Tennis has a ton of rules, much like any other sport.
Some of them are rather clear, like the fact that during a rally the ball may only bounce once on either side of the court or that you must serve into the service box diagonally across from you.
However, there are a few less obvious tennis rules, many of which concern the net.
You might not realize that your racquet passed the net when you’re in the thick of the action.
It occurs more frequently than you may think.
Table of Contents
Can Tennis Racket Go Over the Net?
Your racquet may pass through the net after serving or volleying.
There are only two ways that this is prohibited, though: The first method entails striking the return volley before the ball has crossed the net.
The second option is if you strike the ball and then contact the net with your racquet.
Just keep reading our post to find out more about other net rules.
In tennis, is it possible to hit the ball around the net?
Yes. In tennis, this is an entirely acceptable shot. (ITF Rules Of Tennis Rule 25c)
It’s okay as long as the shot finds the opposing court.
Tennis players that can do this are amazing since you need to be at such a wide angle for this to function.
Naturally, this can also imply that the shot can fall below the net height on either side of the net post and yet be successful.
Can You Cross the Tennis Net?
No. If you cross the net into the opposing court while the ball is in play, you forfeit the point. (ITF Rules of Tennis Rule 24 Case 5)
But if you leap over and the point ends before you touch down on the other side, i.e. you hit a winner, that is permitted and you win the point.
How Is It Handled When a Player Hits the Net?
A player forfeits the point if they contact the net, net post, strap, or singles sticks with any part of their body, their attire, or with the racket. (ITF Rules Of Tennis Rule 24g)
On occasion, it might be hard to avoid this, especially if you’re running towards the net in preparation for a shot and your momentum brings you there.
The only exception to this rule is if the point has already finished before a player hits the net, in which case the ball has bounced twice or has left the court after the first bounce, it will count as a winner.
Further Reading: Is My Tennis Racket Too Heavy?
Can You Make a Shot Over the Net?
Tennis players are not permitted to use their rackets to reach across the net.
The ball must first have crossed over to your side of the court.
The only situation in which this does not apply is if the ball falls on your side and, either as a result of ball spin or wind, bounces back over the net and onto the other side of the court. (ITF Rules Of Tennis Rule 25b)
Only in the situation described above, when you make contact on your side and the racket crosses the net during your follow-through, is your racket permitted to cross the net.
Is It Possible for a Tennis Player to Jump Over the Net?
Over-the-net jumping is not permitted.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is clear that if a player jumps over the net during play, they forfeit the point.
If the arm crosses the net, there are a few exceptions.
Can You Enter the Court on the Other Side?
You are not permitted to enter your opponent’s court while the ball is still in play.
Anywhere that is in is evaluated by the court.
In doubles, the outside tramlines would therefore be in charge.
The inner tramlines for singles.
This indicates that it is a legitimate shot if you run around the net after hitting the ball.
It wouldn’t be permitted in if you went onto the court itself, which is the lone exception.
Nothing prevents you from crossing the net after the point has ended.
When I was a teenager, I was always told that it is polite to avoid crossing the net when playing on clay.
This is due to the fact that you would be crossing the net after the point had completed examining a ball you had struck for marks.
Thus, it appears that you are questioning your opponent’s line call.
There isn’t a mark to look for on grass or hard court. Therefore, crossing across is not as contentious.
I can’t think of a situation in which a player would need to or gain from moving into the other court, save than not having to stop sprinting.
If the ball has already bounced twice, you could theoretically leap over the net and into the opposing team’s court.
But for this to organically occur, it would have to be a rather exceptional point.
The ITF only forbids it in the midst of a point, therefore this would be OK.
Some Racquet and Net Rules Are More Complicated Than Others
Tennis, like many sports, has several rules that may leave players perplexed as to what they entail.
There is an exception to the general rule that you cannot strike the ball until it has passed the net.
With this exception, you can bring your racquet over the net and play the ball if a player strikes the ball with enough spin or if there is a strong wind and it curves back across the net to the side of the player who shot it.
Just watch out not to touch the net or the side of the court that your opponent is on.
The player is permitted to strike the ball because, should they choose not to do so and it bounces to your side of the court, you will win the point.
Before that occurs, you or your opponent in this scenario have the opportunity to play the ball.
How Common Is This Particular Exception?
Because it occurs so infrequently, few individuals ever witness it. In any case, playing tennis in such windy circumstances is hardly ideal.
If the wind is so strong, it will disrupt both players’ serves and volleys, turning the game into more of a comedy of mistakes than a competitive contest.
However, drop shots frequently contain a lot of spins, and if you play a player who excels at spinning the ball backward, this circumstance could occur more frequently.
But the ball’s velocity needs to be high enough for it to bounce high enough to cross the goal without being stopped.
In other words, it’s unlikely that either event will happen very soon.
There is no reason not to try this stroke, and if you master it, it may be a useful addition to your tennis volley repertoire.
FAQs
What Occurs When a Tennis Ball Returns Over the Net?
The point belongs to the player who struck the ball if it spins back over the net, or, to use another expression, bounces on one side and then bounces back without being touched by the opponent.
This is assuming that the opponent can’t and doesn’t reach the ball.
The player may reach over the net to hit the ball if the opponent can in fact reach it.
A player may only strike the ball on the other side of the net in this particular circumstance.
During a Point, May a Player Make Noise?
No, in order to strike the ball, a player cannot chuck their racket.
The racket needs to be in the player’s hand when the ball is struck for the shot to count.
The point will still continue if the racket is relinquished or lowered after striking the ball.
Tennis Rackets May Be Thrown, Right?
No, in order to strike the ball, a player cannot throw their racket.
The racket needs to be in the player’s hand when the ball is struck for the shot to count.
The point will still continue if the racket is relinquished or lowered after striking the ball.
Final Thoughts
Even though they don’t always make sense or are clear to grasp, rules are rules, and you must abide by them.
Knowing every rule, even the odd ones, may help you play better and create shots no one has ever seen before.
Spend some time before the game learning the rules so that you can play at a high level.
Knowing all the guidelines can help you prevent misunderstandings with your pals as well.
Further Reading: Do You Need an Expensive Tennis Racket?