What makes a serve good?

Under Rule 5.7, a serve is good if:

1. You drop or throw the ball from your hand or racket and strike it correctly, on the first or a further attempt, before it touches anything else.
2. When you strike it, one foot is in contact with the floor inside the service box, with no part of that foot touching the box's lines.
3. The ball goes directly to the front wall, hitting it between the service line and the out-line, and does not hit the front and side walls at the same time.
4. Unless the receiver volleys it, the ball first bounces in the opposite quarter-court without touching any line.
5. The ball is not out.

Any other serve is a fault and the receiver wins the rally. A serve that hits the service line, the short line, the half-court line or any line at the top of the court is a fault.

If you drop or throw the ball but make no attempt to hit it, that is not a serve and you can start again.