How Does Table Tennis Scoring Work

How table tennis scoring works

A table tennis game is first to 11 points with a 2-point margin. So 11-9 wins, but 11-10 doesn't — you keep playing until someone leads by 2 (12-10, 13-11, etc).

Serves alternate every 2 points: server A serves twice, then server B serves twice, and so on. This continues until the game enters deuce (10-10), at which point serves alternate every single point.

Matches are best of 5 (first to 3 game wins) or best of 7 (first to 4) depending on the event. Most club and weekend matches are best of 5.

Edge cases and details

The 21-point format is sometimes still used in casual social play, but it's no longer the official ITTF format. Don't confuse the two — 11-point is faster and is what every modern competition uses.

A let serve (one that touches the net but lands fair) is replayed, not a fault. There is no limit on the number of let serves in a row.

The expedite rule kicks in if a single game lasts more than 10 minutes — the receiver wins the point if they return 13 consecutive serves. Almost never seen in practice.

Table Tennis scoring in plain English

If you've never played table tennis, the scoring can sound complicated when described in rulebook language. The reality on court is simpler than it sounds — after a few games, the rhythm becomes obvious. The point is to know what counts as a point, when a game ends, and when the match ends. Everything else is bookkeeping.

Volley scores table tennis with the modern 11-point format, automatic serve switching every 2 points (every point in deuce), and strict doubles serving order tracking.