# Law 16: The Service (ITF Rules of Tennis)

Tennis · Law 16: The Service · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/tennis/laws/law-16-the-service/)

How a serve is made: standing still behind the baseline between the centre mark and the sideline, releasing the ball by hand and hitting it before it lands.

## 16.161 The Service

Where and how the server stands, releasing and hitting the ball, and the end of the service motion.

### Test 1: Making the serve

- The server stands behind the baseline, between the centre mark and the sideline. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The server starts from a standstill. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- Behind means on the far side of the line from the net. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The Rules do not fix the direction of the release. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The serve is struck from the air. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The motion ends at the swing, whether or not it makes contact. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- A player able to use only one arm may release the ball from the racket. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The motion begins from rest and ends at the swing. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- The racket replaces the hand for the release. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)
- B straddles the mark, C is inside the court and D is out wide of the singles court. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16)

Sources: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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