A legal table tennis serve has requirements for each stage of its sequence. Check the start, toss, visibility, contact and bounces against Law 2.6 in the ITTF 2026 statutes.
This is an introductory checklist, not an umpiring qualification. The law contains the wording and conditions that determine an official decision.
Follow one stage of the serve at a time when learning the sequence. Starting position, toss, visibility and contact each give the observer something specific to watch. The rule’s wording can then be connected with a manageable part of the movement.
Follow the sequence
- Begin with the ball resting freely on the open palm of a stationary free hand.
- Toss it near vertically without adding spin, so it rises at least 16 cm after leaving the palm.
- Strike the ball as it falls, after it has fallen without touching anything.
- Keep it above table height and behind the end line from the start of service until the strike.
- Keep the ball visible to the receiver and remove the free arm and hand from the space between ball and net after the toss.
The ball must first touch the server’s court and then the receiver’s. In doubles the required bounces are in the respective right half-courts. That placement requirement applies to doubles; the singles serve follows its own applicable conditions.
Practise checking one stage at a time
An ordinary practice sequence gives the observer time to follow each stage of the action. Begin by examining the starting hand, then the toss, then what the receiver can see. A side view alone cannot necessarily establish every visibility requirement.
Review the relevant part of the serve
For an official incident, identify the relevant part of the law and check whether the available view shows the detail needed for a decision. The checklist is useful because it separates questions; it does not remove the role of the umpire or the need for the complete sequence.
Review a serve stage by stage
A practical observation sheet can use one row each for the initial ball position, toss, visibility, contact and table bounces. Put the relevant rule wording beside the row being practised. This makes the checklist usable during a slower demonstration.
For an example focusing on the toss, observe the starting hand and the ball’s rise before considering the later bounce. For an example focusing on visibility, choose a view relevant to what the receiver can see. Different questions can need different observation positions.
Handle an incomplete view
A side recording might show part of the toss clearly while leaving the receiver’s line of sight uncertain. Mark those observations separately. The clear part can still be useful for learning, with another angle or the official decision supplying information for the remaining question.
| Stage | Review question |
|---|---|
| Start | Is the required starting position visible? |
| Toss | Can its relevant movement be assessed? |
| Visibility | What could the receiver see? |
| Contact and bounces | Does the view show the required sequence? |
For doubles, use the applicable placement requirement stated in the law; keep singles examples separately labelled. A practice checklist helps follow the rule, while an official decision depends on the complete circumstances and the umpire’s role under the rules.
A practice partner can observe one stage while the server repeats an ordinary sequence. Discuss what was visible and which detail needs another look, with the rule available beside the exercise. A recording can also help when its angle shows the relevant part of the action.
Sources consulted
- ITTF Statutes 2026, clean consolidated version — ITTF; consulted 3 November 2026.