Ping Pong Service?

Question

Just wondering exactly how to legally serve. Someone told me you are supposed to bounce the ball, then hit it again on the way down, then another told me it didnt matter how you served as long as it hit your side prior to going over the net.

Answer 1

In game play, the player serving the ball commences a point. Standing behind the end of the table, with the ball in the palm of one hand and the racket in the other, the server tosses the ball without spin, upward, at least sixteen centimeters (approximately 6 inches).

He or she then must hit the ball such that it bounces once on his or her half of the table, and then bounces at least one time on the opponent’s half. If the ball strikes the net but does not strike the opponent's half of the table, then a point is awarded to the opponent. However, if the ball hits the net, but nevertheless goes over and bounces on the other side, it is called a let. Play stops, and the ball must be served again with no penalty. A player may commit any number of lets without penalty.

If the service is "good", then the opponent must then make a "good" return — by returning the ball before it bounces on his or her side of the table a second time. Returning the serve is one of the most difficult parts of the game, as the server's first move is often the least predictable.

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