🏛️Official — ITTF
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Recorded May 13, 2026
Most consequential ITTF gameplay change of the modern era. Effective September 2001, scoring switched from the long-standing 21-point format (one game = first to 21, must win by 2) to 11-point (first to 11, must win by 2), with the matches changing from best-of-3 to best-of-5 or best-of-7 games. Serve rotation also tightened from five points to two — each player serves only twice before the receiver takes over. The change shortened individual games while creating more critical scoring junctures, enabled broadcast-friendly pacing, and remains the operative scoring system at every level of competitive play.
Recorded May 8, 2026
ITTF amended service rules to prohibit the server from hiding the ball from the receiver during service. The reform targeted disguised-contact serves — where the server's body, free arm, or sleeve obscured the racket-ball contact point so the receiver could not anticipate spin or speed — which had developed into a substantial server's advantage at elite level. The change increased average rally length and reduced reliance on serve-aces, paired with the 2001 11-point scoring change as part of the ITTF's broader effort to make matches more competitive and broadcast-friendly.
Recorded May 8, 2026
ITTF mandated a new poly-material (plastic) ball for all events after July 2014, ending the celluloid-ball era that had defined the sport since its modern codification. Driven primarily by international dangerous-goods restrictions on celluloid manufacturing and shipping (celluloid is a flammable nitrocellulose compound), the change required adjustments to playing technique because the plastic ball travels and spins differently. Equipment manufacturers retooled to ITTF specifications and the change has stood as the authoritative ball standard at every subsequent World Championship and Olympics.
Recorded May 8, 2026
8.6 General Health and Hygiene
May 23, 20265.3 The Order of Play (Law 2.8)
May 23, 20265.1 A Good Service (Law 2.6)
May 23, 2026Section 5: Rules of Play
May 23, 20264.4 Match Officials
May 23, 20262.4 The Racket (Law 2.4)
May 23, 20268.3 Equipment Safety
May 23, 20268.2 Lighting Safety
May 23, 20265.10 The Expedite System (Law 2.15)
May 23, 20265.8 The Order of Serving, Receiving, and Ends (Law 2.13)
May 23, 20265.2 A Good Return (Law 2.7)
May 23, 20262.3 The Ball (Law 2.3)
May 23, 20262.2 The Net Assembly (Law 2.2)
May 23, 20267.6 Illegal Equipment
May 23, 20266.3 Scoring During Service Changes
May 23, 20266.1 Game Scoring
May 23, 2026Section 6: Scoring
May 23, 20265.7 A Match (Law 2.12)
May 23, 20265.6 A Game (Law 2.11)
May 23, 20263.1 Definition of the Playing Area (Law 2.6)
May 23, 2026Section 3: Playing Area
May 23, 20268.5 Para Table Tennis Safety
May 23, 20268.1 Facility and Playing Surface Safety
May 23, 2026Section 8: Safety Considerations
May 23, 20267.8 Illegal Coaching
May 23, 20267.5 Conduct Penalties (ITTF Regulations for International Competitions)
May 23, 20267.2 Return Faults
May 23, 20267.1 Service Faults
May 23, 2026Section 7: Violations & Penalties
May 23, 20266.5 Team Match Scoring Formats
May 23, 20265.9 Out of Order of Serving, Receiving, or Ends
May 23, 20265.5 A Point (Law 2.10)
May 23, 20264.1 Players and Teams
May 23, 2026Section 4: Players & Officials
May 23, 20263.2 Minimum Space Requirements
May 23, 20267.4 Moving the Table or Net (Law 2.10.1.7–2.10.1.8)
May 23, 20266.2 Match Scoring
May 23, 20265.4 A Let (Law 2.9)
May 23, 20264.3 Clothing (Law 2.5 and ITTF Regulations)
May 23, 20263.3 Lighting
May 23, 20262.1 The Table (Law 2.1)
May 23, 2026Section 2: Equipment
May 23, 2026