How to play Table Tennis
- Orange plays from the bottom end of the table (the left on a wide screen). Purple plays from the top (or the right).
- Serve. The ball waits just behind the server's end. Swing your bat into it: the serve bounces once on your side, then once on your rival's side, just like a real serve. If you wait for five seconds, the ball is served for you.
- Let it bounce, then hit it back. The ball must bounce once on your side before your bat can reach it. While it's still flying high after crossing the net, it passes over your bat.
- Every shot you hit lands on the table. You can't hit the ball out or into the net here, so a point is won when your rival can't get the ball back: it bounces twice on their side or flies past their bat.
- Serves change every two points. The first player to 11 points wins the game, but only with a two-point lead. At 10–10 (called deuce) the serve changes after every point, until someone is two points ahead.
Controls
| Device | Orange | Purple |
|---|---|---|
| Phone or tablet | Drag a finger in the bottom half | Drag a finger in the top half |
| Mouse (vs computer) | Move the mouse: your bat follows it | — |
| Keyboard | W A S D | Arrow keys |
Against the computer you can use either set of keys. On a wide screen the table turns sideways, and the keys still move your bat the way they point on screen.
Aiming your shots
- Where the ball meets your bat steers it. Hit it with the middle of the bat and it goes to the middle of your rival's side. Hit it with the left or right part of the bat and it goes that way.
- Move your bat sideways as you hit to add more angle.
- Swing forward as you hit for a faster, deeper shot. A gentle touch with a still bat drops the ball just over the net.
- Long rallies get faster. Every return speeds the ball up a little, until someone misses.
Computer levels
The computer plays like a person: it looks at the ball, guesses where it will bounce, and moves its bat at a limited speed. Its guesses get better as the ball comes closer, and fast balls are harder for it to read, just as they are for you.
| Level | How the computer plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | A slow bat, slow reactions and gentle shots. It misses plenty of balls. |
| Medium | Returns most slow balls, but struggles with fast, angled shots. |
| Hard | Quick and accurate. It often aims away from your bat. |
| Expert | Reacts in under a tenth of a second, hits hard and aims for the open side. |
Tips to win
- Move early. Line your bat up with the ball while it's still on the other side of the net.
- Use the edges of your bat. Angled shots pull your rival from one side to the other.
- Mix fast and slow. After a few fast, deep shots, a soft ball just over the net is hard to reach in time.
- Get back to the middle. After each shot, slide your bat back to the centre of your end, ready for either side.
- Watch the shadow. The ball's shadow shows where it is over the table. When the ball meets its shadow, it bounces.
About table tennis
Table tennis began in England in the 1880s as an indoor version of lawn tennis, often played on a dining table with a row of books for a net. It spread around the world, became an Olympic sport in 1988, and since 2001 games have been played to 11 points instead of 21. Our version keeps the bounce rules that make it table tennis: the serve bounces on both sides, and every shot must bounce once before it can be returned.
Questions
Can two people play Table Tennis on one phone?
Yes. Choose 2 Players and hold the phone between you, or lay it flat on a table. Each player drags a finger in their own half, and both bats can move at the same time.
Why did the ball fly over my bat?
The ball has to bounce on your side before you can hit it. While it's high in the air after crossing the net, it passes over your bat. Wait for the bounce, then hit it back.
How long is a game?
A game ends when one player has 11 points and a two-point lead. Most games take two to five minutes; close games that reach deuce take a little longer.
Is Table Tennis free?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no ads during a game.
Updated 7 November 2026