Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Establish the basics
• Method 2 of 3: Keep score
• Method 3 of 3: Win the game
• Tips
• Warnings

Ping pong can be a fun and competitive game, but not everyone knows how to keep score. The rules for scoring table tennis matches are fairly simple. Keep plain paper and pen handy so you don't lose the thread.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Establish the basics

1. Decide who serves first. In ping pong / table tennis you first have to decide who will serve the ball. The person serving the ball is the person who hits the ball first to start a game. You can toss a coin and or play a game like rock, paper, scissors to determine who serves. The person serving may choose which side of the table to play on.
2. Learn the rules of storage. If you have been chosen to serve, you will have to. There are some specific rules about how to serve a ball that you must follow in table tennis.
   • To start, hold the ball in the palm of your hand with your hand open flat. Keep this hand level with the table.
   • You have to throw the ball up and hit it away when it is above the table. You must hit the ball so that it bounces once on your side of the table and then again on your opponent's half.
   • You can only redo a serve if the ball hits the net before it hits your opponent's half of the table and was otherwise good. This is also called net service. If he hits the net but then still goes wrong, the point is for the opponent. Or in a so-called "let" if your opponent was not ready when you served the ball or when the rally is stopped due to a circumstance such as another ball in the field.
3. Determine the number of rounds you will play. In ping pong you always play an odd number of rounds. The winner is the person who wins the most rounds. For example, if you play seven rounds, the winner must win at least 4 rounds to win the game.
4. Decide whether to play to 11 or 21 points in each round. In each round you play until a player reaches a certain number of points. Most games are played up to 11 points, but you can also play up to 21. If you want a longer game, 21 might be a better choice.
   • Whoever gets 11 or 21 points first, with at least 2 points ahead, wins the round. For example, a score of 9 against 11 wins an 11-point round, but a score of 10 against 11 does not.
   • In the event that the round ends in a tie at 10 to 10 or 20 to 20, you must play overtime. In the overtime you continue to play until a player reaches a lead of 2 points. Whoever reaches the 2 point lead first wins.
5. Figure out how to tell if a ball is in or out. An important thing to understand if you want to score in table tennis is whether a ball is in or out. Often a point is awarded based on whether the player hits a ball in or out of the field. If a ball hits the surface of the table, it is in. If a ball hits the side of the table, it is out.

Method 2 of 3: Keep score

1. Keep track of when you win a point. When you start playing ping pong, keep track of when each player scores a point. Essentially, you score a point by keeping the ball in play longer than your opponent.
   • If your opponent fails to hit a ping-pong ball that you served or hit last, you get a point for the game.
   • Remember that in ping pong you have to hit the ball so that it bounces on your side of the table and then on your opponent's side. If your opponent misses the ball, but the ball doesn't bounce on his or her half of the table, you don't get a point.
2. Keep track of when you lose a point. You can also lose points at ping pong. Make sure to keep track of when you lose a point. Under the following conditions, you must deduct one point from your total score.
   • If you miss the ball, you lose a point.
   • If you hit the ball into the net and it falls back to your side of the table, you lose one point.
   • If you hit the ball too hard and it falls off the table, you lose one point.
   • You must not hit the ball until it has bounced on your side of the table. If you do, you will lose one point.
   • If your ball bounces on your side of the table twice, you lose one point.
   • If you accidentally move the table during the game, you lose one point.
3. Alternate who serves. Every time you or your opponent misses the ball, you must serve the ball again. In ping pong, the service changes every two points.
   • For example, you serve the ball to start a game. You score a point after your opponent fails to hit the ball. It is then up to you to serve again. Then your opponent scores a point against you. Once again you serve the ball. You have reached a total of two points in the game, one for you and one for your opponent.
   • The next time a point is scored, it is your opponent's turn to serve. He or she continues to serve until two more points are scored. Then it's your turn again.

Method 3 of 3: Win the game

1. Keep playing until a player reaches 11 or 21 points with a 2 point lead. Keep playing and keep score. The round continues until a player has at least 11 or 21 points, depending on the rules you set. You must be at least 2 points ahead to win a round, so with a score of 10 to 11 or 20 to 21 you don't win.
2. Decide an even ascending game. Remember, in the case of a tie of 10 to 10 or 20 to 20, the round will be overtime. Keep playing until a player gets at least 2 points ahead. For example, a score of 10 to 12 can decide the game in the overtime round.
3. Play an odd number of rounds. You play an odd number of rounds in ping pong. The player who wins the most rounds wins the game. For example, say you play 5 rounds. The winning player must win at least 3 of the 5 rounds.

Tips

• If it's hard for you to keep score, see if you can find someone else to count points. Once the game is over you can switch players so that everyone has a chance to play.

Warnings

• Do not try to hit the ball against other people or objects. This can lead to injuries, broken property and angry parents.
• Try not to stand too far from the table. Sometimes the opponent will hit the ball close to the net so you can't hit back.