RULES · BALL IN PLAY
One bounce, two bounces, and whether the line is in
During a rally, return the ball before its second bounce. The first bounce must be inside the correct court, and touching any part of the right line counts as in.
Checked against the 2026 ITF Rules of Tennis · Updated 1 September 2026Three calls cover most rallies
- 01First bounce on the correct court or line: keep playing.
- 02First bounce outside: the hitter loses the point, even if the ball later rolls back in.
- 03Second bounce before a return: the receiver loses the point.
INTERACTIVE BOUNCE EXAMPLES
Follow the first bounce—not where the ball ends up.
Compare a clean in-ball, a shot that brushes the line and a reachable ball that bounces twice.
Loading bounce examples…
IN → RETURN ITThe first bounce is inside. The receiver may let it bounce once, then must return it before the next bounce.
Drag to rotate · Double-click to reset01 / FIRST BOUNCE
Judge the place where the ball first lands
A rally shot is in when its first bounce touches the correct playing area. What happens afterward does not change that call.
A ball may land in and then jump far beyond the baseline. It is still in, and the receiver may continue chasing it outside the court to make the return.
02 / THE LINE
Any touch is enough
Court lines belong to the areas they mark. If even a small part of the ball compresses onto the correct line, the ball is in.
That is why close calls can look surprising: the visible centre of the ball may appear outside while its edge still catches the paint.
03 / BOUNCE LIMIT
Return before bounce number two
You may hit the ball after one bounce or take it out of the air as a volley. You lose the point if it bounces twice before you return it.
There is no requirement to stand inside the painted court. Players often move behind the baseline or beyond a sideline because the ball remains playable there.