OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Dirty trick sure but legal. Kinda like swining hard at a lob and missing the ball on purpose only to dink it short on the next swing. I hate that one

Yes, in every game the serving side can decide which player will serve first and the receivers adapt to this.

Say you've got lighting, where the fluros hang down from a high ceiling with chains. You lob the ball really high, and the ball goes over the light between the chains, but does not make contact with anything..

First of all, the rule says at least 16cm, not 15cm. So based on that already, I suppose all your serves are illegal.

The ball really has to travel at least 16cm AFTER leaving the palm. Often players lift the hand and kind of carry the ball upwards rather than tossing it, only releasing it at the end so that it climbs up another few centimeters. If that's your case, you need to make the toss more pronounced.

I guess I should pay more attention to actually tossing the ball instead of carrying it up. The question remains however, what to do with the position of the hand after the ball leaves, is it forbidden to 'follow' the ball (which I do instinctively, not meant)

2.06.01 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.
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.
2.06.03 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her 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.
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 or her doubles partner or by anything they wear or carry.
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.
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 or she complies with the requirements of the Laws, and either may decide that a service is incorrect.
2.06.06.01 If either the umpire or the assistant umpire is not sure about the legality of a service he or she may, on the first occasion in a match, interrupt play and warn the server; but any subsequent service by that player or his or her doubles partner which is not clearly legal shall be considered incorrect.
2.06.07 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service where he or she is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.