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You and your partner both hit the same ball. Whose point?
One racket per shot. Both partners touching the ball is a point lost, and a communication problem.
A ball comes down the middle, you both swing, and both rackets touch it before it goes over. What is the call?
One racket per shot. Both partners touching the ball is a point lost, and a communication problem.
Why
The rule is simple: only one player on a side may hit the ball on each shot, so if both partners touch it, the point is lost. The lesson is not really about the rule. Two rackets on one ball means nobody called it, and the middle ball is where that happens. Agree before the match who takes the middle, usually the player who can take it on the forehand, and then call it out loud anyway, every time.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Say "mine" or "yours" on every ball that comes down the middle. Talking costs nothing and it stops this entirely.
Intermediate
The forehand takes the middle by default. Whoever that is on your pair, decide it in the warm-up.
Advanced
When you both go for it, the one who called it hits it and the other one gets out of the way. There is no second chance to sort it out mid-swing.
Common questions
A ball comes down the middle, you both swing, and both rackets touch it before it goes over. What is the call?
Theirs: one racket per shot. One racket per shot. Both partners touching the ball is a point lost, and a communication problem. The rule is simple: only one player on a side may hit the ball on each shot, so if both partners touch it, the point is lost. The lesson is not really about the rule. Two rackets on one ball means nobody called it, and the middle ball is where that happens. Agree before the match who takes the middle, usually the player who can take it on the forehand, and then call it out loud anyway, every time.
Why not replay. It was unavoidable?
It was avoidable, which is the coaching point: call the middle ball before it arrives.
What should a beginner do here?
Say "mine" or "yours" on every ball that comes down the middle. Talking costs nothing and it stops this entirely.
How does this change for an advanced player?
When you both go for it, the one who called it hits it and the other one gets out of the way. There is no second chance to sort it out mid-swing.
What do the rules say?
Only one player may strike the ball on each shot. If both partners touch the ball, the point is lost.
Puzzles like this one
Your partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.
beginnerA ball comes down the middle. Who takes it?
The middle ball belongs to the forehand: decided before the match, not during the point.
beginnerYou just hit a great lob. What next?
A lob without a run forward is a wasted lob. Both of you go, or neither.