In tennis, the net isn’t just a physical boundary—it’s part of the rulebook. Players are expected to avoid making any contact with it during a point, and doing so can have immediate consequences.
So what actually happens if you touch the net during play? Whether you graze it by accident or collide with it after a winning shot, here’s how the rules break it down.
According to standard tennis rules, if a player touches the net or net posts while the ball is still in play, they automatically lose the point.
It doesn’t matter if you’ve already hit a winning shot, or if the ball is clearly out of reach for your opponent. If contact is made with the net before the point officially ends, it’s considered a violation.
This rule applies regardless of:
The key detail is timing. If you touch the net after the point is over—such as after the ball bounces twice or goes out—there’s no penalty. But if the ball is still live, even a light brush against the net will cost you the point.
Players are not allowed to reach over the net to hit the ball—unless the ball has already bounced back onto their side due to spin or wind. In that rare case, a player can reach over to play the ball without touching the net or interfering with the opponent’s space.
However, if a player leans over or follows through past the net plane and makes contact with the net, it’s still a violation. Even if the motion is natural, like a momentum-carrying follow-through, the rule doesn’t make exceptions.
Yes. Once the point is complete—meaning the ball has bounced twice, gone out, or been called dead—players are free to touch the net without penalty.
You’ll sometimes see players come forward and touch the net during a changeover, or lean against it after a long rally. That’s entirely legal as long as it’s not during a live point.
In fact, it’s not uncommon in doubles for a net player to touch the net with a hand or racket during a celebration. As long as the point is over, there’s no issue.
The rules also apply to anything a player is wearing or holding. If your hat flies off and hits the net during a point, or if your racket makes contact after a dive, it still counts as a net violation.
In doubles, this includes your partner’s gear as well. If either player’s racket, hat, or body touches the net during play, the point is lost.
Even though it may feel unfair in chaotic moments, the rule is clear-cut. The net is off-limits during active play—no matter how it’s touched.
At professional events, the chair umpire or line judges typically make the call on net violations. But in recreational or club matches, players are often responsible for calling their own infractions.
It’s considered good sportsmanship to admit a net touch, even if your opponent didn’t notice it. Since many recreational matches don’t have officials present, honesty plays a bigger role.
In high-level matches, replay and challenge systems can sometimes assist, but net violations are usually obvious enough to be seen in real time.
Touching the net during a point is one of tennis’s more straightforward rules, but it still catches players off guard—especially during fast-paced rallies or big momentum swings.
If you’re playing competitively, keep this one top of mind: don’t touch the net until the point is clearly over. And if you’re watching, you’ll now know exactly why a player lost the point after a perfect winner—chances are, they made contact when they shouldn’t have.
