What are the serving rules for ping pong?
Legal Service The ball must rest on an open hand palm. Then it must be tossed up at least 6 inches and struck so the ball first bounces on the server’s side and then the opponent’s side. If the serve is legal except that it touches the net, it is called a let serve. Let serves are not scored and are reserved.
Can you serve to the side in ping pong?
The receiver can stand wherever he deems ok. So it is perfectly legal to serve from way outside the sidelines of the table, provided the ball remains behind the end line at the start of the serve. In practice, this is not done very often since it can put the server out of position for the rest of the rally.
What are some common violations in serving for ping pong?
- Hidden serve: Hidden serve is the most common illegal serve in table tennis. The player uses his free arm or his body to hide the contact point.
- Throw in serve and low toss serve: Some players (especially amateur level) don’t throw the ball high enough.
- Quick serve (bad manner serve):
What makes a ping pong serve illegal?
Unlike the early days of ping pong, nowadays the server must not obscure the ball with their serving hand (holding the ball) or an item of clothing. So striking the ball while over the table during a serve is illegal.
What makes a foul in table tennis?
If the player attempts to return the ball before it bounces, a foul is called. In singles competition, while the service rule allows the server to serve to any part of the table on the opposite end, in doubles, the service has to travel diagonally across the table.
Why do ping pong players touch the table?
This is usually done by players to get a fair idea about their distance from the table before serving or receiving the serve. This might not sound very obvious, but it’s more a muscle memory thing, a habit to try and get into the most perfect position before serving or returning serve.
Can you backhand serve in ping pong?
This serve can be performed from the server’s backhand corner, although it is also common to use this serve from the middle of the table, as pictured here. The type of sidespin put on the ball will tend to make the receiver’s return go towards the server’s forehand.
Can you lose on a bad serve in ping pong?
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, or otherwise makes a foul serve, he loses the point.