Official Table Tennis Rules Explained ... The Serve

Throughout the history of table tennis the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) have amended the service rules many times.

As the best players develop ever more elaborate service techniques in order to gain an advantage over their opponent ... the ITTF respond by amending the service rules in an attempt to reduce their effectiveness.

However, as any player will tell you, this is a never ending process.

So let's take a closer look at what the official table tennis rules say about the service.

TABLE TENNIS RULES ... EXPLAINED

Have you got a table tennis rules question?

Well, all your table tennis rules questions are answered in this new book. And if you want to be a serious player, then this book is essential reading.

It contains all you'll need to know about the rules of table tennis, and it's all explained SIMPLY and CLEARLY.

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In the early days of table tennis, the service was used simply as a way of putting the ball into play. But as the game evolved, it started to become more and more important ... and soon it became just another opportunity to score a point.

Service techniques became more and more elaborate as players tried to gain an advantage over their opponent ... so much so that during the 1980s and 1990s, the top players were using service techniques which completely obscured their opponent's view of the ball during their service action.

They would either serve with their back to their opponent and use their upper body to obscure the ball, or stand sideways and use their free arm to obscure the ball.

But why did that matter?

Well, if your opponent is unable to see your racket striking the ball, he can't judge how much spin you are imparting onto the ball ... so his chances of making a good return are significantly diminished.

Therefore in an attempt to give the receiver a better chance of returning the serve, and making the game more attractive, the ITTF have had to constantly amend these official table tennis rules in order to curb the creativity of the best players.

Rule 2.06.01 states that ...

"Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand".

The purpose of this rule is to prevent a player from imparting spin onto the ball (with his fingers or his hand) as he throws it up.

This rule was introduced after the 1930s when finger spin serves were very popular. Players were able to impart heavy spin onto the ball before they struck it with their racket.

This was quickly outlawed by the ITTF.

Umpires are now told that they should concentrate on ensuring that the ball is resting freely on the palm of the server's hand ... so that no spin can be imparted as the ball is thrown upwards ... rather than be concerned with the precise curvature of the server's free hand.

Rule 2.06.02 states ...

"The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards, without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16cm (approx 6 inches) after leaving the palm of the free hand and then falls without touching anything before being struck".

The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the server strikes the ball as it's falling from the vertical.

Before adding this requirement for the ball to rise by at least 16cm, it was difficult for the umpire to establish whether the ball was being struck on the way up or on the way down.

Also, by requiring the server to throw the ball upwards within a few degrees of the vertical (rather than the old rule which stated it had to be within an angle of 45°), the umpire can be sure that the ball has been thrown upwards and not sideways or diagonally.

This prevents a player from throwing the ball directly onto his racket, thereby generating extra speed on his serve.

Also, by specifying that the ball must rise at least 16cm (approx 6 inches) from when it leaves your hand ... it means you must throw it well clear of your hand. Therefore it's not a legal serve if you lift the ball up with your hand to shoulder height, then only throw it up less than 16cm.

As soon as the server has deliberately thrown the ball upwards, the ball is "in play", so if the server does not make contact with the ball, he loses the point.

TABLE TENNIS RULES ... EXPLAINED

Have you got a table tennis rules question?

Well, all your table tennis rules questions are answered in this new book. And if you want to be a serious player, then this book is essential reading.

It contains all you'll need to know about the rules of table tennis, and it's all explained SIMPLY and CLEARLY.

Click here for more details

Rule 2.06.03 states that ...

"As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his court and then, after passing over or around the net assembly, touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver".

The purpose of this rule is to ensure that the server can't serve overarm like in tennis. This would potentially make every serve unreturnable!

This rule ensures that the ball must be struck as it's falling and that your service must hit your side of the table first.

Once your service has hit your side of the table it must pass over or around the net and then hit your opponent's side of the table.

The ball must bounce at least once on your opponent's side of the table and you can serve from and to, any part of the table.

If your opponent doesn't hit the ball after it's bounced once, you win the point (unless it touched the net when you served - then you replay the point).

However, in doubles, the serve must be played diagonally, i.e. within the right half courts only, whereas in singles you can serve from and to, any part of the table.

Rule 2.06.04 states that ...

"From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry".

This means that your hand and the ball must both be above the level of the playing surface and behind the end line, during your entire service action.

(The end line is regarded as extending indefinitely in both directions).

Other parts of your body (for example your arm), may be over the playing surface, but your hand and the ball must not.

The main purpose of this rule is to ensure that the ball is visible at all times to your opponent ... however ...

... there's no specific requirement for your opponent to be able to see your racket before you strike the ball, so you could begin your service action with your racket concealed, for example, behind your back or under the table.

Rule 2.06.05 now states that ...

"As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net".

The main purpose of the rule is to make sure that both the receiver (and the umpire) can see the ball throughout the service action.

This means that the receiver will be able to see the racket as it strikes the ball and therefore the receiver will have a much better chance of reading the spin, and, therefore, returning the service.

This rule is an extension of rule 2.06.04 and was introduced to stop players from hiding the contact point of the racket on the ball ... because if your opponent can't see your racket striking the ball, he can't judge how much spin you're imparting onto the ball ... so his chances of making a good return are significantly diminished.

Rule 2.06.06 states that ...

"It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire can see that he complies with the requirements of the law, and either may decide that a service is incorrect."

This means what it says!

It's the responsibility of the player to serve so that the correctness of his service action can be seen by the umpire.

Rule 2.06.06.01 also states that ...

"If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the legality of a service he may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the server; but any subsequent service by that player or his doubles partner which is not clearly legal shall be considered incorrect."

This means that an umpire who suspects, but isn't sure, that your service action is illegal, may warn you without awarding a point to your opponent.

However, the umpire will only give you one warning during a match ... so if any of your subsequent serves in that match are of doubtful legality, for the same or any other reason ... your opponent will be awarded the point.

Whether or not the umpire gives you a formal warning, the umpire can advise you informally, between rallies, that any deterioration could make your service illegal.

But, contrary to popular belief, a player is not entitled to a warning for a first illegal service. A clear failure to meet the requirements of the service law according to the official table tennis rules should always be penalised by the umpire awarding a point to your opponent.

TABLE TENNIS RULES ... EXPLAINED

Have you got a table tennis rules question?

Well, all your table tennis rules questions are answered in this new book. And if you want to be a serious player, then this book is essential reading.

It contains all you'll need to know about the rules of table tennis, and it's all explained SIMPLY and CLEARLY.

Click here for more details

For more information about the rules of table tennis, take a look at my other articles which explain the Official Laws of Table Tennis and the additional Regulations in more detail.