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The ball sits on top of the net and drops back on your side. Whose point?
A ball that drops back on your side has not crossed. Their point, no let.
Your lob catches the net cord, balances, and falls back onto your side. What is the ruling?
A ball that drops back on your side has not crossed. Their point, no let.
Why
Once the point is under way, the net is simply in play: a ball that clips it and drops over is good, a ball that clips it and drops back is not. There is no let for net cords in the rally, in either direction. The one nuance is that if the ball drops back on your side, an opponent may not reach over to play it before it bounces. They must wait, and by then it has landed on your floor and the point is theirs anyway.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Shrug and get ready for the next point. It will drop the other way for you another day.
Intermediate
Balls that keep catching the tape on the way over are being hit too low to be safe. Add a little height to the lob; it costs nothing.
Advanced
If a ball sits on the net and starts to drop toward their side, the net player who is already close can volley it the instant it crosses. Be that close.
Common questions
Your lob catches the net cord, balances, and falls back onto your side. What is the ruling?
Theirs: the ball did not cross the net. A ball that drops back on your side has not crossed. Their point, no let. Once the point is under way, the net is simply in play: a ball that clips it and drops over is good, a ball that clips it and drops back is not. There is no let for net cords in the rally, in either direction. The one nuance is that if the ball drops back on your side, an opponent may not reach over to play it before it bounces. They must wait, and by then it has landed on your floor and the point is theirs anyway.
Why not replay it: the net decided it?
Net cords are part of the game, in either direction. No let.
What should a beginner do here?
Shrug and get ready for the next point. It will drop the other way for you another day.
How does this change for an advanced player?
If a ball sits on the net and starts to drop toward their side, the net player who is already close can volley it the instant it crosses. Be that close.
What do the rules say?
In play, a ball that touches the net and falls back onto the hitter's side loses the point for the hitter. There is no let.
Puzzles like this one
Can you volley the return of serve?
The return of serve must bounce. It is the one ball in padel you are not allowed to volley.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.
advancedThe smash sent the ball out through the side opening. Chase it?
If the court has an opening, you may leave through it and play the ball back, before it bounces a second time.