Pickleball Fault Rules — What Counts as a Fault

A fault in pickleball ends the rally. If the serving team commits the fault, the serve passes to the next server or the other team. If the receiving team commits the fault, the serving team scores a point. Knowing exactly what constitutes a fault prevents disputes and keeps your game moving. This guide covers every category of fault in plain language.

Service Faults

Service faults include the ball landing in the kitchen or on the kitchen line, the ball landing out of bounds in any direction, using an illegal underhand swing for a volley serve, a foot touching or in front of the baseline at contact, serving from the wrong side of the centerline, and the server throwing or tossing the ball upward before dropping it (for a drop serve). A serve that hits the net and lands in the correct box is a let, not a fault.

Non-Volley Zone Faults

Kitchen faults occur when a player volleys while standing in the kitchen, when a player volleys while touching the kitchen line, or when a player’s momentum carries them into the kitchen after a volley. This includes any part of the body or clothing. A player can step into the kitchen after a ball has bounced but must completely exit the kitchen before executing any subsequent volley.

Two-Bounce Rule Faults

The two-bounce rule requires each team to let the ball bounce once before returning for the first two shots of each rally: the receiving team must let the serve bounce, and the serving team must let the return bounce. Volleying before this two-bounce sequence is complete is a fault. After the two bounces, both teams can volley freely.

Boundary and Ball Faults

Boundary faults include hitting the ball out of bounds in any direction, hitting the ball into the net, and the ball bouncing twice before being returned. A ball that lands on any boundary line — including the kitchen line on regular shots after the serve — is in bounds. Exception: a ball landing on the kitchen line on the serve is a fault.

Distraction and Interference Faults

A player commits a fault if they distract their opponents while the ball is in play — shouting, making sudden movements, or using other deliberate interference. If a ball from another court enters play during a rally, either team can call a fault and replay the point. Players who catch or stop the ball mid-rally before it bounces out of bounds cannot claim the ball would have been out — the rally must be played to completion.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hitting the line a fault in pickleball?

No — a ball landing on any boundary line is considered in bounds and is not a fault. The one exception is the kitchen line on the serve: if the serve lands on the kitchen line, it is a fault.

Who calls faults in recreational pickleball?

In recreational play without a referee, each player is responsible for calling faults on their own side of the court. Kitchen faults, foot faults, and out-of-bounds calls are typically honored on the honor system. Disputes should be resolved by replaying the point.

What happens if the ball hits a player?

If a ball hits any part of a player’s body (or clothing) before bouncing, it is a fault against the player who was hit — even if it would have gone out of bounds. Players must let the ball bounce before touching it with their body or clothing.