Table Tennis Rules Q & A

Bhagirath Thaker asks:

Say that I serve or return a ball and the ball comes back on its impetus onto
my side of the table, then what should I do so that I do not lose a point?
(I am not sure if I am supposed to hit it or the opponent automatically loses a
point or something else.)

Greg replies:

You do not have to do anything, it is up to your opponent to hit the ball before it touches your side of the table. If he does not make contact with the ball, you win the point as soon as it touches your side of the table again.

The rule concerned is Law 2.7, which is as follows:

2.7 A GOOD RETURN

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

Best regards,

Greg Letts 9th May 2005

David Elliot asks:

At http://www.gregsttpages.com/ttrules/QA_bounceback.html you fully answer the question as asked, BUT - the rules seem to imply to me that if the ball has already spun back over the net to the side of the table occupied by the last striker of the ball, it is not possible for the next striker to comply with "2.7.1 The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly." since s/he can't stike it so that it passes over or around etc - it's ALREADY over or around the net. So you must strike the ball while it's on your own side of the net or lose the point. True?

David

Greg replies:

In regards to your question, the relevant rule is 2.5.14, which states:

2.5.14 The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes anywhere other than between the net and the net post or between the net and the playing surface.

So basically, as long as the ball does not go under the net, or between the net post and the net for those nets that do not extend to the net post, it is considered to have passed over or around the net assembly if you hit the ball and it goes on the opponent's playing surface. So even though the ball doesn't travel over or around the net when you hit the ball, the rules say it doesn't matter. I think this rule has been put in to cater for questions just like yours, which don't happen often but do occur every now and again.

Greg Letts 15th August 2005

Copyright Greg Letts 2005