Rules During Play
It's a fault if the ball hits your body or clothes
If the ball hits a player's body, clothes, or anything they are wearing, it is a fault for that player's team. The paddle and the paddle hand (wrist down) are the exceptions.
If the ball hits a player's body, it is a fault for the team of the player it hit (10.C.3). The rule says nothing about where the player was standing (10.C.3).
Things that cause a fault if hit
- Your body (arms, legs, torso, and so on) (10.C.3)
- Clothes, hats, shoes, and anything else you are wearing (10.C.3)
- Anything you hold in your hand other than the paddle (such as a spare ball) (10.C.3)
Things that do not cause a fault
- The paddle (10.C.3)
- The hand holding the paddle, from the wrist down (The hand holding the paddle counts as part of the paddle) (10.C.3)
Examples
- An opponent's smash hits you in the chest → fault for you (10.C.3)
- A ball that looked like it was going out hits your leg before bouncing → fault for you (Even outside the court, getting hit by a ball in the air is a fault) (10.C.3)
- A ball your partner hit strikes you in the back → fault for your team (10.C.3)
On the serve
- The serve hits the server or the server's partner → fault for the server (7.E.4)
- The serve hits a player on the receiving team before it lands → fault for the receiving team (7.E.5)
Source and review
- Rulebook
- USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026 edition)
- Sections
- 10.C.1, 10.C.3, 7.E.4, 7.E.5
- Applies to
- USA Pickleball
- Effective
- January 1, 2026
- Last reviewed
- October 10, 2026
How to read the sources: numbers like (8.F.4) are rulebook sections, and links are outside sources. An "Author's note" is the author's personal experience, not an official rule.