Table:

• The table playing surface must be divided by a vertical net that is parallel with the end lines. The net shall divide the    table into two identical courts.
• If playing doubles, the official ping pong rule is each court should be split into two identical half-courts by a 3 mm    wide, white centre line that runs parallel with the side lines.

Net:

• According to the official ping pong rule, the entire top of the net should be 15.25cm above the surface of the table.   The net requires supporting posts, suspensions and clamps that attach the net to the table.

Ball:

• The most prominent official ping pong rule concerning the ball is it must be round and have a diameter of 40mm.
• The ball must weigh 2.7g
• The ball should be constructed of celluloid or similar plastics
• The ball should be white or orange

Racket:

• The racket, according to the official ping pong rule, may be of any size, weight, or shape, but the blades must be rigid    and flat.
• One side of the paddle blade that is used for striking the ball should be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber    or sandwich rubber.
• Each side of the blade should be a different color to distinguish rubber texture. One side should be black, the other    red.

Definitions
There are many different official ping pong rule terms. Below are several definitions that may prove to be helpful when you play with others:

• Rally – the time period when the ball is in play
• Let – A rally that results in no score
• Point – A rally that results in a score
• Racket hand – the hand a player uses to hold the racket
• Free hand – the player’s hand without the racket
• Strike – when a player’s racket touches the ball while it is in play and he/she is holding the paddle in their hand or    below the wrist.
• Obstruct – This official ping pong rule occurs when a player touches a ball in play with his clothing, paddle, etc. when    the ball is above or traveling in the direction of the playing surface but has not passed beyond the player’s end line.
• Server – player that strikes the ball first to start a rally
• Receiver – player that returns the serve in a rally
• Umpire – the person designated to control a match.

As was previously mentioned, there are plenty more official ping pong rule guidelines that are put into effect during a professional match. These are rules you will need to learn if you choose to become a serious player. That being said, if you are only playing for fun, there is no reason why you need to be so rigid. The most important thing is to enjoy the game.

There is more than one official ping pong rule you will need to learn if you intend on playing the game like the pros. However, due to the fact that there are so many, each official ping pong rule that will be discussed here is among the few basic regulations regarding the equipment and definitions established by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).

Table:

• The table playing surface must be divided by a vertical net that is parallel with the end lines. The net shall divide the    table into two identical courts.
• If playing doubles, the official ping pong rule is each court should be split into two identical half-courts by a 3 mm    wide, white centre line that runs parallel with the side lines.

Net:

• According to the official ping pong rule, the entire top of the net should be 15.25cm above the surface of the table. The net requires supporting posts, suspensions and clamps that attach the net to the table.

Ball:

• The most prominent official ping pong rule concerning the ball is it must be round and have a diameter of 40mm.
• The ball must weigh 2.7g
• The ball should be constructed of celluloid or similar plastics
• The ball should be white or orange

Racket:

• The racket, according to the official ping pong rule, may be of any size, weight, or shape, but the blades must be rigid    and flat.
• One side of the paddle blade that is used for striking the ball should be covered with either ordinary pimpled rubber    or sandwich rubber.
• Each side of the blade should be a different color to distinguish rubber texture. One side should be black, the other    red.

Definitions
There are many different official ping pong rule terms. Below are several definitions that may prove to be helpful when you play with others:

• Rally – the time period when the ball is in play
• Let – A rally that results in no score
• Point – A rally that results in a score
• Racket hand – the hand a player uses to hold the racket
• Free hand – the player’s hand without the racket
• Strike – when a player’s racket touches the ball while it is in play and he/she is holding the paddle in their hand or    below the wrist.
• Obstruct – This official ping pong rule occurs when a player touches a ball in play with his clothing, paddle, etc. when    the ball is above or traveling in the direction of the playing surface but has not passed beyond the player’s end line.
• Server – player that strikes the ball first to start a rally
• Receiver – player that returns the serve in a rally
• Umpire – the person designated to control a match.

As was previously mentioned, there are plenty more official ping pong rule guidelines that are put into effect during a professional match. These are rules you will need to learn if you choose to become a serious player. That being said, if you are only playing for fun, there is no reason why you need to be so rigid. The most important thing is to enjoy the game.