A fault in pickleball is any rule violation that stops play and it is important to learn about them in order to reduce avoidable errors, know if your opponent is manipulating a point especially during close games. This guide breaks down every type of pickleball fault in a clear, practical way, focused on non-officiated recreational play.

Pickleball being the most rapidly growing sport still falls victim to lack of techlonogy for their scoring system, there have been some horrendous calls which completely chance the momentum of the game, so learning about pickleball faults is absolutely necessary before heading into a tournament and ofcourse it does help during your recreational sessions as well.

Also Read: List of all official Pickleball rules as per USA Pickleball which is the most followed worldwide

Why Pickleball Faults Matter

Faults don’t just end a rally—they can change momentum and swing points dramatically. So learning about them will help you keep your cool on court, knowing when you have lost a point is as important as practicing drills in pickleball.

If the receiving team commits a fault, the serving team earns a point.
If the serving team commits a fault, they lose the serve (or the second server gets the ball, or it becomes a side-out).
In rally point games if a fault is commited by either team a point is rewarded to the other regardless of which team served in that point

Understanding faults is one of the fastest ways to clean up your game especially if you’re new or leveling up from beginner to intermediate.

Types of Pickleball Faults

Below is a comprehensive, easy-to-understand list of every fault you should be aware of before stepping on a pickleball court.

Serving Faults

These faults happen before or during the serve:

• Serve doesn’t land in the correct crosscourt service box

A serve must clear the net and land diagonally across, inside the boundaries.

• Serve contacts the Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) line

It may hit the baseline or sidelines—but never the kitchen line.

• Either team violates the double-bounce rule

The receiving team must let the serve bounce once, and the serving team must let the return bounce once.

• Server foot faults

A serving fault occurs if:

The server doesn’t have at least one foot on the ground behind the baseline
A foot touches the baseline
A foot touches inside the court or beyond the imaginary sideline/centerline extensions

• Incorrect server or wrong position

If players are not standing in the correct right/left position based on score, it is a fault.

In-Play Faults

These faults happen during rallies:

• Ball hits the net and doesn’t cross

Serve or return any stroke that fails to clear the net.

• Ball lands out of bounds

A clear line fault.

• Ball bounces twice before being hit

If you don’t reach it in time, rally over.

• Player catches, carries, or throws the ball

Any unintentional carry or scoop is a fault.

• Double-hits not in a single continuous motion

A clean “one motion” double contact is legal, but two distinct hits are not.

• Player creates a distraction

Yelling, sudden movement, paddle waving, if meant to distract, it’s a fault. Again this type of fault is quite subjective but the next time you feel an opponent is doing this intentionally you can always ask them to refrain from doing so

• Player intentionally aims for an opponents face

Yes all those BenJohns highlights having a full send on the ball did look cool, but you can no longer do it as it will result in a fault.

Net Faults

Net violations are straightforward:

• Player or clothing/paddle touches the net

If the ball is still in play, this is a fault every time.

• Hitting the ball before it crosses the plane of the net

You may follow through across the plane, however the ball must cross first.

• Hitting the ball around the post improperly

Going around the post is legal only if you hit the ball after it crosses the plane.

Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) Faults

These are the most misunderstood in pickleball:

• Volleys while standing in the kitchen

Anything touching the NVZ zone be it your foot, paddle, or clothing counts.

• Momentum into the kitchen after a volley

You may hit a volley outside the kitchen, but if your momentum carries you in, it’s still a fault.

• Touching anything in the kitchen after a volley

Clothing, paddle, even touching your partner counts as entering the NVZ.

• Volleys after stepping out of the kitchen without both feet re-establishing

You must reset both feet behind the line before volleying again.
Also Read: How stacking works in Pickleball

Gear & Contact Faults

• Ball hits the player or their clothes

If the ball touches anything except your paddle or the hand holding the paddle (below the wrist), you lose the rally.

• Paddle touches the net

Same as above, its a fault.

• Extra balls fall out of your pocket

If additional balls drop during play, it’s a fault.

• Not holding the paddle when it strikes the ball

Losing grip mid-swing? Fault.

• Using earbuds or headphones

Only hearing aids are allowed.

Player Position Faults

• Serving from the wrong side

Based on score:

Even score: serve from right
Odd score: serve from left

• Incorrect receiver position

Receiver must be in the correct diagonal position.

• Switching sides incorrectly in doubles

Switch only when your team wins a point.

Faults for Stopping a Rally

Stopping a rally early is a fault unless 100% valid.

Faults include:

Stopping play to claim a broken ball (before the rally ends)
Stopping for an equipment issue (paddle drops, hat falls, etc.)
Incorrectly identifying a supposed position error
Stopping because of an item on the court unless it directly interferes

Once the rally ends, players can inspect the ball and decide if a replay is fair.

Learning Pickleball Faults Faster

There’s no need to memorize the entire rulebook as most faults boil down to:

Footwork
Positioning
Basic kitchen awareness
Clean strokes

Once those become second nature, you’ll focus less on rules and more on strategy.

Final Thoughts

Pickleball faults may look overwhelming on paper, but once you’re on the court, the majority become instinctive. The key is understanding the big one which are kitchen violations, foot faults, and positioning issues as they decide most rallies. As you play more, you’ll start recognizing patterns, avoiding unnecessary errors, and sharpening the parts of your game that matter most.

FAQs

What exactly is a fault in pickleball?

A fault in pickleball is any rule violation that stops play. When a fault occurs, the rally ends immediately. If the serving team commits the fault, they lose the serve; if the receiving team commits it, the serving team earns a point.

What are the most common serving faults?

Common serving faults include stepping on or over the baseline during the serve, serving from the wrong position, hitting the serve into the net, sending the ball out of bounds, or failing to contact the ball below waist level. A serve must also clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) and land in the correct diagonal service box.

Is it a fault if the ball hits the net and lands in the right service box?

Yes. Unlike tennis, there are no “lets” in pickleball serving. If the serve clips the net even slightly and still lands in the correct service box, it is still a fault, and the server loses that rally.

Is stepping into the kitchen after a volley always a fault?

Yes. Any part of your body, paddle, clothing, or accessory touching the non-volley zone (or its line) after hitting a volley is a fault. This includes momentum carrying you forward into the kitchen even if the volley happened perfectly clean.

What happens if the ball hits a player?

If you get hit by the ball on your side of the net before it bounces, it is a fault against you even if the ball was going out. If it hits you after it bounces, the rally continues as normal.

Can a player call a fault on their opponent?

Yes. In recreational play, players call faults on themselves and on their opponents based on what they see. In tournament play, referees typically make the final call, though players are still expected to play honorably.

Is hitting the ball out of bounds always a fault?

Yes. If your shot lands clearly outside the court lines, it is a fault, and the opponent wins the rally. However, if a shot touches the line even slightly it is considered an in ball.

Is double-hitting the ball a fault?

It depends. If the ball unintentionally hits your paddle twice during one continuous motion, it is legal. But if it is a controlled double-hit or a stop-and-rehit, that is a fault.

Is it a fault if the ball hits the net post?

If the ball hits the net post before crossing over into the opponent’s court, it is a fault. If it passes cleanly over the net and then hits the post (on the outside), the ball is out.

What happens if players are in the wrong positions during the serve?

If the wrong player serves or receives the ball, it is considered a positional fault. Once the rally ends, the incorrect positioning is corrected and the score is adjusted according to the rules. In sanctioned tournaments, this often results in the rally being replayed unless a point was incorrectly awarded.

If you are new to pickleball and have learned about all the faults but not yet confident to step on the court then do read our guide on how to play pickleball, this will definitely give you the push you need to enjoy the sport we all love.

Complete list of faults in Pickleball