Ways of Losing Points

Ways of losing a points

Apart from playing the ball into the net or out of court there are a number of ways of losing a point.

• Throwing the racket at the ball. Letting go of the racket accidentally is not a fault, unless it hits a permanent fixture such as the net before the ball is out of play.
• Hitting the ball twice, carrying it or catching it on the racket.
• Touching the net, posts, umpire or line judge chairs, ballgirls or the ground in your opponents court while the ball is in play.
• Hitting the ball before it crosses the net.
• Returning a serve before it has bounced.
• Catching or hitting the ball while it is outside the court before it has bounced.If he volleys the ball outside the court and it lands in, the rally continues. If it lands out, he loses the point.
• The ball touches the player or anything he wears or carries (except his racket) while in play.
• The ball hits a permanent fixture such as the umpire’s chair, ballboy, line judge machine (but not the net posts) – before it bounces – even if the ball appeared to be going in.If the ball strikes the permanent fixture after it bounces and before the opponent can hit the ball, the opponent loses the point.
• In tournaments, umpires can deduct points for racquet abuse or dissent