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Your shot goes round the outside of the net post and lands in. Point?
Around the outside of the post is legal, at any height, as long as the ball lands in.
Pulled wide, you hit a ball that travels outside the net post, below the height of the net, and lands in their court. Is it good?
Around the outside of the post is legal, at any height, as long as the ball lands in.
Why
The rule requires the ball to pass to the other side of the net and land in the opponents' court; it does not require it to pass over the net. A ball that travels outside the net post, even below the height of the tape, is good if it lands in. It is a rare shot, because the geometry only appears when you have been dragged completely outside the line, but when it appears it is unanswerable. There is no angle a net player can cover on a ball that is already past them.
What this means at your level
Beginner
You will not be trying this for a while. Know it is legal so you do not argue when it is done to you.
Intermediate
When you are pulled outside the side line and the net player is at the net, the ball down the outside of the post is the only shot they cannot reach.
Advanced
It works because they cannot cover it; it fails because people try it from too far back. The ball has to be close to the net and outside the post before it is on.
Common questions
Pulled wide, you hit a ball that travels outside the net post, below the height of the net, and lands in their court. Is it good?
Yes: outside the post at any height, if it lands in. Around the outside of the post is legal, at any height, as long as the ball lands in. The rule requires the ball to pass to the other side of the net and land in the opponents' court; it does not require it to pass over the net. A ball that travels outside the net post, even below the height of the tape, is good if it lands in. It is a rare shot, because the geometry only appears when you have been dragged completely outside the line, but when it appears it is unanswerable. There is no angle a net player can cover on a ball that is already past them.
Why not yes, but only if it is above net height?
Height does not matter for a ball passing outside the post. Landing in the court does.
What should a beginner do here?
You will not be trying this for a while. Know it is legal so you do not argue when it is done to you.
How does this change for an advanced player?
It works because they cannot cover it; it fails because people try it from too far back. The ball has to be close to the net and outside the post before it is on.
What do the rules say?
The ball may pass outside the net post, below or above net height, provided it lands in the opponents' court.
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