DEFINITIONS

A rally is the period during which the ball is in play.

The ball is in play from the last moment at which it is stationary on the palm of the free hand before being intentionally projected in service until it touches anything other than the playing surface, the net assembly, the racket held in the racket hand or the racket hand below the wrist, or until the rally is otherwise decided as a let or a point.

A let is a rally of which the result is not scored.

A point is a rally of which the result is scored.

The racket hand is the hand carrying the racket.

The free hand is the hand not carrying the racket.

A player strikes the ball if he touches it in play with his racket, held in the hand, or with his racket hand below the wrist.

A player obstructs the ball if he, or anything he wears or carries, touches it in play when it has not passed over the playing surface or his end line, not having touched his court since last being struck by his opponent.

The server is the player due to strike the ball first in a rally.

The receiver is the player due to strike the ball second in a rally.

The umpire is the person appointed to control a match.

The assistant umpire is the person appointed to assist the umpire with certain decisions.

Anything that a player wears or carries includes anything that he was wearing or carrying, other than the ball, at the start of the rally.

The ball shall be regarded as passing over or around the net assembly if it passes over, under or outside the projection of the net assembly outside the table.

The end line shall be regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions.

A GOOD SERVICE

At the start of service the ball shall be stationary, resting freely on the flat, open palm of the server's free hand, behind the end line and above the level of the playing surface.

The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck.

As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver.

The ball and the racket shall be above the level of the playing surface from the last moment at which the ball is stationary before being projected until it is struck.

When the ball is struck it shall be behind the server's end line but not farther back than the part of the server's body, other than his arm, head or leg, which is farthest from his end line.

It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or assistant umpire can see that he complies with the requirements for a good service.

If the umpire is doubtful of the legality of a service but neither he nor the assistant umpire is sure that it is illegal he may, on the first occasion in a match, warn the server without awarding a point.

If subsequently in the match the same player's service is of dubious legality, for the same or for any other reason, he shall not be given the benefit of the doubt and the receiver shall score a point.

Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a good service no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point, on the first as on any other occasion.

Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a good service where he is notified, before play begins, that compliance is prevented by physical disability.

A GOOD RETURN

The ball, having been served or returned, shall be struck so that it passes over or around the net assembly and touches the opponent's court, either directly or after touching the net assembly.

THE ORDER OF PLAY

In singles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter server and receiver alternately shall each make a good return.

In doubles, the server shall first make a good service, the receiver shall then make a good return, the partner of the server shall then make a good return, the partner of the receiver shall then make a good return and thereafter each player in turn in that sequence shall make a good return.

A LET

The rally shall be a let

if in service the ball, in passing over the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise good or the ball is obstructed by the receiver or his partner;

if the service is delivered when the receiving player or pair is not ready, provided that neither the receiver nor his partner attempts to strike the ball;

if failure to make a good service or a good return or otherwise to comply with the Laws is due to a disturbance outside the control of the player;

if play is interrupted by the umpire or assistant umpire.

Play may be interrupted

1. to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends;

2 to introduce the expedite system;

3 to warn or penalise a player;

4 because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the outcome of the rally.

A POINT

Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point

if his opponent fails to make a good service;

if his opponent fails to make a good return;

if, after he has made a good service or a good return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being struck by his opponent;

if the ball passes over his court or beyond his end line without touching his court, after being struck by his opponent;

if his opponent obstructs the ball;

if his opponent strikes the ball twice successively;

if his opponent strikes the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply with the requirements of 2.4.3;

if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface;

if his opponent, or anything his opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly;

if his opponent's free hand touches the playing surface;

if a doubles opponent strikes the ball out of the sequence established by the first server and first receiver;

as provided under the expedite system (2.15.2).

A GAME

A game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring 21 points unless both players or pairs score 20 points, when the game shall be won by the player or pair first scoring subsequently 2 points more than the opposing player or pair.

A MATCH

A match shall consist of the best of 3 games or the best of 5 games.

Play shall be continuous throughout a match except that any player shall be entitled to an interval of not more than 2 minutes between successive games.

THE CHOICE OF SERVING, RECEIVING AND ENDS

The right to choose the initial order of serving, receiving and ends shall be decided by lot and the winner may choose to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end.

When one player or pair has chosen to serve or to receive first or to start at a particular end, the other player or pair shall have the other choice.

After each 5 points have been scored the receiving player or pair shall become the serving player or pair and so on until the end of the game, unless both players or pairs have scored 20 points or the expedite system is in operation, when the sequences of serving and receiving shall be the same but each player shall serve for only 1 point in turn.

In each game of a doubles match, the pair having the right to serve first shall choose which of them will do so and in the first game of a match the receiving pair shall decide which of them will receive first; in subsequent games of the match, the first server having been chosen, the first receiver shall be the player who served to him in the preceding game.

In doubles, at each change of service the previous receiver shall become the server and the partner of the previous server shall become the receiver.

The player or pair serving first in a game shall receive first in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a doubles match the pair due to receive next shall change their order of receiving when first either pair scores 10 points.

The player or pair starting at one end in a game shall start at the other end in the next game of the match and in the last possible game of a match the players or pairs shall change ends when first either player or pair scores 10 points.

OUT OF ORDER OF SERVICE, RECEIVING OR ENDS

If a player serves or receives out of turn, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with those players serving and receiving who should be server and receiver respectively at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match and, in doubles, to the order of serving chosen by the pair having the right to serve first in the game during which the error is discovered.

If the players have not changed ends when they should have done so, play shall be interrupted by the umpire as soon as the error is discovered and shall resume with the players at the ends at which they should be at the score that has been reached, according to the sequence established at the beginning of the match.

In any circumstances, all points scored before the discovery of an error shall be reckoned.

THE EXPEDITE SYSTEM

Except where both players or pairs have scored at least 19 points, the expedite system shall come into operation if a game is unfinished after 15 minutes' play or at any earlier time at the request of both players or pairs.

If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached, play shall be interrupted by the umpire and shall resume with service by the player who served in the rally that was interrupted.

If the ball is not in play when the time limit is reached, play shall resume with service by the player who received in the immediately preceding rally.

Thereafter, each player shall serve for 1 point in turn and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 good returns the receiver shall score a point.

Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of the match.

Scoring System

The scoring system that shall be used with effect April 28, 2001, is as follows:

1st Place: 10 points

2nd Place: 6 points

3rd Place: 4 points

4th Place: 3 points

5th Place: 2 points

6th Place: 1 point