How high must a table tennis service toss the ball before it is struck?

A table tennis server must toss the ball at least 16 centimetres vertically before striking it. The toss must begin from an open palm and be nearly straight upward.

This requirement was introduced to make the service more visible and reduce the advantage of hiding the ball with the hand or body. Before the modern service rules, players could use less transparent motions that made the ball’s trajectory difficult for the receiver to see.

The server must strike the ball as it falls, behind the end line and above the playing surface. The ball must first bounce on the server’s side and then on the receiver’s side in singles. In doubles, it must travel diagonally from the right half to the opponent’s right half.

A toss that is too low, deliberately spun from the hand, or hidden from the receiver can be judged an illegal service. The 16-centimetre figure is therefore a key technical detail, not a suggestion.