Ping pong is easy until someone says, “Wait… was that 9–7 or 7–9?” and suddenly your friendly game turns into a courtroom drama.
The good news: keeping score in table tennis is simple once you pick a systemand you don’t need a referee outfit or a whistle that scares the family dog.
In this guide, you’ll learn the basic scoring rules most players use, then three practical ways to keep score:
(1) call it out, (2) use a physical scoreboard, or (3) go digital with an app.
You’ll also get real-world tips for doubles, deuce, and the “we switched ends and now nobody knows who serves” moment.
Before You Keep Score: The 60-Second Scoring Rules You Actually Need
1) Points, games, and matches (the modern standard)
Most modern table tennis games are played to 11 points, and you must win by 2.
So if you’re up 11–10, the game isn’t overyou keep playing until someone leads by two (like 12–10 or 13–11).
Matches are usually an odd number of games (best-of-3, best-of-5, or best-of-7), depending on the setting.
In many rec leagues and casual play, best-of-3 is common. In higher-level events, longer formats show up more often.
2) Service rotation (the part that causes 90% of arguments)
Service typically alternates every two points, no matter who won those points.
At 10–10 (deuce), service usually alternates every single point.
Translation: when the score gets spicy, the serve gets a lot of cardio.
3) Switching ends
Players normally switch ends after each game.
In a deciding final game, many competitions also switch ends again when the first player/team reaches 5 points.
(Yes, it’s one more chance to confuse everyoneso we’ll build it into the scorekeeping systems below.)
4) Singles vs. doubles (what changes)
In doubles, the big differences are:
- Serves go right-court to right-court (diagonally), with the center line counting as “right.”
- Teammates must alternate hits during ralliesno back-to-back smashes by the same player.
- You still track points to 11 (win by 2) unless you’ve agreed on house rules.
With that foundation, let’s get into the three best ways to keep scoreeach one designed to reduce confusion, speed up play, and prevent the dreaded
“I swear we were at game point” speech.
Way #1: The “Call-It-Out” Method (Verbal Scoring + Serve Tracking)
This is the classic method: you announce the score before each serve. It’s free, fast, and works anywheregarage, office break room,
community center, or that one friend’s house where the table is also the dining table (respect).
How to do it (without turning it into a TED Talk)
- Pause before the serve and say the score clearly.
- Standard habit: say the server’s score first, then the receiver’s. (In casual play, the key is consistency.)
- Announce the score every pointespecially once someone hits 8+ and starts “strategically forgetting.”
- Track the serve with a simple rhythm: “two points, switch; at deuce, one point, switch.”
A simple serve-tracking trick that actually sticks
Use the Two-Two-One pattern:
- From 0–0 up to 9–9: each server gets two points.
- At 10–10 and beyond: each server gets one point.
If you want a quick mental check, look at the total points played:
from 0–0 through 9–9, the server changes every two pointsso the serve flips on totals like 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, etc.
At deuce, it flips every point, so you just alternate.
Example: A full “no confusion” mini-sequence
Let’s say you start serving at 0–0.
- You serve at: 0–0, 1–0 (two points served)
- Opponent serves at: 2–0, 2–1
- You serve at: 2–2, 3–2
Notice what didn’t happen: nobody guessed. Nobody argued. Nobody tried to “reconstruct” the score like it’s an ancient civilization.
Calling the score forces the game to stay honest.
Pro tips to prevent score disputes
- Say it the same way every time. Server-first is common, but consistency is the real MVP.
- Use “deuce” out loud. “Deuce, 10–10” is a clear mental reset for both players.
- On game point, slow down. Take one second, announce score, serve. Drama avoided.
- If you disagree and no one’s sure: replay the point. It’s table tennis, not international diplomacy.
Best for: quick singles, friendly matches, and anyone who wants scorekeeping that weighs exactly zero ounces.
Way #2: The Low-Tech Scoreboard Method (Flip Cards, Beads, Whiteboards, Paper)
If verbal scoring is the “trust system,” a physical scoreboard is the “evidence.”
It’s especially helpful when the room is loud, you’re playing doubles, or you’re hosting a mini-tournament and want the score visible to everyone.
Option A: Flip scoreboard (the classic tabletop sign)
A flip scoreboard is simple: one side flips numbers for Player/Team A, the other side flips for Player/Team B.
Set it near the net post or at the end of the table so both sides can see it without leaning into the playing area.
How to use it cleanly:
- Start at 0–0 and flip immediately after each rally ends.
- Assign one person as the scorekeeper if possible (especially in doubles).
- At the end of a game, reset points to 0–0 and track games separately (on paper, a second mini-board, or a quick tally mark).
Option B: Score beads / sliding markers (attached to some tables or accessories)
Some setups use sliding beads or markersmove one marker per point.
The advantage is speed: you can update the score with one quick motion.
The disadvantage is that people love to “accidentally” bump them during celebrations.
How to make beads work better:
- Keep beads on the far side of the table edge so they’re out of the swing zone.
- Move beads only between points, never mid-rally (yes, this has happened).
- If your bead system counts to 21, it still worksjust treat it like a counter and stop at 11.
Option C: Whiteboard or paper score sheet (best for matches)
If you’re playing a match (best-of-3 or best-of-5), a quick score sheet is surprisingly useful:
it tracks games, not just points.
Write down each game score like: 11–8, 9–11, 11–6.
You’ll never argue about “who won the second game” againbecause it’s literally written down.
Serve tracking with low-tech tools (the secret sauce)
Physical scorekeeping gets even better when it tracks the server.
Here are three easy ways:
- Coin method: put a coin on the server’s side. When serve switches, slide it to the other side.
- Magnet/clip method: clip a small marker onto the scoreboard on the server’s side.
- Two-tally method: next to the score, mark “S S” for the two serves; cross them off as they happen; then switch.
Best for: doubles, group play, loud spaces, and anyone who likes a visible score that doesn’t depend on memory.
Way #3: Digital Scorekeeping (Apps, Web Scoreboards, Smartwatches, and Displays)
Digital scorekeeping is perfect when you want the app to do the mental bookkeeping:
it can track points, games, serve rotation, end changes, and sometimes even show a big display for spectators.
In other words: let your phone be the responsible adult.
What to look for in a table tennis scoring app
- Serve indicator (and automatic switching every two points, then every point at deuce)
- Games/sets counter (best-of-3, best-of-5, etc.)
- Swap sides button (so the display matches end changes)
- Undo button (because humans are messy)
- Big buttons (because sweaty fingers shouldn’t ruin your data integrity)
How to run a digital scoreboard without slowing the match
- Pick one person to tap points (in singles, that can be the non-serving player or the winner of the rally).
- Use an app with a clear serve indicator so nobody has to “remember” who serves at 8–8.
- Turn on screen lock prevention (or keep the screen awake) so you’re not unlocking your phone every rally.
- If you switch ends, hit “swap sides” immediatelydon’t wait until everyone is confused.
Web scoreboard option (great for laptops/tablets)
If you’ve got a tablet near the tableor you want a bigger, cleaner displayweb-based scoreboards can be incredibly convenient.
Many include a “swap sides” control and a serve indicator, which is exactly what you want when players change ends.
Smartwatch + phone (surprisingly useful)
A watch-based “tap to score” setup is great when you don’t want to touch your phone mid-game.
It can keep the scoreboard accessible while your phone stays propped up for visibility.
Best for: mini-tournaments, training sessions, leagues, content creators filming matches, and anyone who wants fewer arguments and more rallies.
Common Scorekeeping Situations That Trip People Up (and How to Fix Them)
Deuce: “Win by two” doesn’t mean “win by vibes”
At 10–10, you keep playing until someone leads by two. The serve usually alternates every point.
If you remember only one thing about deuce: it’s not sudden death.
“Do we switch ends right now?”
Most play switches ends after each game. In deciding games, many formats also switch ends at 5 points.
If you’re using a scoreboard or app, make “switch ends” a visible step: swap sides in the app, move the coin, or physically rotate the scoreboard.
Singles: who serves to start the next game?
A simple, widely used approach: the player/team who received first in the previous game serves first in the next game.
If you’re keeping match notes, write “Game 2: Bob serves” before the game begins.
Doubles: “Wait… who is serving to who?”
Keep doubles sane by establishing two things at the start:
- Who serves first for Team A
- Who receives first for Team B
Then remember the practical doubles basics:
serves go right-to-right diagonally, and teammates alternate hits.
If confusion happens, pause and reset the orderdon’t speed-run chaos.
House rules (21 points, serve every 5, “must win on your serve,” etc.)
In offices, schools, and rec programs, you might see older or simplified scoring rules (like games to 21, or serve switching every 5 points).
That’s totally finejust agree on the rules before the first serve.
The best scorekeeping system is the one that matches the rules you’re actually playing.
If your game is to 21 with serve every 5, your scoreboard/app settings should reflect that.
Extra : Scorekeeping Experiences You’ll Recognize (and How to Handle Them)
If you’ve played enough ping pong to have a “favorite paddle” (or at least a paddle you trust not to betray you),
you’ve probably lived through scorekeeping moments that feel hilariously universal. Here are a few common onesand the fix that keeps the match fun.
The “we were definitely at 10–8… I think” moment.
This usually happens after a long rally where everyone’s proud of themselves, someone celebrates, someone retrieves the ball,
and then the next serve happens without anyone saying the score. Two points later, you’ve got four people offering four different numbers.
The fix is boring but undefeated: announce the score before every serve, even if it feels repetitive.
It takes one second, and it prevents the five-minute “score archaeology” session.
The “serve rotation vanished into thin air” moment.
Someone serves, wins the point, serves again (correct), wins again, then tries to serve a third time like they’re collecting infinity stones.
In friendly play, this is rarely maliciousit’s just easy to forget the two-serve rhythm.
A tiny physical cue solves it: put a coin on the server’s side, or use a scoreboard with a serve marker.
If you’re using an app, pick one with a big serve indicator and let it do the switching automatically.
The “deuce turns everyone into a mathematician” moment.
At 10–10, some players accidentally act like the next point wins (“game point!”) when it’s actually “game point… if you win two in a row.”
This is where saying “deuce” out loud helpsbecause it signals the rule change:
one serve each, and you must win by two.
If you’re using a flip scoreboard, consider also writing “D” next to it on a sticky note.
It sounds silly, but it works because it’s visible.
The “doubles is chaos unless we do one small thing” moment.
Doubles is fast, fun, and a little confusing because there are more moving pieces: diagonal serves, alternating hits, and fixed service order.
The easiest way to keep it clean is to pick a scorekeeper (even a rotating volunteer) and establish the starting server and starting receiver.
If your group forgets the order mid-match, don’t improvise. Pause, agree, and restart the correct sequence.
Nobody loses dignity; everybody gains fewer arguments.
The “we switched ends, and now the scoreboard is lying” moment.
This happens when players switch sides but the scoreboard stays in the same orientation, so Team A is physically on the left now,
but the scoreboard still shows Team A on the right. Suddenly everyone’s brain is doing backflips.
Fix it immediately: rotate the scoreboard, swap the names, or hit the “swap sides” button in your app.
The sooner you do it, the less mental energy the match steals from, you know, actually playing.
The big takeaway from all these experiences is simple: scorekeeping works best when it’s visible, consistent, and done between points.
Pick one of the three methods, commit to it for the whole match, and you’ll spend more time rallyingand less time negotiating reality.
Conclusion: Pick a System, Stick to It, Enjoy the Match
Keeping score in ping pong (table tennis) doesn’t have to be stressful.
If you want the simplest approach, call the score before every serve and follow the two-serve rhythm.
If you want clarity for groups and doubles, use a flip scoreboard or a quick paper score sheet.
If you want the easiest “set it and forget it” experience, use a digital scoreboard with a serve indicator and a swap-sides button.
Choose your method, keep it consistent, and your games will end the right way: with a winner, a handshake, and exactly zero courtroom speeches.
