Q&A – Through the Gap

By Mark Peifer, USA Pickleball Certified Referee; Past Chairman, USA Pickleball Rules Committee

QUESTION: I hit a ball across the net. It bounced on my opponent’s side. It had enough backspin, however, that the ball traveled back through the gap between the net post and the net before my opponents could make a play on the ball. My opponents said it was a fault on me because the ball I hit went in between the net post and the net. I disagreed vigorously. We ended up replaying the rally, but who was correct?

ANSWER: Good for you for replaying the rally, rather than arguing. But you were correct. As soon as your ball bounced on your opponent’s side of the net and in bounds, you had done ‘your job.’ Now, your opponents must do ‘their job’; they must make a play on the ball before the ball either hits a permanent object, bounces twice, or unsuccessfully goes past the plane of the net. In this scenario, your opponents did not make a play before the ball traveled through the net post and the gap. However, as provided in Rule 11.I.1, they could reach over, under, or around the net to make a play on the ball if it travels through the gap.

Your opponent probably thought this was a fault on you because of Rule 7.C. That rule indicates a fault if the ball hits under the net or between the net and the net post. That fault applies, however, if your ball doesn’t travel over the net first. That rule can confuse inexperienced players when the ball hits the court and has enough backspin to go between the net post and net. This example of yours helps explain the difference.