Ping Pong Serving Rules for the End of a Table

Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is a recreational sport most often played in family basements as a light form of competition. It is similar to tennis, only on a much smaller scale. Though it is a simple game, there are specific rules regarding legal serves that must be followed to score properly.

  1. Position of Hands

    • Whether in doubles or singles, the player serving should hold the paddle with his dominant hand, and the ball should rest flatly on the other. For example, if a player is right handed, he should place the ball on the open palm of his left hand, with the paddle in right hand just a few inches behind and above the ball. The act of serving requires tossing the ball up lightly, just a few inches, and striking it with the paddle. It is illegal to put any spin on the ball when serving.

    Position Behind Table

    • It is illegal to serve a ball if either hand is directly above the table. Serves should be made from behind the table. Any distance the server decides is up to him, he may leave himself an inch of clearance or over a foot. If it is a game of doubles, the server must be on the right side. He must hit the ball across the center line onto the receiving team's right side. In singles, the server may disregard the center line and direct his serve onto any area of the table as long as he is behind the edge of the table.

    Penalties

    • If a server breaks any of the good service rules, a point is awarded to the receiving side. However, in less-restrictive games, rules may be bent to make exceptions for players with physical disabilities. For example, if the server has a shaky hand that he or she cannot control, it may be allowable to use fingertips to hold the ball for serving. It helps to have someone act as an official umpire to make sure both sides are complying with the service rules.