Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a recreational game played with paddles and a small plastic ball. The rules require players to serve the ball to start play and then rally by hitting the ball back and forth over the net until one player fails to return it. Games are typically played to 21 points, with servers alternating every 5 points, and a match is best-of-five games. If a game reaches 20-20, players alternate serves after each point and must win two consecutive points to win the game.