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7. Serving›7.E

7.E.5Fault: Serve Hits Receiver or Receiver’s Partner

If your serve hits the receiver or their partner (or what they wear or carry) before it lands, the receiving side loses the rally.

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Show me on the court

Which side do I serve from?Serve clips the netServe lands on the centerlineServe into the wrong court

Myths about this

“If a serve touches the net, you replay it.”
See Rule 7.E.5 in the official 2026 Rulebook ↗