ITTF proposal to allow doubles to serve crosscourt from the left-hand

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Seen on Larry Hodges' Blog:

Here's the ITTF AGM Working Documents, which shows the various proposals to be considered at their meeting at the upcoming Worlds. Here's the one I find most interesting - it allows doubles teams to serve crosscourt from the left-hand court, instead of always crosscourt from the right-hand court. See Proposition A-22, proposed by Iran, which would require a 3/4 majority to pass.

  • To amend 2.6.3 As the ball is falling the server shall strike it so that it touches first his or her court and then touches directly the receiver's court; in doubles, the ball shall touch successively the right half court of server and receiver, or it shall touch successively the left half court of server and receiver.
  • Rationale: The extension of the service rule removes the disadvantage for right hand players and allows more flexibility to use their best position when starting a rally.

What do people think about this one? I'm usually not fond of rule changes, but this one I like. Besides the removes the disadvantage for right hand players, it feels it would make double more interesting.
 
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Mar 2014
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Nope. It’d give the lefty + righty combo too much advantage.

If you have 2 righties double and you serve from the left side, you are no different to the 2 lefties double with the current rule, which has clear disadvantage. It’s easier to serve but movement is awkward.

This change only benefits lefty + righty double, which already has advantage over other combinations. I imagine they would be almost impossible to beat given that the players are the same level.
 
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