Is a ball on the line in or out in soft tennis?
B · Beginner · The rally · 6 of 7A ball is judged in or out where it lands, and a ball that touches any line is in. A ball that lands in the outcourt, or hits the umpire, the chair or a fixture before landing, is out. An umpire who is unsure may check the mark the ball left on the court before deciding.
How it works
- Where judged: at the spot where the ball lands.
- The line: a ball touching the line is in.
- Out: landing in the outcourt, or hitting the umpire, the umpire's chair or other fixtures on the full.
- No sign for in: umpires usually give no signal when a ball is in.
- Unclear in: the umpire holds an arm forward, palm down, to show the ball was in.
- Out signal: the vice umpire faces the landing spot and raises one arm, fingers stretched.
- The ball mark: an unsure umpire may look at the ball mark; the chair umpire may come down to look.
- Who calls which line: set by the judgement-area chart; without a vice umpire, the chair umpire covers all.
The glossary has the out, the lines, the outcourt, the verification of judgment, the umpire's signals and calls and the chair umpire, vice umpire and linesmen.
Tricky cases
The ball hits the umpire's chair on the full. In or out?
Out. A return that hits the umpire or the chair before landing loses the point.
Can a player ask the umpire to check a mark?
A player may ask about a call. The umpire in charge confirms it and the chair umpire gives the final decision.
The ball clips the outside of the line. In?
Yes. Any touch of the line is in.
Who decides when umpires disagree?
The chair umpire gives the final judgement after hearing the other umpires.
Why the rule exists
Judging at the landing spot makes the call one fact: where the ball touched. Checking marks suits clay courts, where the soft ball leaves a trace.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Judging | At the landing spot | ISTF C 34 |
| Mark checking | Allowed when unsure | ISTF U 12 |
| Final word | Chair umpire | ISTF U 14 |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, articles 34 and 35.1(2); Rules for Umpiring, articles 8, 11 to 14. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.