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Tennis · Laws of Tennis

Law 25: A Good Return

1 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

What still counts as a good return: balls that touch the net or its posts and land in, balls played round the posts or under the cord beside a singles stick, reaching over for a ball blown back, a follow-through over the net, and a ball that hits another ball lying in the court.

25.251A Good Return

Over, round and under the net; reaching over, follow-throughs and other balls on the court.

Test 1Over, round and under the netTake a test

  1. Touching the net does not matter if the ball passes over and lands in.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a · applied

  2. A return off a singles stick that lands in is good; a serve off a stick is a fault.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 1 · applied

  3. Touching the net posts is allowed if the ball then lands in.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a · applied

  4. A return outside the net posts may be above or below the net's height.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c · applied

  5. Returns played outside the posts count if they land in the correct court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c · recall

  6. Touching the net never rescues a ball that lands out.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a · applied

  7. A ball that touches the net and then lands in the correct court is good.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a · recall

  8. Round the post, height does not matter.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c · applied

  9. The net touch does not stop play.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a · recall

  10. A ball that passes under the cord between the stick and the post without touching anything, and lands in, is good.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25d · applied

Test 2Reaching over, follow-throughs and other ballsTake a test

  1. Only a ball that landed in the correct court and spun or blew back may be played across.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b · recall

  2. Reaching over is allowed only after the ball has bounced in the player's own correct court.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b · recall

  3. Reaching over is allowed, but Law 24 still applies.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b · recall

  4. The contact on the player's own side is what matters.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e · applied

  5. If the ball is struck on the player's side, the follow-through may cross.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e · recall

  6. Hitting a ball lying in the court does not stop play.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2 · applied

  7. When the ball in play cannot be told apart, the point is replayed.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2 · applied

  8. The player may reach across, as long as nothing else is touched.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b · applied

  9. Only if the ball in play is unclear is a let called.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2 · applied

  10. Contact came before the net, so crossing afterwards is fine.

    Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e · applied

Sources

ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25 with Cases 1-2 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a5
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b4
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c3
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e3
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 23
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 11
  • ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25d1