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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