Net rules in pickleball: let serves, net posts and balls under the net
Short answer: Under section 13 of the 2026 rulebook, a ball that contacts the net, or the rope or cable at its top, remains in play. A ball hit between the net and the post, or under the net, is a fault, but a ball may be returned around the outside of the post.
- Ball contacts net (13.A). It stays in play. A returned ball that gets caught in the net, touches a net draping on the ground, or hits a deflecting net is replayed (13.A.1).
- Net support system (13.B). A served ball must not touch any part of it. A returned ball must not touch it on the hitter's end before going over. Otherwise, a fault. If a returned ball crosses the net and then hits a crossbar or other support within the court, the rally is replayed.
- Around the post (13.C). A ball may be returned around the outside of the net post.
- Between net and post (13.D). A fault.
- Under the net (13.E). A fault.
- Plane of the net (13.F). The ball must entirely cross to your end before you hit it.
Player contact with the net is covered in our next article.
Why the net rules exist
The net is the only thing standing between the two sides, and pickleball is played in tight spaces. Section 13 of the rulebook therefore does two jobs. It says when a ball that touches the net is still a good shot, and it says when a player has gained an unfair advantage or caused a dangerous situation by touching or going around the net. Most disputes at the net come from mixing those two jobs up, so it helps to keep them apart.
A ball that touches the net: three different outcomes
There are three separate cases for the ball itself, and they lead to different results.
- Touching the net or its top cable (13.A). The ball stays in play. Players simply keep going.
- Caught or deflected (13.A.1). If a returned ball crosses the net and then gets caught in the net, touches a part of the net that is draping on the ground, or touches a deflecting net before or after bouncing, the rally is replayed. The idea is that the net itself, not the players, decided the outcome.
- Net support system (13.B). A served ball that touches any part of the net support system, such as a post or the cable running to it, is a fault on either end of the net. A returned ball that touches the support system on the hitter's end before crossing is also a fault. But if a returned ball has already crossed the net and then hits a crossbar or another part of the support system inside the court boundaries, the rally is replayed (13.B.2).
Around, between and under
The rulebook is specific about where a ball may travel. A ball may be returned around the outside of the net post (13.C), which is why a hard, wide dink or a sharply angled shot that never goes over the net itself can be legal. It is a fault to hit the ball between the net and the post (13.D) or under the net (13.E). The ball also has to cross the plane of the net entirely before the player hits it (13.F). If you reach over and hit the ball before all of it has crossed to your side, it is a fault against you.
Worked examples
- Your dink clips the top of the net and drops into the kitchen. It is in play. Your opponents must return it.
- Your opponent's ball is caught in a sagging, draping net. The rally is replayed.
- You hit a ball around the outside of the post and it lands in the court. This is legal under 13.C, as long as it lands in bounds.
- You hit the post while returning a ball. Under 13.B.1, a returned ball that contacts the support system before going over the net is a fault against you.
- The serve hits the post. It is a fault, even if it would have landed in court.
What the rule leaves to the players
Pickleball is largely self-officiated at recreational level, so players have to make these calls honestly. See our guides to line calls and the code of ethics and to faults, hinders and replays for how disagreements are normally settled. If you are unsure whether the net or a post was touched, play it out and replay the point rather than arguing about it.
For what players may not touch, see touching the net and crossing the plane. For the physical size of the net and court, see court size and net height.
Frequently asked questions
Is a serve that touches the net a fault?
The rulebook sections we read cover the net support system: a served ball touching a post or other support is a fault (13.B). Whether the ball touching the top of the net itself is in play follows 13.A, which keeps it in play when it contacts the net or its top rope or cable.
Can I hit the ball around the net post?
Yes. Rule 13.C allows a ball to be returned around the outside of the net post, as long as you do not hit it between the net and the post.
What happens if a returned ball crosses the net and hits the post?
If it crosses the net and then contacts a crossbar or other part of the support system inside the court boundaries, the rally is replayed (13.B.2).
Is hitting the ball under the net a fault?
Yes. Rule 13.E makes it a fault against the player who hits it.
Sources
Sources checked 14 Oct 2026. Header photo: A portable pickleball net on a blue court surface, by Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
