How do you win a point in table tennis?
B · Beginner · Rallies, points and doubles · 5 of 6You win the point when your opponent fails to make a correct serve or a correct return. A correct return is hitting the ball, after it has bounced once on your side, so that it lands on the opponent's side. A player also loses the point for a short list of other errors.
How it works
A player loses the point if they:
- Fail to make a correct serve.
- Fail to make a correct return: miss the ball, hit it into the net, hit it past the table or let it bounce twice.
- Obstruct the ball: touch it before it has bounced on their side while it is over or heading for the table.
- Deliberately hit the ball twice in a row.
- Hit the ball with a side of the bat that has no legal rubber.
- Move the playing surface, they or anything they wear or carry.
- Touch the net assembly, they or anything they wear or carry.
- Put the free hand on the playing surface.
- In doubles, hit the ball out of turn.
A player wins the point when the opponent's shot passes over their court, or beyond their end line, without touching their court.
Tricky cases
The ball bounced twice on my side before I hit it. Whose point?
Your opponent's. After the first bounce the ball touched something other than the net before you struck it.
My shot hit the ceiling and dropped on the table. Is it good?
No. After being struck, the ball touched something other than the net assembly before reaching the opponent, so the opponent scores.
Can a player hit the ball before it bounces?
No. Volleying is obstruction when the ball is over the table or travelling towards it.
Why the rule exists
Everything rests on one idea: the ball must bounce once on your side and you must send it back to the other. The other ways of losing a point protect the table and the net from being interfered with.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITTF Laws | As above | L2.10.1 |
| Under the expedite system | The receiver also scores with a 13th correct return | L2.10.1.13; L2.15.4 |
From the rule book
ITTF Statutes 2026, Laws 2.7 and 2.10. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITTF Statutes (PDF).