Rules
1. The Service – Service shall start with the ball lying freely on the open palm of the server’s motionless hand. The server shall then throw the ball vertically upwards, so that it rises at least 16cm after leaving the palm hand and then drops without touching anything before being hit. As the ball is dropping the server shall hit it so that it touches first their court and then, after going over the net, touches the receiver’s court. From the start of service until it is hit, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server’s end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or by anything they wear or carry. As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net. The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite upward extension. It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the official or the assistant official can be happy that they comply with the requirements of the Laws, and either may decide that a service is incorrect. If either the official or the assistant official is not sure about the legality of a service he or she may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the server; but any subsequent service by that player which is not clearly legal shall be considered incorrect. Exceptionally, the official may relax the requirements for a correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
2. The Return – The ball, having been served or returned, shall be hit so that it goes over or net and touches the opponent’s court, either directly or after touching the net.
3. The Order of Play – The server shall first make a service, the receiver shall then make a return and there after server and receiver interchangeably shall each make a return.
4. A Let – The rally shall be a let if in service the ball, in passing over or around the net assembly, touches it, provided the service is otherwise correct or the ball is obstructed by the receiver; if the service is delivered when the receiving player is not ready, provided that the receiver doesn’t attempt to hit the ball; if failure to make a service or a 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 official or assistant official; if the receiver is in wheelchair owing to a physical disability and in service the ball, provided that the service is otherwise correct, after touching the receiver’s court returns in the direction of the net; comes to rest on the receiver’s court; in singles leaves the receiver’s court after touching it by either of its side-lines. Play may be interrupted to correct an error in the order of serving, receiving or ends; to warn or penalise a player or adviser because the conditions of play are disturbed in a way which could affect the outcome of the rally.
5. Point System – Unless the rally is a let, a player shall score a point if an opponent fails to make a correct service; if an opponent fails to make a correct return; if, after he or she has made a service or a return, the ball touches anything other than the net assembly before being hit by an opponent; if the ball passes over their court or beyond their end line without touching their court, after being hit by an opponent; if an opponent obstructs the ball; if an opponent deliberately hit the ball twice in succession; if an opponent hit the ball with a side of the racket blade whose surface does not comply with the requirements: if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, moves the playing surface; if an opponent, or anything an opponent wears or carries, touches the net assembly; if an opponent’s free hand touches the playing surface.
6. A Game – A game shall be won by the player first scoring 11 points unless both players score 10 points, when the game shall be won by the first player subsequently gaining a lead of 2 points.
7. A Match – A match shall consist of the best of any odd number of games.
8. The Expedite System – The expedite system shall come into operation after 10 minutes’ play in a game or at any time requested by both players. The expedite system shall not be introduced in a game if at least 18 points have been scored. If the ball is in play when the time limit is reached and the expedite system is due to come into operation, 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 expedite system comes into operation, 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 until the end of the game, and if the receiving player or pair makes 13 correct returns in a rally the receiver shall score a point. Introduction of the expedite system shall not alter the order of serving and receiving in the match. Once introduced, the expedite system shall remain in operation until the end of the match.
Regulations
1. The Table – The upper surface of the table, known as the playing surface, shall be rectangular, 2.74m long and 1.525m wide, and shall lie in a horizontal plane 76cm above the floor. The playing surface shall not include the vertical sides of the table top. The playing surface may be of any material and shall yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on to it from a height of 30cm. The playing surface shall be uniformly dark coloured and matt, but with a white side line, 2cm wide, along each 2.74m edge and a white end line, 2cm wide, along each 1.525m edge. The playing surface shall be divided into 2 equal courts by a vertical net running parallel with the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole area of each court.
2. The Net Assembly – The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table. The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the side line. The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface. The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the playing surface and the ends of the net shall be as close as possible to the supporting posts.
3. The Ball – The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm. The ball shall weigh 2.7g. The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt.
4. The Racket – The racket may be of any size, shape or weight but the blade shall be flat and rigid. At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood; an adhesive layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre, glass fibre or compressed paper, but shall not be thicker than 7.5% of the total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller. A side of the blade used for hitting the ball shall be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber, with pimples outwards having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 2.0mm, or sandwich rubber, with pimples inwards or outwards, having a total thickness including adhesive of not more than 4.0mm. Ordinary pimpled rubber is a single layer of non-cellular rubber, natural or synthetic, with pimples evenly distributed over its surface at a density of not less than 10 per cm2 and not more than 30 per cm2. Sandwich rubber is a single layer of cellular rubber covered with a single outer layer of ordinary pimpled rubber, the thickness of the pimpled rubber not being more than 2.0mm. The covering material shall extend up to but not beyond the limits of the blade, except that the part nearest the handle and gripped by the fingers may be left uncovered or covered with any material. The blade, any layer within the blade and any layer of covering material or adhesive on a side used for hitting the ball shall be continuous and of even thickness. The surface of the covering material on a side of the blade, or of a side of the blade if it is left uncovered, shall be matt, bright red on one side and black on the other. The racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment. Slight deviations from continuity of surface or uniformity of colour due to accidental damage or wear may be allowed provided that they do not significantly change the characteristics of the surface. Before the start of a match and whenever he or she changes their racket during a match a player shall show their opponent and the official the racket he or she is about to use and shall allow them to examine it.
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