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Rule regarding touching the net

714 commentsu/PsychologicalRiver752w ago

So this happened yesterday. Was trying to recover an opponent's smash rebound for a tap out or winner at the net. Was able to hit the shot cleanly for a X4 and DID NOt touch the net with my body or racket.. but my cap fell and went across the net without touching the net (or even if it did touch the net nobody saw or felt the net move) .. i claimed the point but got into a debate if it's a foul since nothing touched the net. It was an important point so otherwise we play a let but I fought to claim the point!! Am I wrong, not able to find a rule regarding this. Anybody with clarity on this. I suspect this was a foul.

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Comments (14)

u/Reiyv2w ago

Pretty sure that's a let - it's the same as if someone drops their watch or a ball falls out of their pocket. The only thing that can save you is: did your cap fall off before or after the ball crossed the X4 fence? If it was before, it's a let. If it was after, you can claim the point since you win the point the moment the ball crosses the X4 fence.

u/asmdsr2w ago

Yes exactly on the timing of the ball crossing X4 fence, however I think it's the point is lost, not a let. OP keep in mind in addition to the net, you can't touch the opponent court. RULE 13. POINT LOST 1. Players will lose a point if: a) Either of the players, their rackets or anything worn or carried touches the net, net posts, the tension cable or any part of the opponent’s court while the ball is in play

u/PsychologicalRiver75OP1w ago

Ya. Now since the cap touched the opponent court though it was not worn that time still I think acc to this I lost the point..

u/Reiyv2w ago

Ah, fair enough :D I would probably do a replay because it's unintentional, but the rule is clearly there. Good find!

u/Sarritgato1w ago

Not exactly this. This rule applies to anything attached to the player’s body or being held by the player, not something that is dropped. As the commenter said, the same rule should apply as if you drop a worn item, something in your pocket (like a ball) or part of your racket.

u/bachaterol2w ago

If it dropped after the ball exited the court, it is your point. If it happened before, you lose the point, because you are not allowed to enter opponent's court with your body, racket, or any other object. Regardless of you touching the net or not. Also, independent of your situation, you cannot just keep dropping something on the court, saying "oopsie", and playing let afterwards. First time it drops by accident, it is involuntary inference and it is a let (unless it drops to the opponent's side, in your example). If it happens for a second time, it is assumed voluntary, because you did not prevent it from happening (by tightening your cap or leaving it out of the court), and the point is automatically awarded to the opponent. This is valid for competitive matches. People will be a bit more understanding in an amateur setting.

u/delac1472w ago

This will come down to the moment the ball went out of the X4 wall. IF you dropped your hat and the ball did not yet pass the x4 wall, then it's a let; if the ball already cleared the x4 wall, then the point was over, and what happens next is irrelevant. However, if this happens in a friendly match, I would just give the point to you. If it's a tournament or competition and it's an important point, that's another story: rules are rules, and if you can get them to your advantage, that's part of the game as well.

u/Ok-Buddy-91941w ago

A lot of variation in the answers. There’s technically no let in this case: if the ball passed over the back wall before your hat fell, it’s your point. If your hat touched their court first, it’s their point. Because it’s impossible to know, you *could* play a let. In a friendly it would be shitty for your opponents to try and claim the point, or even a let. In a tournament it would be different however

u/Greg199311w ago

Is the passing over the X4 wall a specific rule? As far as I know, the ball is still in play unless it touches something outside the court as it theoretically could still be played back?

u/jmOropeza321w ago

Yeap Rule 13. Point Lost e) Authorized out-of-court play. When the ball, after bouncing correctly, goes out of court over the end wall. If it goes over the sidewall or through the door the point is lost when the ball bounces for a second time or touches any element not related to the court. Technically it’s an old rule, back when the courts had solid walls if the ball went out by the 4 meters wall there was no way to see if the player reached the ball before bouncing, nowadays you could see it through the glass and there’s some examples of people being able to reach it but the rule still remains

u/cpzao_2w ago

If it went over the x4 wall, the point should end immediately. The rules are not the same as the x3 wall.

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u/Top_Paint74422w ago

Was this during a very important tournament with money on the line? Aks the ref. If friendly: laugh about it and either replay the point or next point.