How to do a Legal Serve? - All Table Tennis Service Rules

The serve in table tennis is governed by strict rules to ensure fair playing conditions. In this video you'll discover all the requirements for a legal serve that meets the official regulations. The serve must begin with the ball resting on the open palm of the hand. Holding it with a closed hand is not allowed and placing it on the fingers could also be considered an infringement. The ball must remain behind the end line and above the surface of the table. You can serve from any position as long as the ball stays outside this area from the toss until it is hit. If during the serve the ball moves in front of the end line or is hidden below the table surface, it will be considered a fault. The ball must be tossed vertically without adding any intentional spin and must reach a minimum height of 16 centimeters. While a perfectly perpendicular toss is not required, excessive deviation may be considered a fault depending on the umpire's interpretation. Once the ball has been tossed, the serve is considered initiated and if you fail to hit it or stop your movement, it will be counted as a failed serve. In table tennis there is no second serve opportunity as in other sports, so you will automatically lose the point. The ball must be hit during its descent. Hitting it while it is still rising or when it is exactly at its highest point is not allowed. The visibility of the ball during the serve is another crucial aspect. From the moment the ball is tossed until it is hit, it must remain fully visible to the opponent at all times. It is not allowed to hide it with the arm, head, or any part of the body. If at any point the ball goes out of the opponent's line of sight, the serve will be considered invalid. Once the ball is hit, it must first bounce on your side of the table and then on your opponent's side. If during this process, the ball touches the net but still lands correctly on the opponent's side, the serve is considered a let and must be replayed. There is no limit to the number of times a serve can be repeated in the case of a let. In singles matches, you can serve to any area of the table. However, in doubles matches, the serve must be performed diagonally from the server's right-hand side to the receiver's right-hand side. The umpire has the authority to determine whether a serve is valid or not. Depending on the severity of the infringement, the umpire may issue a warning or directly award the point to the opponent.