Table tennis return rules: when you can hit the ball
After the serve, let the ball bounce once on your side. Then hit it back over the net.
If you hit the ball before it bounces on your side (a volley), your opponent gets the point.
If you let it bounce twice on your side, your opponent gets the point too.
During a rally, it's fine if the ball clips the net and still goes over. That's a good return.
Quick quiz
1. You hit the ball before it bounces on your side. What happens?
Show the answer
You lose the point (a volley). The ball must bounce on your side first. Hitting it earlier is a volley and loses the point.
2. The ball touches the net in a rally and lands on the other side. What happens?
Show the answer
Play continues. In a rally, touching the net is fine as long as the ball lands on the opponent's side.
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