Lets and faults in open play: the rules after the serve
Most players know when a serve is replayed. Fewer know what happens when a stray ball rolls on court, a cap falls off or the ball touches your sleeve. Here is the full picture.
Przegląd
Our guide to the serve covers lets and faults at the start of a point. This article picks up where that one ends: once the serve has been returned and the rally is live, what stops a point, what replays it and what simply loses it? The detail varies a little between federations and competitions, so treat this as a guide to the principles most rulebooks share, and check the local regulations before a tournament.
What a let means in open play
A let means the point is stopped and replayed in full, including the serve, with no penalty to anyone. It is not a reward and it is not a punishment. It exists for situations where something outside the players' control has interfered with the rally.
The common causes of a let during a rally are:
A ball from another court. A stray ball rolling onto the court, or a second ball in play, is a clear hindrance. Any player may stop play immediately and call it.
An object entering the court. A towel blown off a bench, a bag sliding through an open door or a spectator stepping onto the court all justify a let.
A broken ball. If the ball splits or loses pressure during a point, the point is replayed with a new ball.
A decision that cannot be made. In refereed matches, if the umpire cannot see what happened, a let is usually the fair outcome.
The important habit is timing. A let must be called straight away. You cannot play on, see how the rally develops and then claim a hindrance once you have lost it.
Hindrances caused by players
When the interference comes from one of the players, the rules are stricter. Deliberately distracting an opponent, by shouting, stamping or waving during their stroke, loses the point for the team that caused it. Ordinary communication with your partner is fine. Calls such as "mine" or "yours" are part of the game.
If something falls from a player during the rally, such as a cap, a spare ball from a pocket or a wristband, it is generally treated as a hindrance by that player. Many competitions replay the first occurrence and award the point to the opponents after that, while others penalise it straight away. The simple solution is to keep spare balls off your body and pockets zipped.
Faults during a rally
A fault in open play loses the point immediately. The most frequent are:
The ball touches you or your partner. Your body, clothing, hair or anything you are wearing, wherever you are standing.
You touch the net. With any part of your body, clothing or racket, while the ball is in play. Brushing against the walls is not a fault.
You hit the ball twice or carry it. A clear double contact or a ball that rests on the strings and is slung back is a fault.
You hit the ball before it crosses the net. You may not reach over and volley a ball that is still on the opponents' side.
You throw the racket. The racket must be in your hand when it hits the ball. A racket flung at a ball, even successfully, loses the point.
The ball bounces twice on your side, or hits your own wall before bouncing after an opponent's shot.
Who decides
In refereed matches, the umpire makes the call. In everything else, the players do. The convention is that each team calls on its own side, and when the four of you genuinely cannot agree, the point is replayed. It is a sensible rule and it keeps the game friendly.
A note on honesty
Many of these situations are invisible to everyone except the player concerned. Only you know whether the ball brushed your shirt or touched the net with your racket. The best social games run on players calling their own faults promptly and without fuss. It is the easiest way to be invited back.