Over-Reaching the Net

Ordinarily, you are not allowed to reach over the net to hit the ball in tennis. Your racquet may cross over the net as long as you make contact with the ball on your side of the net, though. You or your racquet cannot touch the net at all or you lose the point. There are rare cases when you are allowed to reach over the net without losing the point, however.

Examples of When You Can Reach Over the Net

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has clearly stated the only time that you are allowed to reach over the net. The rule states that:

“If the ball is hit and due to the spin or wind it is brought back over the net to the side of the original player who hit the ball, the opponent is allowed to reach over the net and play the ball without touching the net or the opponent’s court.”

This rule can be confusing for some players, especially beginners. The rule is simply saying that if you hit a shot and somehow the ball bounces on your opponent’s court and returns back to your court due to a spin or wind action, then your opponent is allowed to reach over your net and play the ball.

But they need to do so without touching either your net or your side of the court.

The reason why your opponent is allowed to reach over and play the ball is because if the ball you have played that crossed the net into your court, bounces without them touching it, then you win the point.

Also remember, your racket can follow through over the net with a swing that starts from striking the ball on your side of the court.

How Often Does This Happen?

It is definitely extremely rare and it would be expected to happen on a windy day or if you’re playing an opponent that tries lots of drop shots. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t know it. When it eventually happens, you’ll know the rules and how to play the point, especially if it’s in a USTA match.

It is also an inspiration for you to try to use this rule to your advantage by learning to play a windy spin shot. When you pull it off, you’ll win the hearts of all your fans or at least opponents.

How to Call the Penalty?

Most of players don’t get the luxury of officials or chair umpires watching their matches. So calling out penalties falls on them, the players.

It can be awkward to call out a penalty but you surely don’t want to let your opponent get away with a free point if they are breaking the rules.

Make sure to make the penalty call right after it happens. If the next point begins play you essentially lose your chance to correct a call on the previous point.

If you sense that your opponent has broken any of the codes of conduct of the game, you can pause the match and point it out.

Can You Hit Around the Net?

If you notice the dimensions of the tennis court, you’ll see that the two net posts don’t fully stretch out all the way to the edge of the sidelines.

If the ball bounces on your side at such an angle that you can hit it back without going over the net, you are allowed to do that.

While doing this, be sure not to make contact with the net in any form – not any part of your body, not an item of your clothing and definitely not your racket.