Ping Pong Rules

Ping Pong is a Ladder League Sport and is Governed by our Ladder policies located at Rule 5 Ladder League Policies It is very important that you read these policies for a better understanding of what a ladder league is and how it works.

Team Composition

1. Ping Pong is a singles event and each team will only consist of one person.

Equipment

1. Players may check out paddles and balls from the DEN.

2. Players may bring their own paddle.

- The paddle may be of any size, shape, or weight, but the blade shall be flat and rigid and shall be made of wood.

- The side of the blade used for striking the ball shall be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber with pimples outward 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.

3. Players may bring their own balls. (Players must agree on what ball to play with)

Game Play

1. Each match will consist of the best 2 out of 3 games.

2. The first player scoring twenty-one points (win by 2) will be declared the winner of each game.

3. Definition of Terms:

- Rally: The period during which the ball is in play.

- Let: A rally, the result of which is not scored.

- Point: A rally, the result of which is scored.

- Volley: The ball is volleyed if the player strikes it in play when it has not touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.

- Obstruction: A Player obstructs the ball he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play when it has not passed over his court or imaginary extension of his end line, not having touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.

4. Service:

- The ball shall be placed on the palm of the free hand which must be stationary and above the level of the playing surface.

- Service shall commence by the server projecting the ball by hand, without imparting spin, vertically upwards so that it visibly leaves the palm.

- As the ball is falling from the highest point of its trajectory the server shall strike it so that it touches first his own court and then, passing directly over or around the net assembly, touches the receivers' court.

- If, in attempting to serve, a player fails to strike the ball before it goes out of play, he shall lose a point.

- When the ball is struck in service, it shall be behind the end line of the server's court or an imaginary extension thereof, but not farther back than the part of the server's body other than his arm, head or leg which is farthest from the net.

-  The first server should serve five consecutive points then alternate with the other player and he serves the next 5 consecutive points.

- If both players have scored 20 points, the sequence of serving and receiving shall be the same, but each player shall serve for only one point in turn until the end of the game.

- The player who served first in a game shall receive first immediately in the subsequent game of the match.

- In the last possible game of the match the players shall change ends when first either player scores 11 points.

5. Order of Play: 

- The server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter server and receiver shall each make a good return.

6. The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary before being projected in service until:

- It touches anything other than the playing surface, the net assembly, the racket held in the hand or the racket hand below the wrist.

- The rally is otherwise decided as a let or point.

7. A rally is a let when:

- If in service, the ball in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise good or volleyed or obstructed by the receiver.

- If the conditions of play are disturbed in a way in which it is likely to affect the outcome of the rally.

- If the service is delivered when the receiving player is not ready provided that neither the receiver not his partner attempts to strike the ball.

8. Scoring:

- The player fails to make a good service.

- The player fails to make a good return.

- The ball is struck twice successively.

- The ball touches his/her court twice successively.

- The player or anything he/she wears or carries touches the net or its supports while the ball is in play.

- The player's free hand touches the playing surface while the ball is in play.