Bring back games up to 21
21 is Best
Photo by Jeff Plumb
Having played games up to 21 for most of my career, I personally like that method of scoring better. I think it suited my game more by giving me time to settle into each set.
2001 Rule Change
In 2001, the rules were changed to play games up to 11. The idea was to make each set more exciting. The problem with this is that there is no build up to this excitement. Under the old system, when a match got to 20 all in the fifth, you can bet it was a thriller. If every set is close, then unfortunately it becomes routine and then even the close sets are not exciting.
Also I think the change has lessened the value of each set, resulting in more sets being given away. Nowadays, if a player is down 9-5, then they are likely to throw the set. When you played up to 21, you fought hard for every set because it meant more.
What Rule Change?
I’ve talked to quite a few people who are unaware of the rule change or know about it but still choose to play up to 21. In fact at my wife’s office, they choose to still play up to 21. I’ve given them a copy of the Rules you must know brochure and told them this is the way of the future but to no avail.
Never Played to 21
As it has been years since the rule change, there are a lot of players who have never played up to 21. If you are one of these players then I encourage you to play a few practice games up to 21 with 5 serves each just to see what it is like.
Let us know your thoughts …..
Jerry Poon
commented on August 24th, 2007 at 11:04 am
I believe the rule had been changed to 11 was to be aimed at Chinese Team. IT DOESN’T WORK!!
Chinese Team is still the best. It is the time should change back to 21.
Jeff Plumb
commented on August 24th, 2007 at 10:48 pm
Hi Jerry,
That is an interesting opinion. I don’t believe the rule was changed because of the Chinese Team. However I still do like the old scoring system up to 21. But I think I am out numbered here. Most people I talk to prefer games up to 11.
Danny H
commented on October 24th, 2007 at 8:47 am
I like the idea of serving 2 points each at 21-points game.
That will combine the new rule with the old system.
However, in order to win the 11-points game, Chinese national teams
are well trained to play 6-points game. It is very fast and very stressful
for them to play. You can try playing 6-point game and see if you like it.
Alois Rosario
commented on November 19th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
These games up to 11 are more exciting. As a spectator it is more interesting because even if the game score is 8 - 2 it isn’t over. At 16 - 4 the game is well and truly over. More peaks more highlights, has to be good for table tennis.
I don’t see more upsets because of the changed scoring. I think the best player still wins most of the time. As for the Chinese, they would be the best with games up to 1, 11, 21, 31 or 101.
Ji-Soo Woo
commented on November 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
I’m still not used to the first-to-11 games either. Still not sure if I prefer it or not to the traditional first-to-21. Basically, every time I win, I love the first-to-11, and whenever I lose, I hate it!
Mark Smythe
commented on April 16th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Anyone living in Melbourne who wants to play competition with games up to 21 then the Croydon TT Club still has 3 competitions per week which has this. Check the website (google Croydon & District TT Club - CDTTA) out for more info.
Phil Boyle
commented on May 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
I think games up to 11 require more intense concentration and therefore are more intense - and that’s a good thing. There’s no doubt that up to 21 you can switch off with a big lead and still win. Try doing that at 7-2 up, with the other person serving next - suddenly it can be 7-5 and the pressure is back on. It’s easy for a ‘lesser’ player to win a set, but over the match I don’t think it makes much of a difference…
Ben
commented on August 15th, 2008 at 6:41 am
A group of about 20 play TT at work and none of us had heard about the score change to 11 point games. Even since I discovered it on Wikipedia in the lead up to our own “tournament”, no-one is interested in playing 11 point games. I guess it’s because 21 means you can be at the table for a decent length of time before having to get off and let the next pair on. We only have one table.
Ji-Soo
commented on August 19th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Having had some more time to digest the rule change since my 20 year hiatus from the sport, I now am strongly against the first-to-11 format. My reasons are as follows:
1) a 11-point system is not conducive to the best player winning because it is over so quickly.
2) in the days of first to 21 sets, there were much more twists and turns, comebacks and collapses. Each set had its own story. Now, it’s just bang bang bang finished.
3) long suffering table tennis players often have to defend our sport from those who consider it merely a recreational game. It’s harder to defend it when even at the Olympics, with best of 5 first-to-11 set matches, the playing time has become so short. That’s the reason why tennis does best of 5 sets in the Grand Slam…so they can have epic 4 hour matches that go down in history. Not that table tennis should have first to 101 point sets, but first to 21 was a nice balance.
Will
commented on August 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I can’t believe the scoring is to 11! I was in disbelief when I saw this. My Family and I have always played to 21 never 11. What a waste. I also couldn’t believe the 5 serve system changed as well! I’m 25 and have been playin table tennis for 20 years! This is one of my favorite sports. (Yes it is a sport for those who think its a joke) and to change the rules like this is just heartbreaking. I will still play to 21. There is nothing better than being down 15 to 20 and coming back to win by 2 on the last set. It means so much more. Playing to 11 is half a game and means less what a shame!
udyani
commented on November 20th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Hi,
I too believe that 21 point game is the best. That gave even the 3 set game a worth of playing. It gave surely the strength of fighting back. Gave more chances to come back from mistakes. But with the present trend in the world for many things there isnt any chance in what ever we do if we miss an opportunity. In one way by having this 11 point game we give the children a chance to get some knowledge of this present trend. On the other hand we are training the children to adapt to the present situation of the world. But if we look back most of the early things which we have left are always felt good. That means the future is not going to be pleasant and we are training our future generation for that unpleasant future.
Justin
commented on March 8th, 2009 at 9:29 am
I prefer playing in 21 point games, but as a spectator, the shorter matches are more palatable - especially if it’s a 7 game match and the games are close. I think the main reason we play 21 point matches at the table at school is that it’s just too much of an advantage to the winner of the previous match (who stays on the table) because the newcomer isn’t really warmed up yet. You also get to play with serving patterns more when you have five in a row as opposed to only two.
Euan
commented on March 14th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I didn’t even know about this rule change. Have been playing all my life and never heard about it. Mind you I don’t watch it on TV maybe that is why nobody seems to have heard about the change. Only found out as I was curious about whether there was a limit to how many lets you were allowed.
baptistpreach
commented on April 17th, 2009 at 2:17 am
I play both, but normally play to 11. I (in my highly unimportant opinion) feel that mistakes are VERY costly in a game to 11; You literally can lose a game because you missed one of your serves. And that in a game to 11, almost anybody can beat anybody depending on the day. In a game to 21, the best player wins far more often. I’d like to see the 21 game (without the “can’t lose on a serve”; “game point serve goes to the guy losing” - those rules are REALLY frustrating!) brought back.
Viscaria
commented on April 28th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
I think games that play up to 21 are more exiting, specialy if the skills of the players who are playing are at par with each other… Games up to 21 also present players with more opportunites for comebacks and give way for psycological warfare… Its really fun to demoralize your opponent when he was leading for 7 to 8 points and you come back from behind all of a sudden…
zulkef
commented on August 6th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I like Ji-Soo comment #3, 3) long suffering table tennis players often have to defend our sport from those who consider it merely a recreational game. It’s harder to defend it when even at the Olympics, with best of 5 first-to-11 set matches, the playing time has become so short. That’s the reason why tennis does best of 5 sets in the Grand Slam…so they can have epic 4 hour matches that go down in history. Not that table tennis should have first to 101 point sets, but first to 21 was a nice balance.
I used to play 21 then now 11. I like 21 better. Badminton, volleyball change their scoring system. Tennis keep their scoring the same for so long. Anyway, ping pong is nice either it’s up to 11 or 21 scoring system.
Gilbert Simons
commented on January 13th, 2010 at 8:19 am
For those who believe that everyone must now play 11-point games, it is only required in Sanctioned tournaments. For all other events and local matches, players can play 11 or 21 point games.
Let be quote the President of the ITTF, answering Berndt Mann (8-9-01):”As a matter of fact, you are welcome to continue to play in your club with 21 points or any other score that suits you if that gives you more pleasure…”
Sharara goes on to say that: “The rule was changed because of demands from TV, from tournament organizers, from fans and especially from players, granted, at the top level.”
I believe that TV was never involved, and that the 11-point game will lose us the millon-plus base of recreational players (who play 21-point games) who truly could make table tennis a major sport.
Gilbert Simons, founder SDTTA