Serving, scoring & those close calls
Understand service lets, tiebreak turns, court boundaries and what ends a point.
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Does that serve count? Can you step into the kitchen? Learn tennis and pickleball rules through real courtside situations, then put your knowledge to the test.
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A QUICK COURTSIDE CHECKThe ball clips the line.
The ball clips the line.
In or out?
Small details can change a point. Find the explanation and the rule behind it.
Explore the guide →The kitchen, two bounces & side-outs
Untangle non-volley-zone faults, serving order and traditional side-out scoring.
Try the pickleball quiz →THE ANSWER, WHEN YOU NEED IT
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36 situations found
Clear filtersA ball clips a line
Your opponent’s groundstroke touches the outside edge of the singles sideline. How should it be judged?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 12 ↗In
Contact with the boundary counts as in.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA second serve touches the net
Using standard service-let rules, your second serve clips the net and lands in the correct box. What is next?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 22 ↗Another second serve
Repeat that second serve; the earlier fault remains. No-let formats differ.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationTwo service faults
Your first serve misses the box and your second serve also misses. Who wins the point?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 20 and 24(a) ↗The receiver
Two service faults give the receiver the point.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationReturning a serve without a bounce
A receiver volleys a serve before it reaches the ground. Is this allowed?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(e) ↗No; the receiver loses the point
A tennis serve must bounce before the receiver hits it.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA tiebreak reaches 7–6
In a standard first-to-seven tiebreak, you lead 7–6. What happens next?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 5(b) ↗Keep playing
A standard seven-point tiebreak needs a two-point lead.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationWho serves after the first tiebreak point?
Alex serves the first point of a standard singles tiebreak. Who serves the next two points?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 5(b) ↗The opponent
The opening server serves once; service then switches in two-point turns.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationChanging ends in a standard tiebreak
You have played six points in a standard ITF tiebreak. When do you change ends?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 10 ↗Now, then after each further six points
The standard tiebreak end-change interval is six points.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationLosing a point at advantage
In an advantage game, you have advantage but lose the next point. What is the score?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 5(a) ↗Deuce
Losing the advantage point returns the game to deuce.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationLeading a standard set 6–5
In a standard tiebreak set, you lead six games to five. Have you won the set?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 6(b) ↗No; another game is needed
At 6–5, play continues; the set can become 7–5 or 6–6.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationTouching the net during a point
Your racket touches the net while the ball is still live. What is the ruling?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(g) ↗You lose the point
Net contact by you or your equipment during live play loses the point.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA rally shot clips the net
During a rally, your groundstroke clips the net and lands inside the opponent’s court. What happens?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 25(a) ↗The rally continues
A net-cord rally shot remains playable when it lands in.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationCatching a ball you think is going out
You catch a live ball before it bounces because you think it will land long. What happens?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24, Case 8 ↗You lose the point
Catching a live ball loses the point, even when its flight looks long.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationStepping on the baseline to serve
Your foot touches the baseline during your service motion. What should be called?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 18 ↗A foot fault
Touching the baseline during the service motion is a foot fault.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA singles shot lands in the alley
In singles, a rally ball lands beyond the singles sideline but inside the doubles sideline. Is it in?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 1 and 12 ↗No
The doubles alleys are outside the singles court.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationSwitching receiving sides midway through a set
In standard doubles, can partners freely swap which service court each receives from between games of the same set?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 15 ↗No; the receiving order stays fixed for that set
Partners keep their receiving order for the set.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationCatching an awkward service toss
You toss the ball but choose not to swing and catch it instead. Is that a service fault?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 19, Case 1 ↗No, if you made no attempt to hit it
An abandoned toss without a hitting attempt is not a fault.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationSwinging and missing a serve
You swing at your service toss and miss the ball completely. What happens?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 19(b) ↗A service fault
Missing during an attempted service swing uses that serve. Catching a toss without attempting a swing is different.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationServing before the receiver is ready
The receiver clearly is not ready and makes no attempt to return your serve. Under standard rules, what should happen?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 21 and 22(b) ↗Repeat that serve
Wait for the receiver to be ready. A serve delivered to a demonstrably unready receiver is a service let.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA serve hits the receiver’s partner
In doubles, your serve does not touch the net but strikes the receiver’s partner before bouncing. Who wins the point?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24, Case 7 ↗The serving team
The receiving side loses when a served ball hits either receiving player before landing, even if the serve looked likely to miss.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationBoth partners touch a return
Your doubles partner’s racket clips the ball and you then hit it over the net. Is your team’s return legal?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(l) ↗No; your team loses the point
A doubles return cannot involve ball contact by both partners.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationWhere may your doubles partner stand?
Before a point, must the server’s partner stand at the net?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 26, Case 5 ↗No; anywhere on their own side without hindering opponents
The non-serving partner can choose a position inside or outside their own court. Deliberate interference remains subject to hindrance rules.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA loose ball interrupts the point
After a first-service fault, a rally starts on your second serve. Another court’s ball rolls in and a general let is called. What serve restarts the point?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 23, Case 1 ↗A first serve
A general let restarts the entire point, including the first serve. This differs from a service let on a second serve.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationThe ball breaks during a point
The tennis ball breaks during the point. What is the ruling?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 3 ↗Replay the point
A broken ball requires a replay. A merely soft ball does not have the same result.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA soft ball after the point
After a completed point, you find the ball is soft but not broken. Must the point be replayed?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 3, Case 1 ↗No; the point stands
Finding a soft, unbroken ball does not undo the completed point.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationReaching a ball after two bounces
In standard non-wheelchair tennis, you reach a drop shot only after its second bounce. Can you keep the rally going?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(b) ↗No; you lose the point
A return must be made before a second consecutive bounce. Wheelchair tennis has a separate bounce allowance.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationGoing around the net in tennis
Your rally shot travels around the outside of the net post, below net height, and lands in the correct court without touching a fixture. Is it legal?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 25(c) ↗Yes
A return may go around the net post without clearing net height, provided it lands in the correct court.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA ball spins back over the net
Your opponent’s shot bounces in your court and spins back to their side. Can you reach across to return it without touching their court or the net?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 25(b) ↗Yes, this is an allowed exception
After a legal bounce on your side, you may reach over to play a ball that has spun or blown back. Avoid prohibited contact.
Advanced · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationFollowing through across the net
You contact a volley on your own side, then your racket follows through over the net without touching it. The ball lands in. Is that allowed?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 25(e) ↗Yes
The contact must be on your side in this situation; a clean follow-through across the net is permitted.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationThrowing a racket to reach a shot
You throw your racket at a ball and it sends a winning shot into the correct court. Who wins?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(j), Case 6 ↗Your opponent
You must hold the racket when it contacts the live ball. A successful shot from a thrown racket still loses the point.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA ball brushes your shirt
A live rally ball brushes your shirt before you hit it. What is the result?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 24(i) ↗You lose the point
In tennis, the live ball cannot touch your body or clothing. Only racket contact can make a legal return.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationAn accidental double contact
One continuous swing accidentally contacts the ball twice and sends it in. You did not carry it or intentionally make a second hit. Is that automatically a lost point?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 24(f) and 26, Case 1 ↗No
The rule prohibits deliberate repeated contact or carrying. An unintended double contact is not automatically a fault.
Advanced · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationDiscovering a wrong-side serve
You discover you have been serving from the wrong half of the court during a game. What happens to points already played?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 27(a) ↗They stand; correct the serving half now
Correct the position when the mistake is noticed. Previously played points remain counted; a fault before discovery also remains.
Intermediate · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationChanging ends during a set
Under standard ITF procedures outside a tiebreak, when do you change ends during a set?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 10 ↗After game one, game three and each later odd game
The regular changeover pattern starts after the first game and continues after odd-numbered games. Alternative formats can differ.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationStarting the next service game
You begin a new standard service game. From which half do you serve its first point?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rule 17 ↗The right half
Each standard game starts with a serve from the right half, then alternates halves for successive points.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationA serve touches the service line
A serve lands on the line at the back of the correct service box. Is it a fault?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 12 and 17 ↗No; that line belongs to the service box
A ball touching the boundary of the correct service court counts as landing in it.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationServing and volleying in tennis
Your legal serve bounces and the receiver returns it. May you volley that return before it bounces on your side?
THE CALL
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 · Rules 24(e) and 25 ↗Yes
Tennis requires the serve to bounce for the receiver, but the server may volley the return. Pickleball’s two-bounce rule is different.
Beginner · Reviewed 2026-10-13
Link to this situationThe rules behind the answers
Each scenario includes its rulebook reference and review date. Event formats and adaptive play can differ; check the applicable rules before your match.
USA Pickleball Official Rulebook 2026: USA Pickleball standard play and traditional side-out scoring unless the question states otherwise. Reviewed 2026-10-13.
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026: Standard ITF scoring and non-wheelchair play unless the question states otherwise. Reviewed 2026-10-13.
This is a learning tool, not an official referee certification.