United States (US) Smash 2026, Los Angeles, California, USA 26 Jun - 5 Jul 2026

[NextLevel]

I'd like to share some information that I think is worth considering in the debate over the umpire's enforcement of the service verticality rule, specifically in relation to the 30-degree toss tolerance when TTR (Table Tennis Review) is used.

During the 2026 ITTF Annual General Meeting held on 3 May 2026, (2 months ago) the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association proposed Proposition A-03, an amendment to Rule 2.6.2 of the Laws of Table Tennis (ITTF Handbook). The proposal sought to define what a "near-vertical toss" means in the context of service.

Their reasoning was that defining "near-vertical" is important to avoid ambiguity. They put forward that when Table Tennis Review is used, 30 degrees should be the defined standard. This threshold had been tested in tournaments by umpires and players since 2024, and according to their study, the majority of players agreed that 30 degrees should be the standard. Anything beyond 30 degrees, as recorded by TTR, would therefore constitute a service fault.

The proposal was to amend Rule 2.6.2 to read as follows:

A 75% vote from all Member Associations was required to approve the rule change. The amendment garnered 92.23% and therefore passed. This 30-degree definition, when measured by TTR, is now part of the ITTF Handbook, replacing the previous version, which contained no such definition.

For the video of the amendment, you may view the YouTube recording of the 2026 ITTF AGM, specifically from the 6:01:30 mark to the 6:09:25 mark.

- YouTube

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@M51

This is very much for you. Asians take their table tennis seriously lol.

 

[Oliverpool]

Ag

This mostly is not about the resolution of measurement. 30 degree is the cut off point. Under 30 degree is legal, and over 30 degree is illegal. If the servers want to take the risk of serving very close to 30 degree, then it is his/her choice.

Totally agree. Like in long jump, the line is there but many jumpers do not go anywhere near that line leaving around 20cm gap usually. If they try to get close to it then a touch on that line means that jump
Is disqualified. It used to be some plastercine line and disqualification resulted if there is any indentation on the plastercine. But now they use
Laser and digital cameras and even if the shoe does not touch the line on the ground but goes pass the line, it’s still a disqualification. While previously it might be ok if the athlete shoe did not indent the plastercine line. No one complains as it is
Known to everyone and it applies to all.

Like Felix got penalise on a vertical throw at 30.05
And he just smiled. No argument. They all
Knew this ahead of time

 

[passifid]

Absolutely incorrect.
You have missed the point I am making.
Firstly, the rules are the rules, that much is clear.
Secondly, we are all just sharing opinions here.
Mine is, that to measure/attempt to measure a serve toss to the 100th of a degree in order to tell the player that they are compliant or not, is completely ridiculous.
The tolerance is 30°, we know that.
I am not saying that WTT/ITTF or any other rule making body should amend this, that is a separate conversation entirely.
But to say 30° is fine and then use technology that may or may not measure the ball track in order to perfectly measure to a degree of magnitude where 0.0333% deviation is deemed incorrect.
I think even the terminology needed to discuss this shows how ridiculous this is. 🤷

None of this means that someone ask for 30.7° to be deemed legal, that is a nonsense statement

But that is what you are asking for. They can measure to 0.1 degrees it's not hard with mocap. So you're asking for rounding to nearest degrees means that 30.4 is now the limit instead of 30.0
But this kind of ooh but your honour it was only out by 0.2 you've ruined the flow of the match now means people complain at 30.5-30.7 instead of 30.1-30.4
Don't think about emotions think about logic you're just asking the line to be moved by a bit. If you think they can only measure to 1 whole degree then why not 31 is ok because maybe it is really 30 (or 32?)

 

[M51]

@M51

This is very much for you. Asians take their table tennis seriously lol.

Well, that settles it, coming January 01 2027, the 30 degree thing will be officially codified.

 

[piligrim]

ALso umpires should be limited to two chances for wrong calls as well. That umpire on the Lind-WCQ match picked on Lind in my opinion especially on the second call.

Umpire who did two wrong calls should get yellow card

 

[d3nium]

Sidorenko is probably my 2nd fav player to watch after Gauzy. I'm in love with his forehand. 🤩

 

[d3nium]

Any chance we can move the service stuff to another thread and stay on topic here? 🙏

 

[NetProphet]

But that is what you are asking for. They can measure to 0.1 degrees it's not hard with mocap. So you're asking for rounding to nearest degrees means that 30.4 is now the limit instead of 30.0
But this kind of ooh but your honour it was only out by 0.2 you've ruined the flow of the match now means people complain at 30.5-30.7 instead of 30.1-30.4
Don't think about emotions think about logic you're just asking the line to be moved by a bit. If you think they can only measure to 1 whole degree then why not 31 is ok because maybe it is really 30 (or 32?)

I'm not thinking about emotions, I think your the one who emotionally invested in this.
My point is clear.
If you think measurement to 1/100th of a degree makes sense then good for you.
I think it's absolutely stupid. My emotions have nothing to do with it.

 

[zeio]

I'd like to share some information that I think is worth considering in the debate over the umpire's enforcement of the service verticality rule, specifically in relation to the 30-degree toss tolerance when TTR (Table Tennis Review) is used.

During the 2026 ITTF Annual General Meeting held on 3 May 2026, (2 months ago) the Hong Kong Table Tennis Association proposed Proposition A-03, an amendment to Rule 2.6.2 of the Laws of Table Tennis (ITTF Handbook). The proposal sought to define what a "near-vertical toss" means in the context of service.

Their reasoning was that defining "near-vertical" is important to avoid ambiguity. They put forward that when Table Tennis Review is used, 30 degrees should be the defined standard. This threshold had been tested in tournaments by umpires and players since 2024, and according to their study, the majority of players agreed that 30 degrees should be the standard. Anything beyond 30 degrees, as recorded by TTR, would therefore constitute a service fault.

The proposal was to amend Rule 2.6.2 to read as follows:

A 75% vote from all Member Associations was required to approve the rule change. The amendment garnered 92.23% and therefore passed. This 30-degree definition, when measured by TTR, is now part of the ITTF Handbook, replacing the previous version, which contained no such definition.

For the video of the amendment, you may view the YouTube recording of the 2026 ITTF AGM, specifically from the 6:01:30 mark to the 6:09:25 mark.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

And here is more on the history of TTR's choice of 30° as the standard.
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/wtt-handbook-2026-additions-changes.38588/post-565938