Contact point during service

Table Tennis Rules

Last updated 1 year ago

Jai Motishaw

Jai Motishaw Asked 1 year ago

The rule that contact point of ball and racket while serving has to be beyond the table as well as above the table is undisputed. 

However, at my local club, it is also a rule that while one may stand further out of the table sides and serve, the contact point of ball and racket cannot be beyond the sides of the table, it has to be within the tables side white Lines.

I looked up the ITTF rules and there is no mention about NOT being able to serve with contact point outside the table's sides, only mentions has to be behind the table edge and above table height.

Is my local club correct with this rule that contact point cannot be from beyond the sides of the table? 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 1 year ago

Hi Jai,

You are allowed to serve from beyond the side lines as long as it is behind the line of the table.

You might have to set them straight.


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Thoughts on this question

D K

D K Posted 1 year ago

The ball can be hit outside the table sides,but it has to cross the endline between them,isnt it like that ?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 1 year ago

Hi DK,

It doesn't need to cross either end line just needs to be hit from behind the extension of the end line.



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