Hitting the ball

Hi Martin,

Thi is the most confusing rule of table tennis.

Here it is:

If you hit the ball without it bouncing and the ball is still over the table, you lose the point.

If however the ball has gone out of play (past the table) without bouncing on the table, and then you hit it, it is out of play so you win the point.

The first mistake always counts.  In this case the first mistake was that it went out of play.

Hpe this clears it up for you.