You Make the Call!
Here’s the Scenario:
You hit a ball with so much backspin that, upon going over the net, the ball comes back on your side without it ever being touched by your opponents. Who wins the rally?
It tends to spark confusion, laughter and bewilderment about what to do — particularly for those new to the sport of pickleball. You hit a shot with so much backspin that the ball goes over the net, lands in your opponent’s court and then, because of the excessive backspin imparted on the ball — or, perhaps because of the wind — comes back over onto your side of the net without it ever being touched by your opponents. Who wins the rally?
According to Rule #11.L.4 from the 2019 International Federation of Pickleball Official Tournament Rulebook, you do! The striking player wins the rally. Your opponents, in this case, must hit the ball before it bounces back on your side. Your opponents can, however, reach across the net and — without touching the net — hit the ball. If they touch the net, however, it would be a fault. Here’s what the official pickleball tournament rulebook has to say about this scenario.
2019 International Federation of Pickleball — Official Tournament Rulebook
Rule #11.L.4:
If a player hits the ball over the net into the opponent’s court, and then the ball bounces back over the net without being touched by the opponent, the striking player wins the rally.
Rule #11.I.1:
If the ball bounces into a player’s non-volley zone with enough backspin as to cause it to return over the net, the player may reach over or around the net to hit the ball but may not touch the net system or the opponent’s court. If the player does not touch the ball, the team that last struck the ball wins the rally.
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Thanks for sharing these “Rules” clarifications. I’ve provided your email information to our club members. Hopefully, some are taking advantage of this great forum.
Thank you so much, Sarah, for sharing with your club members. I really appreciate that! See you on the courts!
Rule #12.J.4:
If a player hits the ball over the net into the opponent’s court, and then the ball bounces back over the net without being touched by the opponent, the striking player wins the rally.
What if the ball that bounces back over the net goes out of bounds?
Hi Amber, Good question. In this example, it would still be the point of the striking player. Hope that clarifies it for you. See you on the courts!
After hitting a ground stroke close to the net (on my side) , can i follow through over or past the net? And on any shot, can the person striking the ball (on there own side) continue past the net? Or is that a distraction ?
Good questions, Jim. Rule #12.H. addresses the first question: “…A player, or anything the player is wearing or carrying, may not cross the plane of the net (or the extension of the net beyond the posts) except when striking the ball.” Rule #12.J.3. addresses the second question, “The player is also allowed to go around the net post and cross the imaginary extension of the net so long as he or she does not touch the opponent’s court.”