In table tennis, the server must toss the ball at least 16 cm from an open palm and strike it on the way down. The ball must bounce once on the server’s side and then once on the receiver’s side. These table tennis serve rules apply to every rally. The right to serve alternates every two points, and after every point from 10–10 onwards. This guide outlines the key requirements in a clear and factual manner.
Table Tennis Serving Rules Step by Step
The table tennis serving rules are set out in the ITTF Handbook and apply at every level of play. The service begins with the ball resting freely on the open, flat palm of the server’s stationary free hand. The free hand must be still before the toss begins. From the start of the service until it is struck, the ball must remain behind the end line and above the level of the playing surface. The server then projects the ball near-vertically upwards without imparting spin, so that it rises at least 16 cm after leaving the palm and falls without touching anything before being struck.
The ball is struck as it falls. Throughout the service, the ball must not be hidden from the receiver by the server or their doubles partner, or by anything they wear or carry. Finally, the ball must bounce once on the server’s side and once on the receiver’s side.
Lets on Serve
If the ball touches the net assembly during a serve but otherwise lands correctly on the receiver’s side, the rally is a let and the serve is replayed. There is no limit to the number of lets a player may serve, and a let does not cost a point. A serve that touches the net assembly and then fails to land correctly on the receiver’s side is a fault, and the receiver wins the point. Lets are neutral interruptions rather than faults. Each time a let is called, the server repeats the service under the same conditions, much like a let on a serve in tennis.
Unlike tennis, there is no second serve: a faulty serve loses the point. A serve is also replayed if the receiver wasn’t ready and didn’t try to return it.
How Often Do You Change Serve?
Under standard rules, the serve alternates every two points until the score reaches 10–10. If both players or pairs reach 10 points, the sequence changes: the serve then alternates after every point until one side leads by two. Games are played to 11 points, and a game must be won by a margin of at least two points (see our table tennis scoring rules). This means a game can continue beyond 11 points, for example to 12–10 or 15–13, with the serve alternating after every point. The sequence gives each side equal serving opportunities. The table tennis serving rules on service rotation apply equally in singles and doubles, although the identity of the server changes according to the doubles order.
Doubles Serving Rules
The table tennis serve rules for doubles differ from singles in two key ways: direction and order. In doubles, the serve must travel diagonally from the server’s right half-court to the receiver’s right half-court. The serving order also rotates in a fixed sequence. At the start of each game, the serving pair chooses who serves first. In the first game of a match, the receiving pair decides who receives first; in later games, the first receiver is the player who served to the first server in the previous game. The first server serves to the receiver for two points; the player who has just received then serves to the partner of the previous server for two points, and the rotation continues in this way. Both pairs must follow this order throughout the game.
Common Service Faults
A service fault gives the point to the receiver. Common faults include hiding the ball from the receiver at any point during the service; projecting the ball less than 16 cm upwards; imparting spin during the toss; failing to keep the ball above table level and behind the end line; striking the ball on the way up rather than as it falls; and serving the ball directly onto the receiver’s side without it first bouncing on the server’s own side. The table tennis serving rules also require the server’s free hand to be open and flat, and the ball to rest freely on the palm before the toss.
Basic Table Tennis Rules
Beyond the serve, a game is won by the first player or pair to score 11 points, provided they lead by two. Matches are commonly played as the best of five or seven games, including in events such as the TT Elite Series. A ball that touches the top edge of the table is in play. Volleying (striking the ball before it bounces on one’s own side) is not permitted and results in a point to the opponent. A service fault directly affects the score. A clear grasp of these provisions helps players and spectators follow the game accurately. These table tennis rules provide the framework within which the service regulations operate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high must you toss the ball in table tennis?
The ball must rise at least 16 cm after leaving the free hand, and the toss must be near-vertical without spin. Umpires check it closely.
Can you serve anywhere in singles?
Yes. Under the table tennis serve rules for singles, the serve may land anywhere on the receiver’s side. The diagonal requirement applies only in doubles.
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