Service time rules
Rules
Ken Matsuno Asked 2 years ago
Hi Alois,
Happy new year!
i have a question about services in the singles play.
One of my friends serves a serve immediately right after he loses a point or win. I don’t have much time to compose myself. Dose the server always control the timing for services? Am I allowed to ask him to slow down like giving me five seconds or so to be ready to receive his serves?
BTW, do you have a TT rule book on your website?
Thanks in advance
Alois Rosario Answered 2 years ago
Hi Ken,
The rule says that play should be continuous which doesn't specify any time. However, if you are being rushed and still being reasonable with the time between points then the server should wait till you are ready.
We have the basic rules on our site in the Table Tennis Rules section. Take a look through there.
Here is the relevant rule in the ITTF Handbook:
3.4.4 Intervals
3.4.4.1 Play shall be continuous throughout an individual match except that any player is entitled to:
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3.4.4.1.1 an interval of up to 1 minute between successive games of an individual match;
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3.4.4.1.2 brief intervals for towelling after every 6 points from the start of each game and at the change of ends in the last possible game of an individual match.
Recommended Video
Doubles Serving Rules
In this video we go over the somewhat complicated rules of serving for doubles in table tennis. There are a couple of extra rules for doubles that you don't apply to singles. In doubles you always serve from the right hand box diagonally to your opponent's right hand box. Each player has 2 serves each. If you've just been receiving then it's your turn to serve next.
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