{"Status":true,"Message":"","Response":{"post":{"postuid":"b304de81-5a31-4b1b-ad0e-1f8822f1a50a","tenantuid":"45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903","projectuid":"4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919","title":"What Happens When You Fault in Pickleball?","slug":"article/what-happens-when-you-fault-in-pickleball","html":"\u003Cp\u003EA fault in pickleball is any action that stops play and results in a dead ball, ending the rally in favor of the team that did not commit the violation. Faults can happen on the serve, during a rally, or due to rule violations like illegal kitchen entry. Understanding the full range of faults helps you avoid unnecessary errors and know what to expect when a rally ends unexpectedly.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022what_happens_when_a_fault_occurs\u0022\u003EWhat Happens When a Fault Occurs\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen a fault is committed, the rally ends immediately and the result depends on which team committed the fault and whether they were serving:\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf the serving team faults:\u003C/b\u003E They lose their serve (a side out, or in doubles, the serve passes to the second server or to the opposing team if both partners have served).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIf the receiving team faults:\u003C/b\u003E The serving team scores a point and continues to serve.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022common_types_of_faults\u0022\u003ECommon Types of Faults\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022serving_faults\u0022\u003EServing Faults\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EServing the ball into the net.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EServing the ball out of bounds or into the kitchen (including its line).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStepping on or over the baseline before contacting the serve.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EServing out of turn or out of sequence (in doubles).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAn illegal serve motion \u2014 such as contacting the ball above the waist with an overhand-style swing under certain serve rules.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022volley_and_kitchen_faults\u0022\u003EVolley and Kitchen Faults\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVolleying while any part of your body or paddle touches the kitchen or its lines.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EVolleying the serve or the return of serve before its required bounce (two-bounce rule violation).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EMomentum carrying a player into the kitchen immediately after a legal volley.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022ballinplay_faults\u0022\u003EBall-In-Play Faults\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHitting the ball out of bounds.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EHitting the ball into the net on your side.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAllowing the ball to bounce twice on your side before returning it.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ETouching the net or net post with your body or paddle during a live rally.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECarrying or double-hitting the ball (an extended scoop or two distinct hits with the same swing).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe ball touching a player\u0027s body or clothing (other than the paddle in hand).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EReaching over the net to hit the ball before it crosses to your side (except in narrow follow-through circumstances permitted by some rule sets).\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Ccite class=\u0022recommended\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ENote\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA ball that touches any part of a player\u0027s body \u2014 even a graze on the leg or arm \u2014 is a fault, even if the player didn\u0027t intend the contact and even if the ball would have gone out anyway. This surprises a lot of players who assume only paddle contact matters.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/cite\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022fault_vs_let_whats_the_difference\u0022\u003EFault vs. Let: What\u0027s the Difference?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA fault ends the rally with a result (point or side out). A let, by contrast, simply requires the point to be replayed with no penalty to either side \u2014 lets are now rare in pickleball since the let-serve rule was removed from most sanctioned play, but they can still occur for outside interference, like a ball rolling onto the court from an adjacent game.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022frequently_asked_questions\u0022\u003EFrequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022what_happens_if_both_teams_fault_on_the_same_rally\u0022\u003EWhat happens if both teams fault on the same rally?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the rare case where faults from both sides are identified, the general principle is that the first fault to occur ends the rally, and that result stands. Simultaneous or ambiguous double-fault situations are uncommon and usually resolved through replay if there\u0027s genuine doubt about sequence.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022does_a_fault_always_result_in_losing_the_point\u0022\u003EDoes a fault always result in losing the point?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot exactly \u2014 it depends on who\u0027s serving. If the serving team faults, they lose their serve but don\u0027t necessarily give up a point (the receiving team doesn\u0027t score from the serving team\u0027s fault; they simply gain the serve in side-out scoring, or score in rally scoring). If the receiving team faults, the serving team always scores a point.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ch3 id=\u0022is_touching_the_net_with_your_paddle_always_a_fault\u0022\u003EIs touching the net with your paddle always a fault?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, if it happens while the ball is still in play (live). Touching the net or net post with your body, clothing, or paddle during a live rally is a fault, regardless of whether it affected the outcome of the point. Once the ball is dead (the point has ended), touching the net no longer matters.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022related_articles\u0022\u003ERelated Articles\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/complete-pickleball-rules-guide\u0022\u003EComplete Pickleball Rules Guide\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/what-is-the-kitchen-rule-in-pickleball\u0022\u003EWhat Is the Kitchen Rule in Pickleball?\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/article/what-is-the-two-bounce-rule-in-pickleball\u0022\u003EWhat Is the Two-Bounce Rule in Pickleball?\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuestions about pickleball rules? Email \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:support@pickleball.com\u0022\u003Esupport@pickleball.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","publish_status":0,"post_type":"Article","authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","author":{"authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","name":"Christy Cook","url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/","photo_url":"https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/4fd2cf59-047a-4a00-8a6d-2d9c6c9f91fe.jpg?v=1114665229","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/"},"featured_image_updating":false,"meta_description":"Learn about pickleball faults: serve, volley, kitchen, and ball-in-play violations that end rallies and impact scoring. Avoid common errors and know the rules.","keywords":"fault;serve;rally;kitchen rule;volley;ball in play;net touch;two-bounce rule;side out;point scoring","display_toc":true,"has_workingcopy":false,"allow_indexing":true,"total_views":12,"date_published":"2026-06-30T09:29:25.977","date_updated":"2026-06-30T09:29:25.987","date_created":"2026-06-30T09:23:20.777"}}}