Contents
A table tennis club's equipment and rules reference, in one place. Note: the LARC rubber list, WTT formats and diploma names evolve, so this page is dated and re-verified every season (last verified: September 2026).
- The white centre line is 3 mm wide and counts for doubles only: in singles it is part of each half of the table.
- The side and end lines are 2 cm wide and belong to the playing surface.
- The net extends 15.25 cm beyond each side of the table, at the same height as over the table.
Source: ITTF Handbook, Laws of Table Tennis, articles 2.1 and 2.2.
ITTF specifications (Laws 2.1–2.4)
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Table | 2.74 m × 1.525 m × 76 cm; dark matt surface, 2 cm white side line, 3 mm centre line (doubles) |
| Net | 15.25 cm high; posts 15.25 cm outside the side line |
| Ball | 40 mm nominal ("40+", tolerance 40.0–40.6 mm), 2.7 g, plastic, white or orange, matt; 3-star = competition grade |
| Racket | Blade ≥85% natural wood; ITTF-approved coverings only (LARC list); sandwich ≤ ~4 mm; one side black, the other red, pink, purple, green or blue (since 1 Oct 2021) |
| Glues | VOC "speed glue" banned since September 2008 (water-based only); boosters/tuners are officially banned (Law 2.4.7) but tolerated in practice |
Blades and rubbers by level
- Blades: speed and control are inverse: DEF → ALL (control/all-round) → OFF (fast). 5-ply all-wood is flexible and forgiving: ideal for learning; 7-ply is stiffer (hitters); carbon (ALC softer, ZLC more direct) enlarges the sweet spot, for later.
- Rubbers: inverted/smooth (~78% of players: the default, max grip and spin); short pips (flat hitting); long pips (spin reversal, for defenders); anti-spin. Chinese tacky (huge spin, slower) vs Euro/Japanese tensors (faster, catapult, forgiving). Sponge-hardness numbers use three incompatible scales: a number without its scale is meaningless. Most run a harder forehand + softer backhand.
- By level: beginner → pre-assembled ALL control bat, inverted ~1.6–1.9 mm, training balls; club → move to custom (blade + FH rubber + BH rubber) once the style is clear; competitive → OFF/carbon, tensors; elite → pro gear, ITTF 3-star balls only.
- The budget principle: control over speed, keep the same blade for years, and invest in 3-star balls, proper low-profile gum-sole court shoes (running shoes slip sideways) and a hard case.
- Maintenance: clean rubbers (sponge, lukewarm water), protective films (double rubber life); replacement scales with hours (recreational ~6 months → pro ~2 weeks). Training/1-star balls for multiball and robot, 3-star for matches.
Core rules
- Scoring: games to 11, 2-point margin at 10-10; best of 5 or 7; service alternates every 2 points (every point at 10-10); change ends at 5 in the decider.
- Service: open palm, ≥16 cm vertical toss, struck behind the end line, visible throughout, free arm cleared (Law 2.6; details in Serve & receive).
- Let (2.9): replay if the serve clips the net but is otherwise good, or the receiver wasn't ready.
- Doubles (2.8, 2.13): diagonal serve right half → right half; strictly alternating hits.
- Expedite (2.15): triggered if a game is unfinished after 10 minutes (unless at least 18 points have already been scored): service alternates every point and 13 good returns win the receiver the point. (The current trigger is time-based, not the "18-point rule" of the 21-point era.)
- Para table tennis: classes 1–5 wheelchair, 6–10 standing, 11 intellectual impairment.
Categories & the FFTT pathway
- FFTT categories (birth-year based): Baby Ping (~4–7, discovery) · Poussins · Benjamins · Minimes · Cadets · Juniors · Seniors · Vétérans V1–V5. ITTF international groups: U11, U13, U15, U19, U21. Birth-year anchors shift each season: compute, never hardcode.
- Premier Pas Pongiste (PPP): the historic discovery programme (~ages 4–11): skill workshops and evaluation grids, from club/school up to regional challenges; the entry rung BEFORE ranked competition.
- Critérium fédéral: THE individual ranked ladder: 4 rounds per season, échelons départemental → régional → national, tables A/B, promotion/relegation phase to phase.
- Team championship (interclubs): two phases per season, promotion/relegation up the pyramid départemental → régional → N3/N2/N1 → Pro B → Pro A; typically teams of 4.
- Labels: École Française de Tennis de Table, Baby Ping, Ping Santé.
Recent changes
- Ball 38 → 40 mm (2000); 21 → 11-point games and 5 → 2 serve alternation (2001); no hidden serve (2002); VOC glue ban (2008); plastic ball (2014); racket colours liberalised (2021).
- Circuit side: WTT's branded pyramid (Grand Smash → Contender), reformed in early 2025 after Fan Zhendong, Chen Meng and Ma Long withdrew from the rankings (Dec 2024): mandatory Smash participation scrapped, Olympic-champion wildcards, higher prize money.
- As of mid-2026, no fundamental change to the core §2 Laws (scoring, service, dimensions) in the past 24 months; recent activity concentrates in WTT regulation and the LARC list. Re-verify each season.
Frequently asked questions
Which bat should a beginner use?
A pre-assembled ALL control bat with inverted rubber of about 1.6–1.9 mm, and training balls. A 5-ply all-wood blade is flexible and forgiving, ideal for learning.
Which balls for training and which for matches?
Training or 1-star balls for multiball and robot work, 3-star balls for matches. 3-star is competition grade.
How is a game scored?
Games go to 11, with a 2-point margin at 10-10, over a best of 5 or 7. Service alternates every 2 points, then every point at 10-10.
When does the expedite system start?
When a game is unfinished after 10 minutes, unless at least 18 points have already been scored. Service then alternates every point and 13 good returns win the receiver the point.
Sources
ITTF Laws of Table Tennis / Statutes (2026, chapter 2) · Technical Leaflets and the LARC list · fftt.com (PPP, Critérium fédéral, team championships, labels) · equipment guides (commercial sources flagged). National federation rules may differ: check the FFTT rulebook. Verified September 2026; re-verify each season.
Paak also manages club equipment (allocations, kits, inventory): see the Equipment category.
Last updated: October 2, 2026