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The ball hits a spare racket lying on the court. What happens?

A spare racket on the court is a hindrance nobody meant: let, replay the point, and clear the court.

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A spare racket has been left against the back glass on your side. During a rally the ball bounces and touches it. What is the ruling?

A spare racket on the court is a hindrance nobody meant: let, replay the point, and clear the court.

Why

A player loses the point if the ball touches anything they wear or carry other than the racket in their hand. A spare racket, a towel or a bottle lying on the floor is not being worn or carried, so a ball that hits one is treated as an unintentional hindrance: the point is replayed. Do it twice and a referee will start treating it as negligence. The practical lesson is the same either way: the court is for four people and four rackets. Bags, bottles and spares go outside the door, and a second ball stays in the server's pocket or goes back to the door as well.

What this means at your level

Beginner

Nothing on the court except you, your partner and the ball in play. Bottles go by the door.

Intermediate

If you serve with a second ball in your pocket, make sure it stays there. The first time it falls out mid-point, expect a let; after that, expect the other pair to be less generous.

Advanced

A ball that comes from another court onto yours is the same call: a let. The distinction the rules draw is intent, not who brought the object in.

Rule of the gameThe point is lost if the ball touches anything a player wears or carries other than the racket held in the hand. Interference from an object on the court that nobody intended is a hindrance, and the point is replayed.

Common questions

A spare racket has been left against the back glass on your side. During a rally the ball bounces and touches it. What is the ruling?

Let: an accidental hindrance; replay the point. A spare racket on the court is a hindrance nobody meant: let, replay the point, and clear the court. A player loses the point if the ball touches anything they wear or carry other than the racket in their hand. A spare racket, a towel or a bottle lying on the floor is not being worn or carried, so a ball that hits one is treated as an unintentional hindrance: the point is replayed. Do it twice and a referee will start treating it as negligence. The practical lesson is the same either way: the court is for four people and four rackets. Bags, bottles and spares go outside the door, and a second ball stays in the server's pocket or goes back to the door as well.

Why not their point: anything you left on court counts as you?

The rule about touching a player covers the body, clothing and whatever they are holding. A racket lying on the floor is none of those; it is a hindrance, and a hindrance nobody meant is a let.

What should a beginner do here?

Nothing on the court except you, your partner and the ball in play. Bottles go by the door.

How does this change for an advanced player?

A ball that comes from another court onto yours is the same call: a let. The distinction the rules draw is intent, not who brought the object in.

What do the rules say?

The point is lost if the ball touches anything a player wears or carries other than the racket held in the hand. Interference from an object on the court that nobody intended is a hindrance, and the point is replayed.

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