Touching the Net (Rule)
Also known as: touch the net, touching the net, net touch, hit the net with my racket, reach over the net, reaching over the net, racket over the net, racquet over the net, jump over the net
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.
ITF Rule 24(g) says a player loses the point if the player. The racquet (in hand or not) or anything the player is wearing or carrying touches the net, net posts, singles sticks, cord, strap or band, or the opponent's court while the ball is in play. That includes a hat falling onto the tape or a racquet slipping out of your hand.
Timing is everything. The ball stays in play until the point is decided. If your frame brushes the mesh after the ball has bounced twice on the other side, or landed out, the point is already over. On the serve, if the racquet drops onto the cord while the served ball is still in play, the server loses the point. If the serve has already landed outside the service box, it is just a fault.
In doubles the rule covers both partners. If the receiver's partner makes contact before the serve lands outside the box, the receiving team loses the point.
You may not hit the ball before it has passed over to your side (Rule 24(h)). Your racquet may pass over on the follow-through after a legal hit on your side (Rule 25(e)). If the ball bounces on your side and then spins or blows back over, you may reach across to play it. Just avoid contact with the cord or the other court (Rule 25(b)). Running past the posts is allowed if you stay off the opponent's court. Jumping over into their court while the ball is in play loses the point.
Tips by skill level
After a close volley, stay balanced and stop short of the tape. If you do brush it, ask whether the ball was still in play.
On high balls up close, let the ball cross before you hit it, then follow through freely. The follow-through may carry over to the other side.
Example
Sam punches a winning volley, and his momentum carries him into the tape only after the ball has bounced twice on the other side. The point is his. A week later he brushes the mesh while the ball is still in play and loses the point.
Why it matters
Contact calls decide close points up front at every level. Knowing exactly when the ball is in play helps you call it fairly and avoid giving points away.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a touch counts after the ball has already bounced twice
- Reaching across to volley a ball before it comes over
- Assuming a follow-through onto the other side is illegal
- Forgetting that a hat or a dropped racquet landing on the cord also counts
Frequently asked questions
Can I touch the net after hitting the ball?
Not while the ball is still in play. Contact before the point is over loses it; once the ball has bounced twice or gone out, brushing the tape does not matter.
Can your racquet go over the net in tennis?
Yes, on the follow-through after you hit the ball on your own side. You cannot reach across to hit a ball before it comes to you, unless it bounced on your side and spun or blew back over.
What happens if my racquet touches the net on the serve?
If it makes contact while the serve is still in play, you lose the point. If the serve has already landed outside the service box, it is only a fault.
Can you jump over the net in tennis?
Not while the ball is in play; jumping into your opponent's court loses the point. You may run around the posts outside the court, as long as you stay off their side.
Sources
Related terms
- Volley TechniqueVolley technique is the mechanics of striking the ball before it bounces. It uses a short, firm punch action rather than a full groundstroke swing.
- Overhead / SmashThe overhead (or smash) is a serve-like stroke struck above the head to put away a lob, demanding quick shoulder turn, a trophy-position racquet path, and aggressive pronation through contact.
- 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.
- 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 Court DimensionsA tennis court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long. It is 27 feet (8.23 m) wide for singles and 36 feet (10.97 m) wide for doubles. As a result, each doubles alley adds 4.5 feet. The net is 3 feet (0.914 m) high at the center and 3.5 feet (1.07 m) at the posts. The service lines are 21 feet (6.40 m) from the net.
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