Catching a Ball Going Out (Pickleball)
Also known as: catching the ball in pickleball, catch a ball going out in pickleball, can I catch the ball in pickleball, stopping a ball before it lands out in pickleball, calling out before the ball lands in pickleball
No. If you catch or touch a ball before it lands, you lose the rally, even if it was clearly going out. Let it land first. Only a ball that has landed outside the court is out.
Under Rule 10.C.3, a ball in play that touches you or anything you wear or carry is a fault against you. Your paddle and your paddle hand below the wrist are the only exceptions. Catching the ball in your free hand, trapping it against your body or stopping it with a foot all count. It does not matter that the ball was heading far past the baseline.
You also cannot catch it on the paddle. Rule 12.C makes catching or carrying the ball on the paddle during a rally a fault. An out call only counts after the ball lands. Under Rule 8.F.4, a shout of "out" while the ball is in the air is talk between partners. It is not a line call.
Hitting the ball is a different choice. If you volley a ball that was going out, the rally continues and your shot must land in. Where it would have landed no longer matters. On high drives, many partners say "bounce it" or "no" to let it go. Step aside so it cannot touch you, then call it out once it lands.
Tips by skill level
Treat every ball as live until it bounces. Move your body out of the way and let it land.
Agree on a call with your partner, such as "bounce it," for drives you plan to let go. A clear word stops both of you from reaching for it.
Example
A drive sails toward your shoulder, clearly headed past the baseline. You catch it to save chasing it. That is a fault, and the rally goes to the hitter. Stepping aside and calling it out after it landed would have won the rally for your side.
Why it matters
This comes up often in casual games. Knowing the rule turns an argument into a quick, clear call.
Common mistakes
- Catching a ball that is obviously going out
- Calling "out" while the ball is still in the air and stopping play
- Letting a long ball hit your body instead of stepping aside
- Volleying an out ball and then claiming it was out
Frequently asked questions
Can I catch a ball that's going out in pickleball?
No. Catching it before it lands is a fault against you, even if it was going out. Let it land, then call it out.
If I hit a ball that was going out in pickleball, is it still in play?
Yes. Once you hit it, the rally continues and your shot must land in. You cannot claim afterward that it was going out.
Can I call a ball out before it bounces in pickleball?
Not as a line call. A shout of "out" while the ball is in the air is only advice to your partner. The call counts after the ball lands.
Sources
Related terms
- Ball Hits a PlayerIf 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Letting Out Balls GoLet hard balls go when they are still rising at your shoulders or higher, especially if they were hit from near the kitchen line or with a big swing. Those often land long. Keep your paddle low and out of the way, and have your partner call "no" or "bounce" early. If the ball touches you before it lands, you lose the rally.
Related guides & benchmarks
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