Service vertical throwing
Rules
Il Ill Asked 9 years ago
Hi,Rosario.
How degrees is the legal rule for throwing of the ball in the air when the player serve?
Thank you in advance.
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Il,
The service rules in part says:
| 2.06.02 | The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards |
Also in the Handbook for Match Officials it has this:
10.3 Throwing the Ball
10.3.1 The server is required to throw the ball “near vertically” upwards and it must rise at least 16 cm after leaving his or her hand. This means it must rise within a few degrees of the vertical, rather than within the angle of 45 degrees that was formerly specified, and that it must rise far enough for the umpire to be sure that it is thrown upwards and not sideways or diagonally.
Go to this link and read more about it including some diagrams they have.
Go to the bottom of Page 14 to see the explanation.
Thoughts on this question
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Jean Balthazar Posted 9 years ago
Interesting. Thanks for the reference. I didn't think that the tolerance was that large and that you could legally throw the ball backward quite a lot, provided you lifted it high enough. Good to know !
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Yes it is an interesting interpretation.
Mark Jung Posted 9 years ago
I've definitely seen people doing backspin serves (the basic one with the arms tucked in) tossing the ball all the way over to the racket. I thought this was illegal (though rarely enforced), but I suppose maybe not?
Il Ill Posted 9 years ago
At 0:59 sec Ian An serve ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXZ6SJm5t8o
Is this legally ???
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Hi Il,
Yes this is the type of serve I am worried about. However watching this serve with the information we now have, it is definitely within the 45 degree limit. If you freeze it just after he has thrown the ball up you will see it is probably closer to 80 degrees on the throw up… Surprising.
Jean Balthazar Posted 9 years ago
If I may, the current text says that the 45° limit, which apparently was the law at some point in time, does no longer apply: "... it must rise within a few degrees of the vertical, rather than within the angle of 45° that was formerly specified." In diagram 10.3.1.1, the throw with an angle of 45° (D) is said to be unacceptable.
So we're back to the "near vertically" throw (the sole fact of using quotes is a confession of how subjective that wording is).
Just for the fun, I measured the angle of the example B, which is deemed to be acceptable: 22° (vertical being considered 0°), so half the previous limit.
Don't forget your protractor for your next match...
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Thanks Jean… Good to see someone has good reading comprehension. That is me trying to rush and skim through things. OK, so now I can get back on my high horse and rant about the service rule… So why are they allowing these serves? Have protractor… will rant!