Can you touch the net in soft tennis?
I · Intermediate · The rally · 4 of 6A player loses the point if their racket, body or clothing touches the net or post, the umpire or the chair. Reaching over the net on a missed swing loses the point, but crossing it in a follow-through after hitting does not, unless it hinders the opponent. Touching the opponent's court or the opponent, or any clear hindrance, is interference.
How it works
- Net touch: the racket, body or clothing touches the net or post, even when the wind or the ball pushes the net into the player.
- Dropped items: a racket, cap or towel that falls and touches the net is a net touch.
- Pushed items: pushing a cap or towel into the net, the umpire or the chair loses the point.
- Touch: touching the umpire or the umpire's chair.
- Over net: the racket crosses the net or the posts on a missed swing.
- Follow-through: crossing the net or touching the far outcourt after hitting is allowed if it does not hinder the opponent.
- Interfere: touching the opponent's court or the opponent, or an item going into their court.
- Thrown racket: returning the ball with a racket that has left the hand is interference.
- Clear hindrance: any other act that plainly hinders the opponent's play.
The glossary has the net touch and over net, the interfere, the loss of point, the net posts, the umpire's chair and the racket.
Tricky cases
The wind blows the net against a player. Point lost?
Yes. A net touch counts even if the net moved into the player.
A player volleys and the racket follows through over the net. Point lost?
No, unless the umpire judges it hindered the opponent.
A player swings, misses and the racket passes over the net. Point lost?
Yes. That is over net.
A player's cap falls off and blows into the other court. Point lost?
Yes. An item going into the opponent's court is interference.
Why the rule exists
Play close to the net is common in soft tennis doubles, so the net rules protect the player across from it. Allowing a follow-through after a hit stops a good volley from being punished.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Missed swing | Over net, point lost | ISTF C 35.1(5)a |
| Follow-through | Allowed unless it hinders | ISTF C 35.1(5) |
| Items | Count as the player | ISTF C 35.1(10) to (12) |
From the rule book
International Soft Tennis Federation, Technical Rules (web text, site snapshot of 30 January 2024): Rules for Competitions, article 35.1(5), (8) and (10) to (13). Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISTF Technical Rules, published on the federation's website.