Official Ping Pong Rules

Thinking about starting up or entering a ping pong tournament and need to learn the official ping pong rules. Unlike most sports the official ping pong rule list is sort. There are only three major rules. With that said lets get started to learning the official ping pong rules so you can get to the fun part of playing ping pong.

1. Equipment: The first official ping pong rule is to make sure you have the right paddle. All paddles are the same they just need to have one red and black side. The ball must be orange or white and have a 40 mm diameter. The table needs to be 2.74 meters long, 1.525 wide, and .076 high.
2. Scoring: Probably the most important rule of ping pong is scoring. After all what's the point in playing if you have no clue who wins. The first player to get to 11 points win but they must win by a two point margin. Games are played best of 5,7, or 9. If a player puts a hand that is not holding the paddle on the table the other player automatically gets a point.
3. Flow of the match: Each player serves for two points in a row then they switch. However if a game is tied then each player only serves for one point.  After every game the players must switch sides. While some of you might be wondering what's the point in this. Different surroundings and different sides can play a big factor in ping pong.  You also have to switch sides after five points are scored.
4. Legal Service: In order to start every game and turn a player must first serve. A legal serve is when a player puts the ping pong in their flat palm and tosses it six inches in the air then hits it. The ball then must bounce on the servers side then over the net to the opponents side.