Double Hit, Carry and Double Bounce (Rule)
Also known as: double hit in tennis, double hit tennis rule, is a double hit legal in tennis, carry in tennis, double bounce in tennis, volleying the serve, hit the ball twice in tennis
An accidental double hit in one swing is legal in tennis. Under ITF Rule 24, you lose the point only if you deliberately carry, catch or hit the ball twice. You also lose it if the ball bounces twice before you hit it, or if you volley the serve.
Rule 24 of the ITF Rules of Tennis lists the ways to lose a point. One is deliberately carrying or catching the ball on the racquet, or deliberately touching it more than once. The key word is on purpose. A double hit that happens by accident during one stroke is not on that list, so play goes on.
The same rule covers other common situations. You lose the point if the ball bounces twice before you return it. You lose it if you hit the ball before it has come over the net. As the receiver, you lose it if you hit the serve before it bounces. In doubles, you lose it if both partners touch the ball when returning it.
An accidental double hit does not count as a hindrance either. Under Rule 26, the opponent cannot claim a replay just because of it. In matches without officials, the player who double bounces or carries the ball should call it on themselves.
Tips by skill level
If you hit a ball twice by accident in one swing, keep playing. Call your own double bounces honestly.
Let a serve bounce, even if it looks long. Volleying it loses the point no matter where it would have landed.
Example
Stretching for a low ball, he catches it on the frame and strings in one stroke. It goes over and lands in. Because it was accidental, the point continues.
Why it matters
Knowing the double hit rule avoids arguments in club matches. It also tells you which calls you must make on yourself.
Common mistakes
- Stopping play after an accidental double hit
- Claiming a point when the opponent double hits by accident
- Not calling your own double bounce
- Volleying a serve that is clearly going long
Frequently asked questions
Is a double hit legal in tennis?
Yes, if it is accidental and happens in one stroke. ITF Rule 24 only makes you lose the point for a deliberate carry, catch or double touch.
What happens if the ball bounces twice in tennis?
The player who failed to return it before the second bounce loses the point. Call it on yourself in a match without officials.
Can I volley the serve?
No. If the receiver hits the serve before it bounces, the receiver loses the point, even if the serve was going out.
Sources
Related terms
- Ball Hits a Player (Rule)If the ball hits you, or anything you are wearing or carrying other than your racquet, before it bounces, you lose the point. That holds even if you are standing outside the court and the ball was clearly going out. Catching a ball in play before it bounces also loses the point. On the serve, if the ball hits the receiver or the receiver's partner before it lands. The server wins the point unless it was a let.
- Touching the Net (Rule)You lose the point if you, your racquet or anything you are wearing or carrying touches the net. The posts or your opponent's court while the ball is in play. Contact after the ball is dead, such as after a second bounce or once it has landed out, is fine. Your racquet may follow through over the net after you hit the ball on your side. You may not reach across to play a ball before it has come over.
- HindranceA hindrance is something that stops you playing a point fairly. If an opponent hinders you on purpose, you win the point. If it is accidental, like an opponent's hat or a ball falling from their pocket, the point is replayed. Stop play right away to claim it.
- Line Calls Without Officials (The Code)In matches without officials, each player calls the balls on their own side of the net, and any doubt goes to the opponent. Calls must be prompt and clear, out loud or with a hand signal. If an opponent makes a pattern of bad calls, The Code says you may contact an official.
- Tennis ScoringPoints in a tennis game go love (zero), 15, 30, 40, then game, and the server's score is called first. At 40-40, called deuce, a player must win two points in a row to take the game. The first to six games wins the set by two, usually with a tiebreak at 6-6, and matches are best of three or five sets.
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