The Serve, Service Sequence, and Scoring Rules

4.A.1.
The entire score must be called before the ball is served.

4.A.2.
Placement
The server must serve to the correct service court (the court diagonally opposite the server). The serve may clear or touch the net and must clear the NVZ and the NVZ lines. The serve may land on any other service court line.

4.A.3.
If the serve clears the net or hits the net and then touches the receiver or the receiver’s partner, it is a point for the serving team.

4.A.4.
The moment the ball is served:

4.A.4.a.
At least one foot must be on the playing surface behind the baseline.

4.A.4.b.
Neither of the server’s feet may touch the court on or inside the baseline.

4.A.4.c.
Neither of the server’s feet may touch outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline.

4.A.4.d.
(Wheelchair) Both rear wheels must be on the playing surface behind the baseline and may not touch the court on or inside the baseline or outside the imaginary extensions of the sideline or centerline.

4.A.5.
The serve shall be made with only one hand releasing the ball. While some natural rotation of the ball is expected during any release of the ball from the hand, the server shall not impart manipulation or spin on the ball with any part of the body immediately prior to the serve. Exceptions: Any player may use their paddle to perform the drop serve (see Rule 4.A.8.a). A player who has the use of only one hand may also use their paddle to release the ball to perform the volley serve.

4.A.6.
In officiated matches, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the referee and receiver. In matches without a referee, the server’s release of the ball must be visible to the receiver. There is no fault if the release is not visible to the referee or receiver.

4.A.7.
The Volley Serve
The volley serve is made by striking the ball without bouncing the ball off the playing surface and can be made with either a forehand or backhand motion. A proper volley serve includes the following elements:

4.A.7.a.
The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc at the time the ball is struck with the paddle.

4.A.7.b.
The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest part of the wrist (where the wrist joint bends) when the paddle strikes the ball.

4.A.7.c.
Contact with the ball must not be made above the waist.

4.A.8.
The Drop Serve
The drop serve is made by striking the ball after it bounces on the playing surface and can be made with either a forehand or backhand motion. A proper drop serve includes the following elements:

4.A.8.a.
The server must release the ball from one hand only or drop it off the paddle face from any natural (un-aided) height.

4.A.8.b.
The ball shall not be propelled (thrown) downward or tossed or hit upward with the paddle.

4.A.8.c.
The restrictions on the Volley Serve in Rule 4.A.7 do not apply to the drop serve.

4.A.9.
Replay or Fault.
In officiated matches, the referee may call for a replay if they are not certain that one or more of the requirements of the serve has been met. The replay must be called before the return of serve. The referee shall call a fault if they are certain that one or more of the requirements of the serve, other than Rule 4.A.6, has not been met. In non-officiated matches, if the receiver determines that manipulation of spin has been imparted prior to the serve, or the release of the ball is not visible, the receiver may call for a replay before the return of serve. In non-officiated matches, the receiver has no authority to call for replays or faults for service motion violations.

4.A.9.a.
The remedies for service motion violations are as follows:

4.B.1.
Server and Receiver
The correct server and receiver and their positions are determined by the score and the players’ starting positions in the game.

4.B.2.
At the start of each game, the starting server begins the serve from the side of the court dictated by the score.

4.B.3.
Each player will serve until a rally is lost or a fault is declared against the player or team.

4.B.4.
As long as the server holds serve, after each point the server will alternate serving from the right/even and left/odd sides of the court.

4.B.5.a.
If the player’s score is even (0, 2, 4 ...), the serve must be made from the right/even serving area and be received in the right/even service court by the opponent.

4.B.5.b.
If the player’s score is odd (1, 3, 5 ...), the serve must be made from the left/odd serving area and be received in the left/odd service court by the opponent.

4.B.5.c.
After the server loses the rally or faults, a side out will occur and service is awarded to the opponent.

4.B.6.
Doubles.
Both players on a team will serve before a side out is declared, except at the start of each game, when only the starting server will serve. The starting server of each game is therefore designated as “Second Server” for scoring purposes, since a side out will occur once a rally is lost or a fault is committed by the serving team and service is awarded to the opposing team.

4.B.6.a.
At the start of each side out, service begins in the right/even serving area.

4.B.6.b.
When the team’s score is even (0, 2, 4 ...), the team’s starting server’s correct position is at the right/even serving area. When the team’s score is odd (1, 3, 5...), the starting server’s correct position is at the left/odd court.

4.B.6.c.
After each side out, service begins with the player correctly positioned on the right/even side of the court according to the team’s score. This player is referred to as “First Server” and the partner is “Second Server.”

4.B.6.d.
The First Server will serve, alternating service sides after each point is won, until a rally is lost or the server’s team commits a fault.

4.B.6.e.
After the First Server’s team loses a rally or faults, the Second Server will serve from the correct position and will alternate serving positions as long as the serving team continues to win points.

4.B.7.
Partner Positions
In doubles, with the exception of the server (see 4.A.4) there is no restriction on the position of any player, as long as all players are on their respective team’s side of the net. They can be positioned on or off the court. The correct server must serve from the correct service court, and the correct receiver must receive the serve.

4.B.8.
Before the serve occurs, any player may ask the referee for the score, who is the correct server or receiver or whether any player is in an incorrect position. A generic question such as “Am I good?” may be asked and shall be considered to encapsulate both the correct server question and the correct position question if asked by the serving team. For non-officiated play, a player may ask the opponent the same questions and the opponent shall respond with the appropriate information.

4.B.9.
When an incorrect player serves or receives, or a player serves from an incorrect position, the referee will immediately stop play and identify the fault(s).

4.B.10.
Incorrect Player or Position.
When an incorrect server or player position is discovered after a rally, game, or match has ended, the offending team can be faulted until the next serve occurs or prior to the scoresheet being returned to the tournament operation’s desk. A point scored during the rally by the offending team will not count. Any previous points scored by the incorrect server or with players in the incorrect positions will stand. After a match is completed, an incorrect player or position error may not be corrected after the scoresheet has been returned to tournament operations personnel.

4.C.
Readiness
Any player may indicate “not ready” prior to the start of the score being called.

4.C.1.
One of the following signals must be used to indicate “not ready”: 1) raising the paddle above the head, 2) raising the non-paddle hand above the head, 3) completely turning their back to the net.

4.C.2.
After the start of the score being called, “not ready” signals will be ignored, unless there is a hinder. A player or team out of position is not considered a hinder.

4.D.
Calling the Score
The score shall be called after the server and receiver are (or should be) in position and all players are (or should be) ready to play.

4.D.1.
In non-officiated play, the server normally calls the score, but the server’s partner may call the score if the server is unable to call the score. The person calling the score shall not change during the game unless there is a voice impairment.

4.E.
The 10-Second Rule
Once the score has been called, the server is allowed 10 seconds to serve the ball.

4.E.1.
If the server exceeds 10 seconds to serve, a fault will be declared.

4.E.2.
After the score has been called, if the serving team changes serving courts, the referee shall stop play, allow all players to reposition, and then recall the score to re-start the 10-second count. In a nonofficiated match, the server will allow for the same repositioning and will recall the score to re-start the 10 second count.

4.F.
Scoring
A singles player or doubles team scores points only when serving. Points may also be awarded when technical fouls are called against the opposing side and their score is 0.

4.G.
Points.
A point is scored by serving the ball and winning the rally.

4.H.
Winning the Game
The first side scoring the winning point wins.

4.I.
Calling the Score in Singles Matches
The proper sequence for calling the score is server score then receiver score as two numbers. (e.g., “one – zero.”)

4.J.
Calling the Score in Doubles Matches
The score is called as three numbers in doubles matches. The proper sequence for calling the score is: serving team’s score – receiving team’s score – the server number (one or two), (e.g., “zero – one – one”). To start each game, the score will be called as “zero – zero – two.”

4.K.
Wrong Score Called
If the wrong score is called, the referee or any player may stop play before the return of serve to correct the score. The rally shall be replayed with the correct score called. After the return of serve, play shall continue to the end of the rally and the score correction made before the next serve. After the return of serve, a player who stops play to identify or ask for a score correction will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally. A player who stops play at any time to identify or ask for a score correction when the score was correctly called will have committed a fault and shall lose the rally.

4.L.
Service Foot Faults
During the serve, when the ball is struck, the server’s feet shall:

4.L.1.
Not touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline.

4.L.2.
Not touch the area on the wrong side of the imaginary extension of the centerline.

4.L.3.
Not touch the court, including the baseline.

4.M.
Service Faults
During the service, it is a fault against the server resulting in loss of serve if:

4.M.1.
The server serves from the incorrect serving area.

4.M.2.
The incorrect player serves the ball.

4.M.3.
The served ball touches any permanent object before it hits the ground.

4.M.4.
The served ball touches the server or their partner, or anything the server or their partner is wearing or holding.

4.M.5.
The served ball lands in the non-volley zone which includes the NVZ lines.

4.M.6.
The served ball lands outside the service court.

4.M.7.
The served ball hits the net and lands inside the non-volley zone.

4.M.8.
The served ball hits the net and lands outside the service court.

4.M.9.
The server uses an illegal serve when performing the Volley Serve (as explained in Rule 4.A.7) or the Drop Serve (as explained in Rule 4.A.8).

4.M.10.
The server or their partner calls a time-out after the serve has occurred.

4.M.11.
A fault occurs when the server hits the ball to make the serve while the score is being called.

4.M.12.
The server violates any of the rules listed in Rule 4.A.4.

4.N.
It is a fault against the receiving team resulting in a point for the server if:

4.N.1.
The incorrect player returns the serve.

4.N.2.
The receiver or their partner is touched by or interferes with the flight of the ball before it bounces.

4.N.3.
The receiver or their partner calls a time-out after the serve has occurred.