You Make the Call!
Here’s the Scenario:
The ball lands close to the line. You call the ball “out.” Your partner calls the ball “in.” Replay the point? What’s the call?
It happens all the time. Your pickleball nemesis hits a shot that lands really close to the line. You clearly saw the ball “out.” Or maybe — just maybe — you were hoping that the ball would be out. However, your partner calls it “in.” What do you do? Overrule your partner and take the point? Certainly a tempting option. Replay the point? Seems logical. Give the benefit of the doubt to your opponents? Yikes — after all, it is your nemesis.
It has been my experience that many will inappropriately replay the point. In this scenario, however, the point should not be replayed. Rather, the benefit of the doubt should be given to your opponents. So, in this case, grit your teeth and give the benefit of the doubt to your nemesis — and hope and pray they’ll do the same for you!
2019 International Federation of Pickleball — Official Tournament Rulebook
Rule #6.D.3:
The opponent gets the benefit of the doubt on line calls made. Any ball that cannot be called “out” will be considered “in.” A player cannot claim a “let” because the ball was not seen or there is uncertainty.
Rule #6.D.9:
In doubles play, if one player calls the ball “out” and the partner calls it “in,” then doubt exists and the team’s call will be “in.”
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Your opponent serves ball to you, you return the serve but your playing partner calls the serve long or out of bounds. Does play continue ?
Hi Sam,
The serve would be considered out as long as the call is made “instantly.”
Hope that helps!
A related question:
Your opponent serves ball to you, you return the serve because you think it’s in but your partner calls the serve long. The other team does not return the ball, stopping playing, because they heard your partner’s out call. Who gets the point? Is there a replay?
Hi Jason, According to the rules, there would be no replay in this instance. If your partner called the ball “out,” but you thought the ball was “in,” then the rally would be awarded to your opponents since they stopped playing at your partner’s “out” call. Because you “disagreed” with your partner, doubt exists and the benefit of the doubt goes to the opponent. Hope that helps.