Is this a legal service delivery
Rules
MohdShukri MohdSaad Asked 12 years ago
I have a question, is it a legal service for someone to hold the bat in the right hand, toss the ball up in the air with the left hand, and then switch the bat to the left hand and deliver the service.
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi MohdShukri,
This is an interesting question but I feel that you are not allowed to because the start of the service rule says:
Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.
This would mean that you are not allowed to as it isn't on your free hand.
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MohdShukri MohdSaad Posted 12 years ago
Hi Alois, just address me as Shukri. I am from Malaysia. The question here is when is a hand a free hand? And can you change your free hand?
I was watching a game between Timo Boll and another world player, in the midst of the rally, Timo Boll shift the bat from his left hand to the right hand and smash the ball. Timo Boll was awarded a point. Now, the argument is that during the start of the rally, Timo was using his left hand thus this was the playing hand and the right hand as his free hand. But upon changing the bat to the right hand, his left became the free hang while his right hand holding the bat is his playing hand. If this is not the case, why would Timo Boll been given the point upon the smash?
Now, if the argument above holds true for the service delivery question, shoulden the service be valid then as the above example shows that the playing hand and the free hand is interchangeable, depending on which hand the bat is at?
Would like to hear your opinion on this......
Thanks in advance Alois.
Hi Shukri,
That is why I was a little cautious with my answer. You are perfectly right with your logic. I have tried to get a clearer answer from a few umpires but haven't had a clear explanation as yet. I will keep trying to follow up.