Out of Bounds Call
Also known as: out call, line call
An 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.
A ball is out of bounds if it lands entirely outside the sidelines or baseline without touching any part of the line. Because the line itself is considered part of the court, a ball that clips even the edge of a boundary line counts as in — the common shorthand is that "any part of the ball touching any part of the line" keeps it in play. This is the opposite of how some players intuitively expect close calls to go, and it is the single most disputed type of call in recreational pickleball.
In self-officiated recreational play, the receiving side of the court where the ball landed makes the out call, and the call should be made promptly, ideally before the ball is played further or before the returning shot is struck. A call made only after realizing the point was going poorly is generally considered too late and in poor form.
The non-volley zone line and center line follow the same in-counts-as-in principle for groundstrokes — it is only the volley restriction inside the kitchen that treats the line differently, not whether a bounced ball on that line is in or out.
Example
A hard crosscourt shot lands right on the edge of the sideline, kicking up a small amount of chalk dust or leaving a visible mark — because it touched the line, it is ruled in, not out.
Why it matters
Misjudging the line-touches-count-as-in rule is one of the fastest ways to give away points on shots that were actually good, especially on close sideline and baseline shots.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a ball that clips the line is out because it "looked close"
- Delaying an out call until after realizing the point is going the wrong way
Frequently asked questions
If a ball clips the line, is it in or out?
In. Any part of the ball touching any part of a boundary line counts as in, not out — the line is part of the playing court.
Who makes the out call in a casual match without a referee?
The player or team on the side of the court where the ball landed makes the call, and it should be made promptly, before the point continues further.
Related terms
- Line Call EtiquetteIn self-officiated play, the side of the court where the ball landed makes the call, benefit of the doubt goes to the opponent on close or unsure calls, and calls are made immediately, not after the fact.
- Baseline PlayBaseline play refers to deliberately staying near the back of the court, using drives and drops rather than advancing to the kitchen, often as a defensive or reset strategy.
- 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 — and it always costs the serving team the point or serve.
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