Serve

Also known as Service.

The opening shot of a table tennis game, which is performed by the server. The serve begins with the ball being thrown up from palm of hand at least 16 cm (6 inches) and struck by the racket as it falls. When struck, the ball must be above the level of the playing surface.

In singles play, the ball is struck from behind the endline and must hit the playing surface on the server's side of the table first (and only once), before going over or around the net, and then bouncing on the opponent's side of the playing surface.

In doubles play, the server must hit the ball so it bounces in the right half of their court, and then the right half of the opponent's court (i.e. diagonally across the table).