Serve from beside the table

Magnus Johansson Asked 3 weeks ago

Hello! Is a player allowed to serve the ball from beside the table as long as the serve is behind the 1,525 m side of the table and above 76 cm?

Alois Rosario Answered 2 weeks ago

Hi Magnus,

Yes, a player is allowed to serve by standing beside the table, as long as they follow the correct service rules.

To be specific:

The ball must be struck from behind the end line (the 1.525 m side of the table).

The ball must be above the level of the playing surface (which is 76 cm high) when struck.

The server must throw the ball up from an open palm, near vertically, at least 16 cm.

The ball must remain visible to the opponent and the umpire throughout the service.

There’s no rule requiring the server to be directly behind the table or between the sidelines. You can legally stand beside the table and serve, as long as your hand and the ball are behind the end line at contact.