Is a double hit allowed in table tennis?
A · Advanced · Rallies, points and doubles · 3 of 8An accidental double hit is legal: only deliberately hitting the ball twice loses the point. A ball that comes off the fingers or the hand holding the bat, below the wrist, also counts as a good hit. A ball that hits the free hand, the arm above the wrist or a dropped bat does not.
How it works
- To strike the ball is to touch it with the racket held in the hand, or with the racket hand below the wrist.
- Finger then rubber in one stroke: legal, unless it was deliberate.
- A bat that has left the hand cannot make a good return.
- The side of the bat used must be covered with legal rubber. A hit off a bare wooden side loses the point.
Tricky cases
The ball hit my finger and went over. Is that a point against me?
No. The racket hand below the wrist counts.
I dropped my bat and hit the ball with my empty hand. Is it good?
No. The hand counts only while it is carrying the racket.
Is a shot off the edge of the bat legal?
The Laws do not say. They require a side of the blade used for striking to be covered with legal rubber, and they do not mention the edge.
Why the rule exists
The ball often clips a finger on its way to the rubber, and no umpire could judge it. Counting the hand as part of the bat, and forgiving the accidental double, removes an argument without giving an advantage.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITTF Laws | As above | L2.5.7; L2.10.1.7, 2.10.1.8 |
From the rule book
ITTF Statutes 2026, Laws 2.5.5, 2.5.7, 2.10.1.7 and 2.10.1.8. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITTF Statutes (PDF).