Paul Kovac

See if you can Stump the Ump... E-mail questions to Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire. Please note: Questions which have answers that are easily found by consulting the rules may not merit a reply.

Q: I read the service rules require a player to hold the ball stationery in their flat open palm and them to project it up near vertically at least 6 inches in the air. Must all this must be capable of being seen by the umpire or assistant umpire? Can a server use his forearm to block the opponent's view of a tossed ball during service?

- submitted by Randy Brooks

A: There is no requirement by the rule that the ball or racket must be visible to the umpire or the assistant umpire. And yes to your second question - a server can use his forearm to block the opponent's view of a tossed ball during service!

- answered by Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire