A ball that touches the line is in

If any part of the ball touches the line, even a little, it is in. The lines count as part of the court (8.B, 8.E).

If the ball does not touch the line at all and lands outside, it is out (8.C, 8.E).

Who makes the call?

In a match with no referee, each team calls the balls that land in its own court (line calls) (8.A).

• You may call a ball out only when you clearly see a gap between the ball and the line (8.E)
• If you could not see well, or you are not sure, it is in (8.D)

For more, see Line call etiquette.

Exception: the serve and the non-volley zone line (kitchen line)

On the serve only, a ball that touches the kitchen line is a fault (8.C, 7.E.2). For more, see A serve that touches the kitchen line is a fault.

Common mistakes

• A ball is out only when it lands on the ground outside the court. If it hits a player before it lands, it is not out. It is a fault for the player it hit (10.C.3, Even outside the court, getting hit by a ball in the air is a fault)