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Rule of the Week (6/1/98)

"Ball good when hitting permanent fixture?"

Every week TennisONE will respond to a frequently asked question about the rules of tennis.

Rule of the Week Question

The other day we were playing doubles. We hit a ball that hit the net post, went under the net cord and dropped onto their side of the court untouched. We claimed we had a winner because the ball had hit a permanent fixture and dropped into the court. Were we right?

Answer

You were wrong on both counts. First, while you can hit some permanent fixtures and still keep the ball in play, you can't hit all of them. You can hit the net, posts, singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap and band--and if the ball passes over them, and if the ball lands in the court, you still have a ball in play. In your case, however, the ball passed beneath the cord, so you lose the point. However, you should know that "permanent fixture" includes the umpire's chair as well as any ball boys standing on the side of the court. You can't hit the umpire's chair or the ball boy and have it ricochet into the court for a winner.

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