Foot fault
A serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
Overview
When serving in tennis, the player must keep both feet behind the baseline until the ball is struck. Stepping on or over the baseline, or touching the wrong side of the centre mark, before contact is a foot fault and counts the same as missing the serve.
A foot fault on a first serve leads to a second serve, and on a second serve it results in a double fault. Similar service-line rules apply in other racket sports such as pickleball and padel.
Key points
- Both feet must stay behind the baseline until the ball is hit.
- Touching the baseline or the court before contact is a fault.
- A foot fault counts exactly like missing the serve.
- The server must also stay on the correct side of the centre mark.
Where it’s used
Sports that use foot fault:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Pickleball
A friendly, easy-to-learn paddle sport played on a small court with a solid paddle and a light, perforated ball.
POP Tennis
A friendly, easy-to-learn racquet sport on a smaller court with solid paddles and a lower net.
Related rules
Tennis serving rules
The rules governing how a tennis point begins, including where the server stands and where the serve must land.
Let
A call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
Two-bounce rule
A pickleball rule requiring both the serve and the return to bounce once before players may hit the ball out of the air.
How it connects
The meaning-bearing relationships that place Foot fault in the wider knowledge graph — each one with the reason it exists.
Frequently learned together
Taught side by side in the same stage of a learning path.
- Tennis serving rulesBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- LetBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- Touching the netBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- Tennis scoringBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Tennis learning path.
- Padel scoringBoth are taught in the “Get to know the game” stage of the Tennis learning path.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Foot fault to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Scoring systems
- Tennis scoringTennis is scored in points, games and sets, using the distinctive 15–30–40 point sequence and a win-by-two margin at every level.
- Padel scoringPadel borrows tennis scoring, counting points as 15–30–40 within games and playing sets to six games decided by a tiebreak.
- Tiebreak scoringA tiebreak is a short deciding game used in racket sports to settle a set that has reached an even number of games, scored in simple numbers to a fixed target.
Officiating
- UmpireA match official who rules on lines, serves and dismissals in racket, bat-and-ball and net sports such as tennis, cricket and baseball — and, in racket sports, also keeps the running score.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- TimekeeperThe timekeeper is the official who runs a contest's clock — starting and stopping time, timing rounds, races and periods, and signalling when time expires.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
Learning paths
Beginner guides
- Your First Tennis Session: What to ExpectA friendly, honest look at what actually happens at your first tennis session — how it is usually run, what tends to surprise beginners, and how to turn up relaxed and ready to enjoy it.
- Spending Wisely as a BeginnerYou rarely need to buy much to start a new sport, because borrowing, hiring, taster sessions and a little patience let you learn what genuinely matters before you spend.
- Your first basketball sessionA first basketball session is a friendly, fast-moving introduction to handling the ball, moving your feet and sharing simple play with others — no experience or prior skill needed.
- Your First Padel SessionA warm, honest look at what your very first padel session actually involves — the doubles court, the walls, and the easygoing rallying that makes it so welcoming to newcomers.
- Your first football sessionA warm, practical picture of what actually happens when you turn up to your very first football session — how it runs, what surprises beginners, and how to enjoy it without any pressure.
Skills
Tactics
- Baseline playA patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
- Fast breakPushing the ball up court at speed after a turnover or rebound to score before the defence sets up.
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
- Counter-attackWinning the ball and moving forward at speed to attack before the opponent can reorganise their defence.
- Full-court pressAn aggressive basketball defence that pressures the ball across the whole court to force turnovers.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Rule
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-07-09
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