Table tennis / Rule 2.5
Key definitions
ITTF · 2026In short
Rallies, strikes and obstruction.
When the ball is in play
A rally begins at the last moment the ball rests on the free palm before it is deliberately tossed for service. It ends when decided as a point or let. A point counts towards the score; a let does not. The free hand is the hand not holding the racket.
Striking and obstruction
A strike includes contact with the held racket or racket hand below the wrist. Obstruction means touching the ball in play, personally or with clothing or equipment, while it is above or travelling towards the playing surface and has not bounced on your court since the opponent’s last stroke.
Independent explanations and translations, not official federation publications. Based on the supplied ITTF Statutes 2026, effective 01/01/2026: the Laws of Table Tennis and selected international competition regulations. Independent condensed explanations with wheelchair exceptions identified. Administrative, disciplinary and event-specific chapters are not reproduced in full. References use PDF pages.
Sources & approach ↗
Sources & approach ↗