USATT singles cheat sheet
Table Tennis
Abbreviated for fast reads. USATT adopts ITTF Laws; when in doubt, follow the official book.
Legal toss (≈16 cm, vertical)
Ball visible to receiver
Two serves, then switch
01
Match format
- Games: first to 11, win by 2.
- Match: best of 3, 5, or 7 games (event decides).
- Toss: winner picks serve, receive, or end; loser picks remaining.
- Change ends: after every game. In the deciding game, change when the first player reaches 5 points.
02
Service
- Start: ball stationary on an open, flat palm; hand behind the end line and above the table surface.
- Toss: near-vertical, at least ~16 cm (6 in), no imparted spin; strike on the way down.
- Bounces: your half first, then receiver’s half. If it touches the net and lands correctly, it’s a let (replay).
- Visibility: receiver must see the ball from toss to contact — don’t hide the serve with your body, arm, or clothing.
03
Service order
- Singles: 2 serves in a row, then switch server.
- Deuce: from 10–10, alternate one serve at a time.
04
Rally & legal return
- After the serve: let the ball bounce once on your side, then return it so it hits the opponent’s half.
- Volley: you may not hit the ball before it has bounced once on your side.
- Edge vs side: ball hitting the top edge of the table is good; hitting the side (below the top) is not.
- Table & net: don’t move the table; don’t touch the net assembly with your free hand or anything that affects play.
05
Let (replay — no point)
- Serve clips net and otherwise lands in play.
- Receiver not ready and did not try to return.
- Outside disturbance neither player could prevent (e.g. another ball rolls in).
06
Lose the point
- Serve or return not legal, or you miss a ball you could play.
- Double hit — two separate contacts (not one continuous stroke toward the ball).
- Wrong surface: ball touches anything except your racket / racket hand below the wrist.
- Free hand touches the playing surface, or you move the table.
- Net / obstruction: you (or your paddle/clothing) touch the net assembly and it affects play; or you obstruct the ball before it bounces on your side.
- Two bounces on your half, or ball passes your end without touching your half.
07
Expedite
- When: if a game isn’t finished after 10 minutes and the score hasn’t reached at least 9–9 yet — or anytime both players ask the umpire to start it.
- How: alternate serve every point for the rest of the match.
- Receiver “13”: if the receiver correctly returns the ball 13 times in a row in one rally, the receiver wins that point.
08
Conduct & breaks
- Timeout: one 1-minute timeout per match (call “timeout” with racket/hand only between points).
- Towel: allowed every 6 points and when changing ends; also between games.
- Between games: short break (typically up to 1 minute).
- Coaching: only between games or during your timeout — not during play.
- Fair play: no deliberate delay, distraction, or loud celebration aimed at throwing off the opponent.