Table tennis rules

Table tennis rule changes

Changes that affect how a game is played, scored or equipped, newest first: the old rule, the new one, and what it means for scoring.

From the ITTF Statutes, 2026 edition, Section 2: The Laws of Table Tennis and its change documentLast checked Read the change document ↗
20252025 rulebook
EQUIPMENT Law 2.4.3

Rubber thickness allows a small tolerance

BeforePimpled rubber no more than 2.0 mm thick, sandwich rubber no more than 4.0 mm.
NowLess than 2.05 mm and 4.05 mm, within the tolerance in the ITTF’s equipment rules.

For scoring: No change to scoring.

20142014 rulebook
EQUIPMENT Law 2.3.3

Plastic balls replace celluloid

BeforeBalls were made of celluloid.
NowBalls are made of plastic, white or orange. They came into use from 1 July 2014.

For scoring: No change to scoring.

20012001 rulebook
SCORING Law 2.11.1

Games to 11 instead of 21

BeforeGames were played to 21.
NowGames are played to 11, won by 2 from 10-all.

For scoring: Shorter games: 11 points to win, 2 clear from 10-all.

20002000 rulebook
EQUIPMENT Law 2.3.1

The 40 mm ball

BeforeA smaller ball was used.
NowThe ball is 40 mm across, bigger and easier to follow on television.

For scoring: No change to scoring.

Earlier changes, such as the rule that the serve must be in full view of the receiver, are being checked against official ITTF documents and will be added here.

Rules are written by 1SCOR in our own words and checked against the official rulebook. They are not the rulebook: for anything official, read the rulebook itself.