Tennis ACT

Stump the Ump

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Are you allowed to hit the ball when it is still on the other side of the net?(ie Have racket over the top of the net)

The short answer to your question is no. You cannot reach over the net to hit the ball before it has crossed on to your side of the court.

Under Rule 24(h) of the Rules of Tennis, a player loses the point if that player hits the ball before it has passed the net.

Of course, there is one exception to this rule, which is addressed under Rule 25(b): It is a good return if, after the ball in play has hit the ground within the correct court and has spun or been blown back over the net, the player reaches over the net and plays the ball into the correct court. Luckily this rarely happens!!

At no time, however, while the ball is in play can you touch the net with your racquet, body or clothing so you have to be a bit careful when hitting the type of shot described above.

The only thing I would add is the difficulty in making the call of someone reaching over the net in non-umpired matches. Often what looks like someone hitting the ball before it has crossed the net from one end, is actually them hitting the ball on their own side and following through over the extension of the net (which is allowed). So we always encourage players when there is no umpire if you are not 100% sure then don’t call it.