Serving laws

[d3nium]

Hi guys,

Quick one;

If you throw the ball up to serve, make no attempt to play the ball, and then catch it on the descent, is that classed as an attempted serve, and thus a foul? I always assumed that the ball is in play as soon as it leaves the hand.

I can't even find anything in the ITTF rules about this.

 

[Lazer]

Then You wouldn't be allowed to bounce it either. I interpret it as "You have to make an attempt to hit it".

Cheers
L-zr

 

[haggisv]

As soon as the ball leaves your palm in an attempted serve, the point starts, so if you catch it, you'll lose the point.

 

[d3nium]

As soon as the ball leaves your palm in an attempted serve, the point starts, so if you catch it, you'll lose the point.

Can you find an ittf rule that explains this?

 

[piligrim]

As soon as the ball leaves your palm in an attempted serve, the point starts, so if you catch it, you'll lose the point.

Pros always start game with throwing the ball to check if lights won't bother them

 

[Lazer]

As soon as the ball leaves your palm in an attempted serve, the point starts, so if you catch it, you'll lose the point.

Then the question is "What is an attempted serve"?
I would say if You attempt to hit the ball.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Can you find an ittf rule that explains this?

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.

"without touching anything"
if it touch your hand, its bye bye point to you and hello point to your opponent

 

[d3nium]

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.

"without touching anything"
if it touch your hand, its bye bye point to you and hello point to your opponent

Cheers for clearing that up Tony.

 

[NextLevel]

Pros always start game with throwing the ball to check if lights won't bother them

Is it part of a serve attempt? No, so it doesn't matter.

 

[lonely cp]

Hi guys,

Quick one;

If you throw the ball up to serve, make no attempt to play the ball, and then catch it on the descent, is that classed as an attempted serve, and thus a foul? I always assumed that the ball is in play as soon as it leaves the hand.

I can't even find anything in the ITTF rules about this.

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.

"without touching anything"
if it touch your hand, its bye bye point to you and hello point to your opponent

If the server throws the ball for service but catches it again instead of hitting it, and this is not repeated unduly, it is not a fault, and the rally has not started.

Source: ITTF Handbook for Match Officials

 

[lodro]

one of the grey areas and the judgement up to the ref. If he/she decides that the toss-up was a genuine start to a serve it is a fault.
Best way to avoid this is to catch the ball with the free hand an point into the audience and shout """ Flashlight"""

 

[yamagata]

These grey areas and weirdness with table tennis rules, especially service, starts to annoy me. Jonathan Groths head hid the ball, however it did not give his oppo any problem at all. To call for illegal serve was bad sportsmanship. The rules backed him up, but the bad aftertaste is hard to take.

 

[nablaz]

These grey areas and weirdness with table tennis rules, especially service, starts to annoy me. Jonathan Groths head hid the ball, however it did not give his oppo any problem at all. To call for illegal serve was bad sportsmanship. The rules backed him up, but the bad aftertaste is hard to take.

I don't get your point... Why is it bad sportsmanship to call for a foul if, in accordance with the rules, there is one and the evidence backs it up?

 

[vossi39]

In addition to Tony:

ITTF Rule 2.6.1 outlines the fundamental requirement for a legal table tennis service: the ball must be tossed freely from the server's open, stationary, free hand

And this part differentiates the "the ball toss to check the light or toss hight" that you sometimes see from the Pros. They never do this from "open, stationary, free hand".

If you observe the referees in their seat, they press a button on their touch pad, as soon as a player get's into position for a "real" serve (again stationary, open, free hand).

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

If the server throws the ball for service but catches it again instead of hitting it, and this is not repeated unduly, it is not a fault, and the rally has not started.

Source: ITTF Handbook for Match Officials

please show me where in the handbook?

https://www.ittf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HMO-17th-edition-July-2023.pdf

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

In addition to Tony:

ITTF Rule 2.6.1 outlines the fundamental requirement for a legal table tennis service: the ball must be tossed freely from the server's open, stationary, free hand

And this part differentiates the "the ball toss to check the light or toss hight" that you sometimes see from the Pros. They never do this from "open, stationary, free hand".

If you observe the referees in their seat, they press a button on their touch pad, as soon as a player get's into position for a "real" serve (again stationary, open, free hand).

indeed many players cup up, and isn't open fully.
when there is a cup, the ball won't move.
so its all individual preferences

 

[lodro]

If you observe the referees in their seat, they press a button on their touch pad, as soon as a player get's into position for a "real" serve (again stationary, open, free hand).

the way i observe it they press the button the very moment the ball has been tossed.
It might be different from ref to ref......

 

[tzifos]

Usually the pros notify the opponent when they are tossing the ball to check if lights or air-streams from the ventilation/aircondition bother them. I have seen doing this even after the match is started when they go to the other side of the table in the 2nd game.

 

[igorponger]

Hi guys,

Quick one;

If you throw the ball up to serve, make no attempt to play the ball, and then catch it on the descent, is that classed as an attempted serve, and thus a foul? I always assumed that the ball is in play as soon as it leaves the hand.

I can't even find anything in the ITTF rules about this.

Hi, dear
You're right, indeed. The ball is deemed in play as soon as it leaves the palm of your hand. You have to start playing then. Yes, there is a specific Rule regarding the opening action. Look it through carefully.





Be happy.

 

[d3nium]

Hi, dear
You're right, indeed. The ball is deemed in play as soon as it leaves the palm of your hand. You have to start playing then. Yes, there is a specific Rule regarding the opening action. Look it through carefully.

Be happy.

Indeed Igor. My friend @Tony's Table Tennis cleared this up earlier in the thread.