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The 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.
Their smash bounces on your side and flies out of the court through the side opening. It has only bounced once. What can you do?
If the court has an opening, you may leave through it and play the ball back, before it bounces a second time.
Why
On courts built with side openings, a player may go out of the court to return a ball, as long as the ball has not bounced twice and the return goes back over the net into the opponents’ court. It is one of the few genuinely joyful rules in any sport. It also tells you something practical: a smash into the side glass that sends the ball out is only a certain winner on a fully enclosed court.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Do not go hunting for these: get out of the way and take the point loss. Running into a door frame is a real injury risk at speed.
Intermediate
Read it early. The only ones you can reach are the ones you started moving towards as the smash was struck.
Advanced
The counter is to smash for the back fence instead of the side glass when the court has wide openings, or to flatten the smash into the body so no exit exists.
Common questions
Their smash bounces on your side and flies out of the court through the side opening. It has only bounced once. What can you do?
Run out through the opening and play it back over the net. If the court has an opening, you may leave through it and play the ball back, before it bounces a second time. On courts built with side openings, a player may go out of the court to return a ball, as long as the ball has not bounced twice and the return goes back over the net into the opponents’ court. It is one of the few genuinely joyful rules in any sport. It also tells you something practical: a smash into the side glass that sends the ball out is only a certain winner on a fully enclosed court.
Why not play it back through the fence?
It has to come back over the net and land in their court. Through the fence is not a shot.
What should a beginner do here?
Do not go hunting for these: get out of the way and take the point loss. Running into a door frame is a real injury risk at speed.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The counter is to smash for the back fence instead of the side glass when the court has wide openings, or to flatten the smash into the body so no exit exists.
What do the rules say?
Where the court has openings, a player may leave the court to play the ball, provided it has not bounced twice and the return crosses the net back into play.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
beginnerCan 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.