Picture this: you’ve been dragged miles wide, somehow flick the ball past the net post, and watch it curve back into the other side of the court. Your opponent freezes. The crowd erupts. Then somebody asks the question that can turn a highlight into an argument: “Wait—is that actually legal?”
Yes, it can be. In tennis, a rally shot is allowed to travel around the net post instead of over the net, as long as it follows the rules and lands in the opponent’s correct court. It’s rare, ridiculous-looking, and absolutely worth knowing about—because “it didn’t go over the net” is not, by itself, a reason to call the shot out.
The short answer: around the post can be a legal return
Under Rule 25 of the ITF Rules of Tennis, a player can return the ball outside the net posts, above or below the height of the net, and the return can still be good—even if it touches a post—provided the ball lands in the correct court.
That last part does the heavy lifting. The shot must finish inside the opponent’s court, within the boundary lines for the match being played. If it lands out, the shot is out. If it reaches the court legally, the rally continues.
So the key question isn’t, “Did the ball clear the net?” It’s, “Did the ball take a permitted route and land in the correct court?”
How the rule works in a real rally
Imagine a player has been pulled far beyond the singles sideline. They reach the ball and strike it from outside the court, sending it around the outside of the net post. The ball bends back toward the other side and lands inside the opponent’s singles court.
That can be a good return. The player who hit it didn’t need to send it over the net tape. They needed to return it by a route the rules allow and make it land in the right court.
The same principle applies if the ball brushes the post on its way around. Touching a net post does not automatically make the shot a fault. The return is judged by where it goes and where it lands. A post can be part of the adventure, not the end of the point.
Does the ball have to pass above the top of the net?
No—not when it is returned outside the net posts. Rule 25 specifically allows this route above or below the level of the top of the net. That can make an around-the-post shot look as if it’s gone under the net, especially from the far side of the court. But there’s an important distinction: going around an outside support is not the same as simply passing underneath the net between the posts.
A ball that travels underneath the net in the ordinary gap between the net posts is not a normal good return. The rules allow a separate, specific route beneath the net cord between a singles stick and the adjacent net post, provided the ball avoids touching the net, cord, or post and lands in the correct court. That narrow exception shouldn’t be confused with a ball sneaking under the middle of the net.
What counts as the “correct court”?
The ball has to land within the lines that apply to the match. In singles, that means the singles court. In doubles, it means the doubles court. A spectacular route around the post earns no special forgiveness on the sidelines: if the ball lands beyond the applicable boundary, it is out.
Here’s a simple way to sort out the most common versions:
| What happens | Likely ruling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The ball travels around a net post and lands inside the opponent’s court | Good return | A rally ball may be returned outside the posts if it lands in the correct court. |
| The ball goes around the post, touches it, then lands inside the court | Good return | Touching the post does not automatically make the return illegal. |
| The ball goes around the post but lands beyond the sideline or baseline | Out | The landing spot must still be inside the relevant court boundaries. |
| The ball passes under the net between the net posts | Not a good return | The permitted around-post route is not a general licence to send the ball under the net. |
| A serve travels around a post instead of passing over the net | Fault | Serving is governed by separate rules; a serve must pass over the net and land in the correct service court. |
One big exception: serves follow different rules
This is where players and spectators can get tripped up. Rule 25 is about a good return during a rally. A serve has its own requirements. The server’s ball must pass over the net and land in the diagonally opposite service court, subject to the usual service rules.
So a rally shot that legally goes around the post does not mean a player can serve around the post. Even if an around-the-post serve somehow landed in the service box, it would not have taken the required route over the net and would be a fault.
That distinction is useful when a point starts with a strange-looking ball. If it’s the serve, apply the service rules. Once the serve has been returned and the rally is underway, the around-the-post provision can come into play.
Can the player hit the ball from outside the court?
Yes. A player can run beyond the sideline to reach a ball and send it around the post. Being outside the court when making contact doesn’t automatically lose the point. What matters is whether the player follows the rules while playing the shot and whether the ball comes back legally.
For example, a player may sprint around the outside of the net area and strike the ball from beside the net post. They still must not touch the net while the ball is in play. They also can’t interfere with the opponent’s chance to play the ball. The shot may be astonishing; the usual conduct and interference rules still apply.
There’s another rule that can look similar but is different: a player generally cannot reach over the net to hit the ball while it is still on the opponent’s side. There is an exception if the ball has already bounced on the player’s own side and spin or wind carries it back over the net; then the player may reach over to play it, as long as they don’t touch the net or interfere. That’s a “reach over” situation, not an around-the-post shot.
Why these shots are so difficult
An around-the-post return is usually a response to a ball that has pulled the player a long way out of position. The player has to make contact from a difficult angle, control the height, and aim the ball back toward a court that may be partially hidden by the post or netting. There’s no safe, generous target. Too much angle and it lands wide; too little and it catches the post, net, or an obstacle.
The shot can also be tactically awkward for the opponent. Players are trained to read the ball over the net: they watch the contact, anticipate the trajectory, and move toward the likely bounce. A ball arriving from outside the post can disrupt that picture. The opponent may hesitate for a fraction of a second, unsure whether the ball is heading out or bending back in.
Still, it’s not a sensible shot to attempt just because it looks spectacular. In most rallies, a safer defensive lob or a controlled crosscourt reply offers a better chance of staying in the point. Around-the-post attempts tend to make sense when the player is already stretched wide and has a clear angle back into the court. Think emergency escape with a chance of brilliance—not a routine playbook entry.
Common misconceptions to leave courtside
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“Every legal shot has to go over the net.” Not in a rally: the rules allow a return outside the posts if it lands in the correct court.
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“Touching the post means the point is lost.” Not automatically. A return can touch a post and still be good if it follows the permitted route and lands in.
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“If the ball goes below the net height, it must be illegal.” Not when it travels outside the posts under the around-post rule.
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“The ball can go underneath the net anywhere.” No. Passing around an outside support and passing under the net between the posts are different things.
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“The same rule applies to serves.” It doesn’t. The serve must pass over the net and land in the correct service box.
What should players and officials watch for?
First, track the ball rather than judging the shot by its strange flight. A ball that appears to miss the net entirely may still be heading around the post and back into the court. Give it a moment to land before deciding it was out.
Second, pay attention to the landing spot and the match format. Singles and doubles use different sidelines, so a ball can be in for one format and out for the other. If you’re playing informally and the court setup is unusual, agree beforehand which lines and net supports apply.
Finally, distinguish a ball that travels outside the post from one that passes through the net area. That small detail is the heart of the ruling. In a competitive match, officials apply the ITF rules and the relevant court setup; in a friendly game, a quick, calm explanation is usually better than an argument after the point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the ball touch the net post and still be in?
Yes. A rally return can touch a net post and still be good if it takes a permitted route and lands inside the opponent’s correct court. If it lands out, it is out.
Can the ball go around the post below the top of the net?
Yes. The rules allow a return outside the posts above or below the height of the net, provided it lands in the correct court. That is different from sending the ball underneath the net between the posts.
Is an around-the-post serve legal?
No. A serve must pass over the net and land in the correct service court. The around-the-post rule applies to a return during a rally, not to the serve.
Does the player have to be inside the court to hit the shot?
No. A player may hit the ball while outside the sideline. They still must avoid breaking other rules, such as touching the net, and the returned ball must land in the correct court.
Final Thoughts
An around-the-net-post shot is one of tennis’s most delightful rule twists: the ball doesn’t have to cross over the net if it takes the permitted route around the outside and lands in the right court. Remember the two big checks—rally shot, not serve; correct route, correct landing—and the ruling becomes much easier. And if you ever pull one off yourself, enjoy the look on your opponent’s face. Just make sure it lands in.
