Rule 4 - THE SERVICE

Idea by Clive Pollard

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This Rule is rather complicated. Check out our Rule 4 explanations before or after reading the complete Rule below. Each point for which an explanation is given is shown by a hyperlink to that particular section. Our suggested changes to original WSF text are indicated in italics.

4. THE SERVICE

4.1 Play commences with a service and the spin of a racket decides the right to serve first. Thereafter, the server ('hand-in') continues to serve until losing a rally, whereupon (the server becomes 'hand-out' and) the opponent becomes the server, and this procedure continues throughout the match. At the start of the second and each subsequent game, the winner of the previous game serves first and is called 'hand-in'.

4.2 At the beginning of each game and each hand, the server shall choose from which box to serve and thereafter shall serve from alternate boxes whilst remaining the server. However, if a rally ends in a let, the server shall serve again from the same box.
If the server moves to the wrong box or a player is uncertain of the correct box for serving, the Marker shall announce the correct box. The Referee shall indicate the correct box if the Marker is uncertain, or incorrect, or there is a dispute.

4.3 To serve, a player shall release the ball from either a hand or the racket and then strike the ball. Should the server make no attempt to strike the ball after that release, the server shall release the ball again for that service.

4.4 A service is good if all the conditions in Rules 4.4.1 - 4.4.5 are met:

4.4.1 The server has part of one foot in contact with the floor within the service box without any part of that foot touching the service box line (part of that foot may project over this line if it does not touch the line) at the time of striking the ball.

4.4.2 The server, after releasing the ball for service, strikes it correctly on the first or further attempt before the ball falls to the floor, touches a wall, or touches anything the server wears.

4.4.3 The server strikes the ball directly onto the front wall between the service and out lines.

4.4.4 Unless volleyed by the receiver, the first bounce of the ball on the floor is in the quarter-court opposite the server's box without touching the short or half-court lines.

4.4.5 The server does not serve the ball out.

"not up" for Rule 4.4.2;

"fault" for Rule 4.4.3 if the ball strikes a side wall first or the front wall on or below the service line but above the board;

"down" for Rule 4.4.3 if the ball strikes on or below the board or on the floor;

"fault" for Rule 4.4.4;

"out" for Rule 4.4.5.

  Read explanations

In our opinion, it is now completely unnecessary to have this mixture of calls for the same situation. They all mean the same thing - the server has served the ball incorrectly and it is hand-out ! We should concentrate on just calling "out" (or "down").

4.5 The server must not serve until the Marker has completed calling the score. The Marker must call the score without delay. If the server serves or attempts to serve before the Marker completes calling of the score, the Referee shall stop play and ask the server to wait until the Marker has completed calling the score.

Continue ?

Read on - Rule 5

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