Is a double hit allowed in soft tennis?
A · Advanced · The rally · 2 of 6A player loses the point if the ball touches the racket twice in one stroke, called a dribble, or rests on the strings, called a carry. A shot that touches only the frame and fails to go back is a tip. A frame shot that is still returned is good, because the rule counts only a failed return.
How it works
- Dribble: the ball touches the racket more than once in one stroke.
- Carry: the ball rests on the racket face.
- Tip: the ball touches only the frame and is not returned.
- Frame return: a frame-only touch that still goes back legally is not a tip.
- On the serve: a double hit is a fault, not a dribble.
- Who calls it: the chair umpire and vice umpire; linesmen may call a tip.
The glossary has the dribble and carry, the tip, the racket, the loss of point, the fault and the umpire's signals and calls.
Tricky cases
The ball hits the frame and goes over the net into the court. Good?
Yes. A tip is called only when the frame shot fails.
The ball strikes the strings twice in one swing by accident. Point lost?
Yes. Any double touch in one stroke is a dribble.
The server hits the ball twice. Dribble?
No. On the serve it is a fault, and a second serve follows if it was the first.
Who can call a tip?
The chair umpire, vice umpire and linesmen.
Why the rule exists
A stroke should be one clean hit. Holding the ball on the strings would let a player aim it like a throw.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| In a rally | Point lost | ISTF C 35.1(6), (7) |
| On the serve | Fault | ISTF C 25.1(4) |
| Linesmen | May call tip | ISTF U 8(2) |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, articles 25.1(4) and 35.1(6) and (7); Rules for Umpiring, article 8(2). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.