Total in Table Tennis

Table tennis has become a very popular betting sport due to the large number of competitions held at various levels. In online bookmakers’ lines, you can find decent markets even for regional, local, pro, and amateur matches.

Totals betting in table tennis has become the most popular market for this sport. The reason is that in lower-level tournaments, surprises and even fixed matches are common. Betting on the favorite’s win or on handicaps is a doubtful pleasure that often leads to losses.

Quantitative indicators such as points and sets are easier to analyze. Therefore, total-based strategies are the most sought-after in table tennis betting. Let’s examine their features, pros and cons, and drawbacks.

Types of total bets in table tennis

A total measures any quantitative indicators in a given game. In ping pong, these include the number of points per set and match, as well as the total number of sets played.

Here are the main types of Over/Under bets:

1. Total. If the bookmaker’s market is titled simply “Total,” it refers to the total number of points won by both opponents. Every rally in the match is counted, regardless of who won it.
2. Individual Over/Under. Only the rallies won by the specified player are counted.
3. Over/Under in a set. Most often, this is the combined total for the set.

When selecting numbers and lines, it’s important to consider the rules and tournament format.

How the rules affect totals in ping pong

To understand how to bet on totals in table tennis, learn a few basic rules:

• a set is played until one player reaches eleven points;
• the winner must have at least a two-point advantage, meaning scores can go well beyond 11, such as 15:13;
• there are two main formats for matches — best-of-five (first to three sets) and best-of-seven (first to four).

Consider these factors when figuring out how to calculate totals in table tennis.

How to calculate totals in table tennis

When two evenly matched players face off, the average total values for a best-of-five match are roughly as follows:

• overall total – Over/Under 75.5;
• individual total – Over/Under 38.5;
• per set – 18.5.

Bookmakers predict these values based on an estimated four sets per match. Typically, they set the total at 76 points. Dividing that by four gives 19 per set. However, not all sets reach that number, even between evenly matched players. In other words, bookmakers use this trick knowing that bettors prefer to bet on Overs.

On the other hand, bettors gain an advantage if the match goes to all five sets — in that case, those totals are almost guaranteed to be exceeded. Depending on the tournament level and other factors, around 4–5 out of 10 matches go the full distance to five sets, which is nearly half. That’s a decent figure, though not always justified in practice.

Betting strategies

Given the frequent surprises in matches, total-based strategies for table tennis should be designed independently of the expected match scenario. Here are several examples of how this can be done.

Over 18.5 per set

The first scheme is a Martingale-style strategy on Over 18.5 per set. Choose odds around 1.80–1.85 — typical for matches with a moderate level of competition.

At these odds, simply double your stake after each losing bet in the series. Let’s look at a scenario where the third bet wins, starting with an initial stake of $1:

Essentially, this is a straightforward Martingale approach. Hundreds of professional matches take place daily without interruption, allowing for round-the-clock Martingale sequences. And it doesn’t matter if there are fixed matches — in almost every encounter, except for a few, there will be sets exceeding 19 points.

High total on the favorite in Live

If you bet only on prestigious international tournaments, where participants have no reason to throw matches, the balance of power between the favorite and the underdog becomes an important factor. Use this for live betting.

If the stronger player starts poorly, for example losing 2:6 or 3:7 in the first set, there’s a good chance he’ll drop the set altogether. Therefore, it makes sense to bet on his high total for the match overall.

Choose an individual Over for the favorite at odds around 1.75–1.90. Yes, surprises are possible, but a motivated favorite should bounce back and take at least one or two sets — leading to a solid number of points.

Over 3.5 and Under 4.5 sets

Experienced bettors often use total-by-sets strategies like Over 3.5 or Under 4.5. Everything depends on pre-match analysis of the players’ relative strength. The math is simple: 3:1 and 1:3 outcomes occur more frequently than 3:0, 0:3, 3:2, or 2:3.

Financial discipline in strategic betting

We’ve provided three strategy examples, but there are many more. Whatever betting approach you use over the long term, always remember the principles of bankroll management:

• stake only a small percentage of your bankroll;
• never bet your last money;
• don’t use funds needed for other purposes;
• don’t rush to recover losses after your first defeat.

Only a rational approach to bankroll distribution allows you to play long-term and gain valuable experience.

Pros and Cons

Having reviewed the main aspects of what totals mean in table tennis, let’s summarize. The advantage of ping pong is that betting on it is available virtually year-round, with dozens or even hundreds of matches daily. This makes it suitable for implementing various strategies, including Martingale systems.

The downsides include high bookmaker margins and a large number of “strange” or fixed results. However, total betting helps partially offset these drawbacks. That’s why Over/Under markets have become a favorite choice among bettors who prefer table tennis.