Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Modern table tennis games are played first to 11 points, with a 2-clear-point advantage required (so 11-9 wins, but 10-10 continues as deuce). Matches are typically best of 5 (first to 3 game wins) or best of 7 (first to 4). Service changes every 2 points throughout the game, except at deuce (10-10) where it alternates every point. Prior to 2001, table tennis used 21-point games — the change was made to increase excitement and television appeal.
- First to 11 (win by 2) per game
- Best of 5 or 7 games per match
- Service every 2 points, alternates every 1 at deuce
- Changed from 21-point games in 2001
In practice
Modern table tennis uses 11-point games (switching from the older 21-point system specifically to make matches more television-friendly and unpredictable) with players alternating serve every two points — this shorter scoring format puts a premium on serve quality and early-point aggression, since there's less time within a game to recover from a slow start compared to the older, longer format.
FAQ
How many points are needed to win a table tennis game?
11 points, with a 2-point winning margin required (so a game can extend beyond 11-9 if players are tied at 10-10, continuing until one player leads by 2).
Why was table tennis scoring changed from 21 to 11 points?
The change to shorter 11-point games (from the older 21-point format) was made to speed up matches and make them more unpredictable and exciting for broadcast audiences.