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Serve Basics

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ROOKIE TT

So as mentioned previously the serve is KEY. Here we talk about some basics of serving. We start with the rules. RESPECT THESE RULES. Respect yourself, your opponent, the sport. If you try and cut corners or even cheat on serving you will be found out eventually and called up by an opponent or umpire. This is embarrassing, awkward and will force you to change your technique mid-match and from then on. So learn the right and legal way from the start!

As a rookie to Table Tennis you can start with basic, legal forehand and backhand serves to get you going. But we do recommend moving on to the More Advanced Serves in our section. Some of them are not really that hard to do and you will be more effective quicker if you pick some of these ones up early.

RULES

These rules are set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and are designed to ensure fair play and consistency in the game. Here are the basic rules of serving in table tennis:

  1. The Serve Must Start from an Open Palm: The server must hold the ball in an open palm, with the ball's center resting in the flat of the hand. The ball must be visible to the opponent at all times during the serve.

  2. The Ball Must Be Tossed Vertically: The server must toss the ball vertically at least 16 centimeters (approximately 6 inches) into the air. The ball should be thrown nearly vertically, and it should not spin, curve, or move to the side during the toss.

  3. The Ball Must Be Struck Behind the End Line: The server must strike the ball behind the end line (the baseline) of the table. The server's hand and the ball must be above the level of the playing surface. The ball must be struck so that it first bounces on the server's side of the table and then clears the net to land in the opponent's side.

  4. The Ball Must Touch the Server's Court and Opponent's Court: The ball must bounce once in the server's side of the table and then once in the opponent's side. If the ball hits the net and goes over, it is called a "let," and the serve is retaken.

  5. The Ball Must Be Hit Continuously: The server must strike the ball continuously, and it should not be caught, thrown, or spun. The ball should be hit with the racket in one continuous motion.

  6. The Serve Must Be Legal: The serve should be delivered legally, without any hidden spins, excessive spin, or deceptive actions. It should be a straightforward and fair serve.

  7. Service Order: In singles play, each player serves for two consecutive points, and then it alternates. In doubles play, each team's player serves for two consecutive points, and then it alternates. So team 1 player A serves 2 serves, then team 2 player Y serves 2 serves, then team 1 player B serves 2 serves, and then team 2 player Z servers 2 serves and so on.

  8. Change of Service: The serve changes after each player or team has scored 11 points, except during the final game where the winner is the first to score 11 points with a margin of 2 points.

  9. Faults: Common service faults include not tossing the ball vertically, not striking the ball behind the end line, and not ensuring that the ball bounces in both the server's and opponent's courts. If a fault occurs, the opponent is awarded a point. No second serves in TT unlike Tennis (apart from a let).

BASIC SERVES

So as a rookie you can start with basic, legal forehand and/or backhand serves to get you going. These would be serves like the normal rally strokes forehand and backhands that you do. Get the ball in play and start enjoying the game!

Similar to the normal strokes you make with the serve you can make contact on the bottom of the ball, top of the ball, middle or side to impart spin.

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But please be aware that more effective, advanced but easily learnable serves DO exist and that effective serving is a key part of the sport and gains in this area can make a big difference to winning points, winning them more easily and progressing quickly in the sport. 

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Note rarely will you ACE an opponent in Table Tennis like you would in Tennis, however effective serving can either make the opponent fault into the net or off the table so you win the point, or it can make the opponent give you an easy next ball so you can win the rally then or get way ahead in the rally.

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A lot of the time the BALL WILL COME BACK! So make your serve and then get ready for your next shot, rather than admiring your serve! Crouch, get in ready position and be on the balls of your feet, bouncing and ready. By being ready if the opponent puts in a poor return you can seize on it, or if opponent puts in a good return you are ready then too and not off guard.

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Just by learning the forehand and backhand serves you in fact already get many different serves in your toolbox. This is because for each service stroke you use you can introduce many VARIATIONS. You can vary height, length, flight, spin, speed and placement for example.

 

If you have any practice time do not neglect to practice serves. Serve to different parts of the table. Hit your backhand serve with you standing from the centre of the table on your side if you want. Hit the forehand serve with you standing in the backhand corner and forehand corner. Go cross court, go down the line, serve to the opponents centre near their playing arm elbow.

 

See which serves you serve go where you want them to. Repeatable serves and reliable serves and important, you know where they are going and where the opponent is most likely to return it to. See which ones the opponents struggle with. Be accurate, be creative and have a plan. Note if you overuse one type of serve if might be effective at the start but then the opponent gets used to it. So then try something else, mix them up!

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