The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) is the governing body of the table tennis community. Each country has a national body that is responsible for the sport in each country. In my country, the national governing body for table tennis is the USATT (United States of America Table Tennis). Within the United States, the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association is the official governing body for collegiate table tennis.

Here are a few of the many guidelines on sizes, measurements, and figures of the recently changed table tennis rules and regulations as stated by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation).



• As of October 1, 2000, the size of the table tennis ball changed from 38mm to 40mm. A standard table tennis ball weighs 2.7 grams. The table tennis ball has a hollow inside and is made of a high-bouncing celluloid ball with the color being white or orange and with a matte finish.


• When a table tennis ball is dropped from a height of 300 mm onto a steel block, the ball must bounce at least 230 mm but not more than 250 mm.


• The table tennis table is usaully made of masonite or a similarly manufactured timber. The finish is layered with a smooth, low-friction coating. Regulation size is 9ft. long by 5ft. wide, and 2ft.6in. above the floor.


• A table tennis ball that is dropped from a height of 30 cm (12 inches) above the surface must bounce to a height of about 23 cm (8¾ inches).


• The racquet, blade, or bat may be any size shape or weight. Some of the first racquet's introduced to table tennis were made up of materials such as cork, cardboard and wood and were covered with cloth, leather or sandpaper.

Thanks to the organizations that enforce these rules. They are USATT (USA Table Tennis) and the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation).