Ping pong can be serious competition, but it can also be an enjoyable pastime and social activity. It’s a great way to get exercise, break a sweat and bond with family or friends, especially when playing on teams. It’s also an excellent way to unplug from technology and focus on engaging with people face-to-face.
Whether you’re new to ping pong or have been playing for years, it’s important to understand the rules of the game. There are a few basic guidelines that every player should follow to ensure fair play and safe conditions. These include never serving over the net, avoiding touching the ball with your free hand or obstructing the opponent’s view of the ball and only scoring when you legally return a ball to the other side of the table.
In addition, players must avoid bouncing the ball more than once and hitting it before it bounces on their side of the table. This is known as a volley and results in a point for your opponent.
To score a point in ping pong, the first player or pair to reach 11 points wins each game. If the score becomes tied at 10 points, the game continues only to serve once each until one side gains a two-point lead. Then that side wins the match.