ITTF: Rule change is an improvement

ITTF comments on the new service rule

Monday, October 14, 2002

Lausanne, Switzerland, 1 October 2002. Having come into effect a little over a month ago the new service rule has now been used at several international events.
It seems like the majority of players agree with the intention of the change, but it also seems that there are still some doubts about the rule – and that some players are still trying to see how far they can go.

The service rule changed on the 1st of September in order to force players not to hide the ball with parts of their body at the moment the ball is struck.
Until now points could be decided directly on the service because the server could hide the ball and obstruct the view so that the receiver was not able to judge the spin.

The idea with the new rule is to make it easier for the receiver to see what kind of spin is put on the ball – in order to make the rallies longer and the game more spectacular.

Opinions on the new service rule:

Zoran PRIMORAC(CRO): “I think that returning services has become easier. Before you just had to take a chance trying to figure out the rotation by looking at the mark on the ball. Now instead you get the opportunity to look a the very service itself”.

KIM Kyung Ah (KOR): “For me it is an improvement. Now I see the ball all the way. However some players are still not serving correctly, it could be because they are tense and nervous”.

Umpire Maurie POOLE (AUS): “Players and umpires still have to get used to it, but I think services have been improved, even though some players still don’t remove their arm as they are supposed to. However nobody tries anymore to hide the ball with the body”.

“During the Japan Open I saw a lot of illegal services which were not called”, says umpire Piet van EGMOND (NED).

Not very clear

“I think the new rule is not very clear. Some players remove their arm very late – I am afraid that we will soon be back to where we were”, says Jorgen PERSSON (SWE).

“I am not winning so many points anymore directly on my own service. I think that some players are still going close to the limit or over the limits and violating the new rule”, says Mihaela STEFF (ROM).

Tamara BOROS (CRO): “Now I can see the ball when my opponent strikes it, and that is an improvement. However the question is also the impact on your own service. At the Women’s World Cup the Chinese went right to the limit. In my opinion they are challenging the new rule by removing the arm only immediately before they strike it. That gives them a better coordination in the service, but then the limit between a legal and an illegal service is not clear”.

“You will always find players who, especially at the end of the game, start serving illegally, players who are actually cheating”, says Kalinikos KREANGA (GRE).

World Cup winner ZHANG Yining (CHN) did not like the rule from the very beginning: “It has been difficult for me, but slowly I am getting used to it. Whether it has any impact on the game? I would like to wait a little before I say anything about that”.

Chinese national coach NI Xiao Dong: “We have followed the new rule for a few months in the Chinese league, and the interpretation differs from match to match and umpire to umpire. We will have to wait and see – but for sure some players will suffer more than others”, says NI. “Every time we make a change of rules, some specific players will be “sacrificed”.

Read what others have to say:

New Rules
by Roger Bertrand on 2/5/2003 5:39:00 PM

I have already commented on this. It is better. I would like a few top players to say what they think about best of 5 or 7.
I am worried that if the European team competitions ar played to the best of 3 sets; which makes the viewing time very short there will be no value for the spectators. The format of the competition needs changing. Otherwise there will be no one left to watch it!
Can someone tell me something is going to be done?
Thanks

TT service rule
by Roger Bertrand on 1/25/2003 3:01:00 PM

I think the new service rule is great. However, even at local level people are trying it on and not serving properly. I do hope that is going to improve the game and attract more viewers. Also, I would like to know what people think about playing in the best of 5, especially top players. From a viewer point of view, I think it is a waste of time; especially in a team competition where the winning team is the one to reach 3 sets first. Immagine some one spending £10 for a ticket and get only 45 minutes of TT because one team won 3-0. Either they play the best of 7, or include 1 or 2 doubles and play every match and each match wins a point for the team. It would make it a lot more interesting for the spectators, otherwise it will stay as it has been so far in the dark.
Could some one tell me how I could speak to a top table tennis player and top officials?
I love the game and I do not want to see it going down the drain.
More drama yes, but you must also give players something to battle for and something for spectators to watch.
Roger
Hilton TT Club development Officer.

Rule change
by Jacky on 10/17/2002 3:28:00 AM

TT is a great game for mankind in term of its aerobic and nerve assertive sport. To make it a popular game around the globe it needs to show to the world its beutiful ingredient and how to attain it. The cartoon tv. series depicting the charm and challenging dream sport as I have seen in other popular sports such as soccer, swimming, volley ball, basketball, will have a great weight to attract and encourage many young talents and entertain families right at home and eventually appreciate the TT as their future pursuit either as a player or loyal watcher. The TT communities around the globe and ITTF may have a try on this promotional activities. Whether the rule change is an improvement or not it definitely depend on the ultimate goal and the ability to syncronize that rule system to reveal its natural beauties in this marvellous sport.

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ITTF: Rule change is an improvement

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