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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: During a recent match, I was serving and after projecting the ball upward from my flat palm I bumped it with my nose. I awarded the point to my opponent - should I have perhaps declared a let instead?

- submitted by PandaMan

A: You were correct to have awarded the point to your opponent. The ITTF rule 2.6.2 clearly states that after the toss the ball must not touch anything before being struck (meaning, struck by the racket held in the racket hand). Many players who like to use high-toss serves do not realize that if they toss too high, and the ball hits the ceiling, it is not a let, but a point to the opponent. This may look strange, in these times when there is so much complaint about not high enough toss, but it is true.

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