Double Hits, Carries, and Other Faults Nobody Explains Well
Last updated: July 2026
What's actually illegal, and what just looks weird but is fine.
A double hit is legal if it happens during one continuous swing in one direction — even if the ball taps your paddle twice, it's one shot as far as the rules care. A carry (catching or scooping the ball on your paddle instead of hitting it cleanly) is always a fault. A hinder — something outside the game interfering, like a ball rolling in from another court — gets the point replayed, nobody's fault.
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Double hits are legal (yes, really)
This one surprises almost everyone. If the ball hits your paddle twice — or even three times — during a single continuous swing in one direction, it's completely legal. It usually happens on a scrambling reset or a mishit where the ball clips the frame and then the face. As long as you didn't take a second, separate swing at it, it counts as one shot.
What IS illegal is stopping and swinging again — like blocking the ball with your paddle, then taking a second intentional swipe at it. That's two hits, not a legal double hit, and it's a fault.
Carries: the one that actually is a fault
A carry is when the ball rests on your paddle for a beat — you're kind of scooping or throwing it rather than hitting it cleanly. This happens most on soft dinks where a player tries to guide the ball instead of striking it. If the ball visibly pauses or gets carried on your paddle face, that's a fault, full stop.
Hinders: nobody's fault, just replay it
A hinder is outside interference that isn't part of the game — a ball rolling in from the next court, a bug flying across your face at the worst moment, someone walking behind the court mid-rally. If something like that genuinely affects the point, either player can call it and the point gets replayed. It's not a fault against anyone; it just didn't count.
One thing that's NOT a hinder: your own paddle, your partner, or anything you're carrying. If you drop your hat mid-rally, that's on you.
Other small stuff people ask about
- A ball visible in your pocket (spare ball) that your opponent can see is technically a fault.
- Touching the net with your body or paddle during a live point is a fault, even if the ball's already dead.
- Your paddle can cross over the net to hit a ball, as long as the ball itself is still on your side of the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a double hit illegal in pickleball?
No — if it happens in one continuous swing, a double hit is legal, even if the ball touches your paddle two or three times. It only becomes a fault if you take a separate, second swing at it.
What is a carry in pickleball?
A carry is when the ball rests, scoops, or gets thrown off your paddle instead of being struck cleanly — usually on a soft dink. It's a fault.
What happens if a ball from another court rolls onto yours mid-point?
That's a hinder. Either player can call it, and the point is replayed from the previous score — it doesn't count against anyone.
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