What do you think?

  • Legal

    Votes: 105 44.7%
  • Illegal

    Votes: 130 55.3%

  • Total voters
    235

Dan

says editing a big TTD Team episode... stay tuned 👀

Dan

says editing a big TTD Team episode... stay tuned 👀
Well-Known Member
Administrator
Aug 2010
7,079
4,755
16,880
Read 72 reviews
OK, so im not going to outline Xu Xin here as a bad person as hes my second favourite player to Boll however. There is growing speculation over the internet that Xu Xin is serving illegally and he is gaining a huge advantage over his opponents. Especially in the deciding points of the sets. I have took two types of Xu Xin's serves from the most recent event he took part in, which he infact won. The Qatar Open 2011 :) Congrats Xu! Amazing!

Well heres my editing of the serves, what do you think everyone? Speculation true or false? Legal or Illegal? What did you put... Debate now.

Xu Xin vs Ma Long - Semi Final
Click image to enlarge its size

ma long part 1.jpg
ma long part 2.jpg
ma long part 3.jpg
ma long part 4.jpg


Thanks to Youtuber: ttcountenance for the video footage
 
says oh sorry boring -.-
says oh sorry boring -.-
Member
Feb 2011
89
0
89
When Xu Xin vs Timo Boll in the final. The audience can not see the ball, but Timo Boll has full perspective, I think
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Feb 2011
5
0
5
it is illegal, but the services of everyone else, except a few, are the same illegal
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
New Member
Feb 2011
1
0
1
true the hand or arm is not obstructing the ball but the body is and the way he has his body turned the ball is past the plane of his body which is VERY ILLEGAL!!!
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Oct 2010
22
0
22
i dont know if the ball is invisible from timo's position but xu throw it backward instead of vertically upward. this gives him advantage in generating spin according to me
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Nov 2010
30
0
30
Here are the Rules directly from the Offical Laws book

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

2.6.2 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.

2.6.3 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.

2.6.4 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 2: The Laws of Table Tennis
Page 26 Handbook 2010-2011
from the receiver by the server or his doubles partner or by anything they
wear or carry.

2.6.5 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.


2.6.6 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.

2.6.6.1 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.

2.6.7 Exceptionally, the umpire may relax the requirements for a correct service
where he is satisfied that compliance is prevented by physical disability.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Oct 2010
11
0
13
Looks illegal to me. The rule states that the server should project the ball "near vertically upwards" and from the photos, we can clearly see he was throwing it backwards towards his body. Thanks Dan for posting this interesting thread!
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Nov 2010
499
6
506
Yeah seriously, this is kind of a meaningless debate. From the videos we get this distant, straight on view, that is nothing like what Xu Xin's opponents see. Look at the Boll match. They are standing diagonally to each other, that makes it so that you have a way better view. And in the clips that Dan provided, you can see the ball when it contacts the paddle, which is the only real crucial thing that is needed. If it was so illegal, you can bet as hell Boll and his opponents would complain to the judges. Even the judges are probably partially bias against Chinese players, because as part of the ITTF they don't want Chinese to dominate, so they actively look for any chance to mark a serve as illegal.

People complain about Ma Lin's serve all the time, and yet Dan at least from his personal experience said it was completely visible.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Nov 2010
499
6
506
i dont know if the ball is invisible from timo's position but xu throw it backward instead of vertically upward. this gives him advantage in generating spin according to me

Everyone throws it back a little. And as long as you throw it up from your palm, its really hard to get any spin.
 
Top