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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: One of your answers last year stated that a ball served under his leg was legal.   Is that serve still really legal?

- submitted by Anonymous

A: In order to answer the question, we have to consider the service rule in its entirety, and when even one requirement, out of many, of the rule is not satisfied, the service is illegal.

The rule requires that:
"A" : From the start of service until it is struck, the ball shall be above the level of the playing surface and behind the server's end line, and it shall not be hidden from the receiver by the server or his doubles partner and by anything they wear or carry.

2.06.01 Service shall start with the ball resting freely on the open palm of the server's stationary free hand.

Considering "A", the player is supposed to hold the palm - with the ball resting on it - above the plain of the table and behind the end line.

2.06.02 The server shall then project the ball near vertically upwards,......

Thus, the rule requires that 2.06.01 is followed by 2.06.02. It does not allow, after satisfying 2.06.01, to first go with the hand under the leg and then toss the ball. Also, even if someone, applying unusual calisthenics while carrying the ball under the leg, would manage to carry the ball under the leg and keep the ball on open palm above the plain of the table and behind the end line, there would be a moment when the opponent's view of the ball would be blocked.

Consequently, taken into account all the above, we have to conclude that the under the leg serve is always illegal.

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