service judging question

**Gollum** · 10-14-2009, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by chrisnchips

the racket should be angled downward at least 30 degrees during contact of shuttle on service.

This isn't in the Laws. The racket only has to be pointing in "a downwards direction", which means "anything below horizontal".

**chrisnchips** · 10-14-2009, 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by Gollum

This isn't in the Laws. The racket only has to be pointing in "a downwards direction", which means "anything below horizontal".

true, but it should be obvious enough for people to tell.

**mhigham** · 10-14-2009, 02:33 AM

Originally Posted by chrisnchips

true, but it should be obvious enough for people to tell.

I think most people can tell the difference between horizontal and not horizontal.

As with height of contact, I think the players will be given a little bit of leeway as the advantage is marginal at best.

**forgeron** · 10-14-2009, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by mhigham

I think most people can tell the difference between horizontal and not horizontal.

As with height of contact, I think the players will be given a little bit of leeway as the advantage is marginal at best.

Agree with this, most people are accurate to less than a degree when judging horizontal or vertical- admittedly this is a static test not a moving racket.

As to leeway, its tough- at our club with have an 11year old on the national squad, I think all her serves are illegal, (I assume her coach dosen't) however here she is playing against adults and her illegal serves are still starting off lower than a legal adults. So for a variety of reasons I say nothing. Problem comes with some guys that copy her serving style and play drive serves- you can stand a foot behind the line and still get hit between the eyes if you miss them