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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 the serve, can the server angle the ball so that it goes at such an angle that once it reaches the opponents side and bounces, it goes off the side of the table?

- submitted by "Thousands of Basement Players"

A: Requirements for a good serve are described in detail in Sections 2.6.1 through 2.6.7 in the booklet "ITTF Laws of Table Tennis". Except for doubles matches, neither of the subsections puts any limitations as to where the ball, which otherwise satisfies requirements for a good serve, may land on the receiver's court (including edges) or which direction it should leave it when it touches it. Consequently, it can land anywhere and bounce off the table in any direction.

- answered "for all time" by Paul Kovac - your friendly on-line USATT umpire