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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: I would like to know whether or not it is mandatory (when serving) to serve inside the table. In other words, is the player permitted to serve off the side of the table?

- submitted by Justin Derringer on 31 March 97

A:The body of the server may be at the side of the table or inside the end-line provided the ball and the racket is behind the end-line AND ABOVE the level of the playing surface. And this has to be the case during the whole serving procedure, that is from the moment the ball is resting on the flat palm, until the contact with the racket. You can, in fact begin service with your arm and part of your free hand OVER the playing surface, provided the ball itself is clearly behind the end-line and above the plane of the playing surface.

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