Can you double fault in ping pong

Intention of the Service Rules. Nothing seems to generate more arguments and controversy in ping-pong than the service rules. The ITTF are constantly tweaking the service rules in an attempt to give the receiver a better chance of returning the serve. Previously a good server could dominate the game by hiding the contact of the ball, making it nearly impossible for the receiver to read the spin on the ball and make a good return. Keeping in mind that the intention of the service rules is to give the receiver the ability to see the ball at all times in order to have a fair chance of reading the spin, here is the nutshell version of the service rules.

You'll see it's still a pretty big nut though! I've got a more in depth explanation of how to serve legally in table tennis , with diagrams and videos, for those of you who want a bit more help.

Visibility of the Ball During the Service. The ball must always be visible to the receiver throughout the serve - it must never be hidden. This makes it illegal to drop your hand below the table when serving, or put any part of your body between the ball and the receiver when serving. If the receiver can't see the ball at any point, it is a fault. This is why the rules tell the server to get his free arm out of the space between the ball and the net.

Ball Toss. The ball must be thrown upwards without any spin, and nearly vertically this means within a few degrees of vertical, not the 45 degrees that some players still believe is acceptable. Umpires are more concerned about having no spin on the ball, then they are about having a perfectly open hand. The ball must rise at least 16cm, which is actually not all that high if you check it out on a ruler.

One important thing to note is that it must rise at least 16cm from the hand, so lifting the ball up with your hand to your shoulder, throwing it 2cm high and then hitting it on the way down is not OK!

Contact with the Ball. The ball must be on the way down when serving - no hitting it on the way up! The ball must always be above the playing surface, and behind the endline during the service. This includes the time of contact. Note that it is not a requirement that the bat must always be visible, so you can hide the bat under the table if you wish. Warnings and Faults. The umpire does not have to warn a player before calling a fault.

This is only done where the umpire is doubtful about the legality of the serve. If the umpire is sure the serve is a fault, he is supposed to call a fault straight away. Furthermore, the assistant umpire is not allowed to give service warnings at all, so he will either call fault if he believes the serve is illegal, or say nothing if he thinks the serve is legal or doubtful.

Point If you have been warned for a doubtful serve eg a forehand serve that was possibly hidden , and then you serve a different type of doubtful serve eg a backhand serve that may not have risen 16cm from your hand , you do not get another warning.

The umpire should call a fault straight away. Can my serve bounce more than once on my opponent's side of the table? Your browser will not play this video. The Laws of Table Tennis The basic rules of table tennis If you're just starting to play and you need to know the basic rules of table tennis , you'll find them here The official rules of table tennis The official rules of table tennis are known as The Laws of Table Tennis Table tennis table dimensions What size is a table tennis table?

Do you know what the official rules say about the size dimensions of a table tennis table? What do the rules say about your racket? Do you know what the rules say about your racket? What size can it be? Which colours are allowed?

When can you change your racket? Find out here What do the rules say about the serve? The table tennis serve is one of the most controversial aspects of the game. Make sure you know the service rules. Read them here Frequently asked questions about the serve The service rules are very complex, so let's answer some of the most frequently asked questions. What is a good return? What do the rules say about a good return?

Can you use your hand to play a shot? What happens if you touch or move the table? When is the ball in or out? What do the table tennis rules say about the ball hitting the white lines, net or edges of the table?

Is the ball in or out? What do the rules say about playing doubles? Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Greg Letts. Greg Letts is a world-ranked table tennis player and an Australian Level 1 table tennis coach.

Featured Video. Fault : A fault in table tennis is the failure of the server to make a good service according to the Laws of Table Tennis. Block: A defensive play in the game that is used to combat loops and smashes in order to keep the ping - pong ball on the table. The ball must not be hidden from the receiver at any time during the service.

This means that hiding the ball with your torso is illegal , and shielding the ball with the free hand or free arm is also illegal. It also means that you cannot put your racket in front of the ball before it struck. What if the ping pong ball hits you? If you do this, and you obstruct the path of the ball whether it's with your paddle or any part of your body , your opponent will be awarded with a point. The only situation where you can still win the point by hitting the ball before it bounces is if you hit the ball after it already passed the end line of the table.

How do you lose a point in table tennis? If it touches the net and lands on the floor, you lose a point. If the serve goes into the net, you lose the point. You serve until five points have been scored, and then the other player gets to serve for the next five points. At 20 to 20 you must win by two points , you alternate the serve after each point.