for keeping points in ping pong. Often, points are awarded because the ball has not bounced off the court, but on the side of the table or on the ground and is therefore considered out.
Part 2 of 3: Hold the Points
Step 1. Mark a point when you make it
When you start playing, write down the points you get. Basically, you score a point when you keep the ball in play longer than your opponent.
- If your opponent fails to hit the ball you served or hit, you get a point.
- Remember, in ping pong you have to serve the ball so that it bounces in your half of the court, then in your opponent's half. If the other player misses the ball, but it didn't bounce correctly, you don't get the point.
Step 2. Score when you lose a point
In ping pong you can lose points. Be sure to write it down when it happens. If you commit any of the following infractions, you lose the trade.
- If you miss the ball.
- If you send the ball into the net and it goes back to your own half.
- If you hit the ball hard enough that it doesn't bounce off the table.
- If you hit the ball before it bounces off your side of the pitch.
- If the ball bounces twice in your court.
- If you accidentally move the table while playing.
Step 3. Change the service
Each time a point is scored, it must be served again. In ping pong, the serve changes every colon.
- For example, imagine you serve first at the start of the game. You get a point after your opponent misses the ball and you have to serve again. The game continues and the opponent scores a point. You have achieved two total points in the game.
- Now it's up to the opponent to serve. It will continue to do this for two exchanges, then it will be your turn again.
Part 3 of 3: Winning the Game
Step 1. Keep playing until one player reaches 11 or 21 points with a two-point advantage
Continue the game, scoring the points. The set continues until you reach 11 or 21 points, according to the rules you have established. You need two points to win a set, so you can't hit it with 11 to 10 or 21 to 20.
Step 2. Finish the games in the balance
Remember, in case of a tie on 10 to 10 or 20 to 20, the game continues indefinitely. Continue the set until one of the players gets at least two points ahead. For example, a partial can end with a score of 12 to 10.
Step 3. Play an odd number of sets
Odd sets are played in table tennis. Whoever wins the majority of the partial wins the game. For example, imagine playing best of 5 sets: the first player to win 3 wins the match.
