Home › Sports › Table Tennis › Serve

What is Serve in Table Tennis?

The point-opening stroke, tightly regulated: open palm, near-vertical toss of at least 16 cm, ball struck falling and visible throughout, bouncing on the server's side then the receiver's. Spin and disguise on serve set up the entire point.

Example: She varied heavy backspin and no-spin serves from an identical action.

Related terms

LoopTopspinBackspin (underspin)SidespinPushChopBlockSmash (kill)
Full Table Tennis guide