Five-star service!

 

The ITTF rule on the service is quite lengthy – and for good reasons. Many players have sought to gain an advantage with their service, and sometimes, this can border on illegality. Very few players in the BDTTL (in my opinion) serve in complete accordance with the regulations – but equally, very few, if any, are attempting to gain any unfair advantage from it. Nevertheless, it would be a good idea if we all got a second opinion from our team members, and try to improve any deviations from the actual rules.

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

 

A point to check here – many players actually place the ball on the ring joint of their hand, and not their palm, or else their hand is cupped, and not open/flat.

 

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

 

Does the ball rise near vertically upwards – or back towards the server’s body? Does the ball rise at least 16cm (that’s about 61/2 inches in old money) before falling?

 

2.06.03  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.

 

Is the ball falling when struck – or is the ball hit whilst it is still rising?

 

2.06.04  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.

 

The ball must not be held below the table’s surface when projected upwards, nor must it travel over the table’s surface before being struck by the server. The server is no longer able to obscure the path of the ball, or the bat from the receiver when serving, as was the case some years ago.

 

2.06.05  As soon as the ball has been projected, the server’s free arm and hand shall be removed from the space between the ball and the net.
The space between the ball and the net is defined by the ball, the net and its indefinite upward extension.

 

Clarification, if any were needed, of the previous rule.

 

2.06.06  It is the responsibility of the player to serve so that the umpire or the assistant umpire can be satisfied that he complies with the requirements of the Laws, and either may decide that a service is incorrect.

 

This would imply that the server has the responsibility of ensuring that the umpire can see the serve being made, although there is nothing to stop the umpire from moving his/her position to ensure that the serve is legal.

 

2.06.06.01  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.  

 

2.06.06.02  Any subsequent service of doubtful legality of that player or his doubles partner will result in a point to the receiver.  

 

2.06.06.03  Whenever there is a clear failure to comply with the requirements for a correct service, no warning shall be given and the receiver shall score a point.  

 

2.06.07  Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.  

After one warning, any subsequent serve from a player which the umpire cannot call legal will result in the awarding of that point to the receiver. The only discretion given to the umpire is in the case where the server is disabled.

 

Although I have seen plenty of ‘illegal’ serves, it has been abundantly clear that the server has not been trying to gain any unfair advantage, and so the umpire has not intervened.

 

Has anyone ever witnessed an occasion where an umpire has warned a player about his service, or called an illegal serve??