# Law 25: A Good Return (ITF Rules of Tennis)

Tennis · Law 25: A Good Return · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/tennis/laws/law-25-a-good-return/)

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.

## 25.251 A Good Return

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

### Test 1: Over, round and under the net

- Touching the net does not matter if the ball passes over and lands in. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a)
- 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)
- Touching the net posts is allowed if the ball then lands in. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a)
- A return outside the net posts may be above or below the net's height. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c)
- Returns played outside the posts count if they land in the correct court. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c)
- Touching the net never rescues a ball that lands out. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a)
- A ball that touches the net and then lands in the correct court is good. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a)
- Round the post, height does not matter. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25c)
- The net touch does not stop play. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25a)
- 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)

### Test 2: Reaching over, follow-throughs and other balls

- 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)
- 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)
- Reaching over is allowed, but Law 24 still applies. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b)
- The contact on the player's own side is what matters. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e)
- If the ball is struck on the player's side, the follow-through may cross. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e)
- Hitting a ball lying in the court does not stop play. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2)
- When the ball in play cannot be told apart, the point is replayed. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2)
- The player may reach across, as long as nothing else is touched. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25b)
- Only if the ball in play is unclear is a let called. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25, Case 2)
- Contact came before the net, so crossing afterwards is fine. (Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rule 25e)

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

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