Ball Hits a Player
Also known as: ball hits me in pickleball, ball hits my hand in pickleball, ball hits my paddle hand, ball hits paddle hand, nasty nelson, hit by the ball in pickleball, catching a ball going out, catch the ball before it lands
If a ball in play touches you or anything you wear or carry, you lose the rally. The exceptions are your paddle and your paddle hand below the wrist while it holds the paddle. This applies even if you are standing out of bounds and the ball would have landed out.
Under Rule 10.C.3, a ball touching a player or anything they wear or carry is a fault against that player. The paddle, and the paddle hand below the wrist while it holds the paddle, are the exceptions. Under Rule 10.C, a shot that touches an opponent before it lands is a good return. A ball that hits you while you stand behind the baseline is your fault, not an out ball.
The hand exception matters in hard exchanges at the net. A ball that hits your fingers while you grip the paddle counts as a legal hit. A ball that hits your free hand, your arm or your body is a fault. The rule covers your own side too. If your partner's shot hits you, your side loses the rally.
Serves have their own versions of the rule. A serve that hits the server or the server's partner is a fault on the server. A serve that hits the receiver or the receiver's partner before landing is a fault on the receiving side. Players call a serve that hits the receiver's partner a "Nasty Nelson." It is legal. Some players consider aiming one poor sportsmanship in friendly games.
Tips by skill level
When a hard ball is clearly going long, step aside or turn away and let it go. If it touches you, you lose the rally.
In fast hands battles, keep the paddle out in front of your body. A ball that catches your fingers on the grip is still a legal hit.
Example
A drive is heading well past the baseline. The receiver is behind the line. He flinches and it clips his shoulder. His team loses the rally. The ball hit him before it landed.
Why it matters
This rule surprises many newer players. It is why experienced players step aside from balls that are going out instead of blocking them with their body.
Common mistakes
- Catching or blocking a ball that is clearly going out
- Thinking a ball off the hand is always a fault, even when that hand holds the paddle
- Letting a ball hit you when you could have stepped aside
- Using the free hand to stop a ball near the net
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the ball hits me in pickleball?
You lose the rally. A ball that touches you, your clothing or anything you carry is a fault against you. The exceptions are your paddle and your paddle hand below the wrist.
If the ball hits me but I'm standing out of bounds, whose point is it?
It is a fault against you. A shot that touches an opponent before it lands counts as a good return, even if it was going out.
Is it legal if the ball hits my hand in pickleball?
It depends on the hand. If it hits the hand holding the paddle, below the wrist, it counts as a legal hit. If it hits your free hand or your arm, it is a fault.
What is a Nasty Nelson in pickleball?
It is a serve that hits the receiver's partner before it lands. It is legal. It is a fault against the receiving side, and the serving side wins the rally.
Can I catch a ball that's going out in pickleball?
No. Catching or touching a ball before it lands is a fault against you, even if it would have landed out. Let it bounce first, then pick it up.
Sources
Related terms
- Fault (General)A fault is any rule violation that immediately ends a rally, including serve errors, non-volley zone violations, out-of-bounds shots, and illegal contact. The side that commits it loses the rally. A fault by the receiving side scores a point for the servers, and a fault by the serving side loses the serve.
- Out of Bounds CallAn out-of-bounds call means a ball landed outside the court's sideline or baseline. Any part of the ball touching a boundary line counts as in, not out.
- ServeThe pickleball serve is an underhand stroke hit diagonally into the opposite service box, with contact below the waist and an upward arc. Under the two-bounce rule the striking side cannot follow it to the net, which makes depth and placement — not pace — the qualities that matter.
- VolleyA volley is any shot hit out of the air before the ball bounces. In pickleball it must be struck while standing outside the kitchen — the non-volley zone — making footwork and position as important as stroke mechanics.
- Carry (Illegal Hit)A carry is an illegal hit where the ball is scooped, slung, or held on the paddle face for an extended moment. It is not struck with a single, clean, distinct contact.
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