Fault Rules

A fault (and resulting dead ball) will be declared for the following:

7.A.
If the serve or service return does not bounce before the ball is struck

7.B.
Hitting the ball into the player’s side of the net without the ball crossing over to the opponent’s side. Note: The ball is dead and the fault occurs the moment the ball hits the ground.

7.C.
Hitting the ball under the net or between the net and the net post.

7.D.
A ball hit by a player that first lands out of bounds or onto their own side of the court.

7.E.
Failure of a standing player to return the ball before it bounces twice on the receiving player’s side of the net and failure of a player using a wheelchair to return a ball before it bounces three times.

7.F.
Violation of Section 4, Section 9 and Section 11 rules.

7.G.
A player, a player’s apparel, or a player’s paddle contacting the net system, the net posts, or the opponent’s court, when the ball is in play.

7.H.
After the serve, the ball contacts a player or anything the player is wearing or carrying, except the paddle or the player’s hand(s) in contact with the paddle and below the wrist. If the player is in the process of changing hands with both hands on the paddle or is attempting a two-handed stroke and either hand is hit below the wrist, as long as a player’s hand is in contact with the paddle, the ball is still in play. The fault is on the player who was hit by the ball.

7.I.
A live ball that is stopped by a player before it becomes dead (e.g., catching or stopping a ball in flight before it makes contact with the playing surface). The fault is on the player who stopped the ball.

7.J.
After the serve, a ball contacting any permanent object before bouncing on the court.

7.K.
Once the ball is in play, a player hitting the ball before the ball entirely crosses the plane of the net.

7.L.
A player deliberately carrying or catching the ball on the paddle while performing the serve or during a rally.

7.M.
A hinder called by a player that is determined by the referee to be invalid.

7.N.
In non-officiated matches, players may carry an additional pickleball(s) as long as the ball(s) is carried in a way that the ball(s) is not visible to their opponent(s) during play. If an additional ball that a player was carrying falls on the playing surface during play, a fault shall be declared.