Rules · Faults
Tennis faults: understanding the errors that cost you points
Tennis faults cover every error that ends a point in your opponent’s favour: a ball into the net or out, a missed serve, a foot fault, a double bounce. There are rule-based faults (serve, foot fault, touching the net) and playing errors, unforced or forced, which you reduce through technique, tactics and mindset.
Key takeaways
- Penalty: a playing fault costs the point; on serve, a first fault gives you a second serve, and a second one is a double fault.
- Unforced error: a miss on a ball that posed no particular difficulty. It is the most common error among club players.
- Forced error: a miss drawn out by the quality of your opponent’s shot (pace, depth, angle).
- Conduct: code violations follow a point penalty system: warning, point penalty, game penalty, then default.
- Making fewer errors rests on four pillars: repeatable technique, mental routines, sound tactical choices and match analysis.
What is a fault in tennis?
A fault in tennis is a shot or action that breaks the rules, ends the rally and gives the point to your opponent. A ball into the net, a ball landing out, a serve outside the service box, a foot touching the baseline on the serve: in every case the penalty is immediate.
There are, however, two families. Playing faults concern the ball and the point: they cost a point, nothing more. Code violations concern the player: abuse of officials, throwing a racquet, time violations, unauthorised coaching under the event’s rules. These fall under the code of conduct and can lead to heavier penalties.
Which faults are defined by the rules?
Some faults are not about your level but about the rules. The quickest to explain are also the most frequent:
- Service fault: the ball does not land in the diagonally opposite service box, or goes into the net. You get a second serve.
- Double fault: two consecutive service faults on the same point. The point is lost. See our guide to the double fault in tennis.
- Foot fault: on the serve, before contact, the server touches the baseline or the court with a foot, or crosses the imaginary extension of the centre mark or sideline. The serve counts as a fault.
- Ball out: the ball bounces outside the court. In singles the tramlines are out; in doubles they are in.
- Double bounce: the player lets the ball bounce twice before hitting it.
- Touching the net: touching the net or the opponent’s court with your body, racquet or clothing while the ball is in play loses the point.
- Ball hitting a player: if the ball touches a player (or anything they are wearing) before it bounces, that player loses the point, even if standing outside the court.
Unforced error, forced error, double fault: what is the difference?
In match statistics, playing errors are classified by their cause. The distinction matters for your progress, because you do not fix a free error the same way as an error your opponent forced out of you.
| Type of fault | Definition | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Unforced error | A miss on a playable ball, under no real pressure | Excessive risk, positioning, concentration |
| Forced error | A miss caused by the opponent’s pace, depth or angle | Your opponent’s quality, your defensive skills |
| Double fault | Two service faults on the same point | Fragile second serve, tension, inconsistent toss |
| Foot fault | Baseline touched before contact on the serve | Falling forward, toss too far in front |
An unforced error is a point handed over: it is entirely down to you. A forced error, on the other hand, credits your opponent: the goal is not to “avoid” it, but to defend better and keep your confidence.
When in a match do players make the most errors?
An error is not only a “what” but also a “when”. Noting when your errors happen reveals the fragile areas of your game.
On the serve
You alone control the ball, so errors point to a problem with the toss, rhythm or tension. Foot faults and double faults show up mostly in tight moments. For the basics of the motion, see our guide to serve technique.
From the baseline
This is the heart of the rally: balls landing long, a low ball into the net, the wrong ball to attack. Most club players’ unforced errors happen here.
At the net
The finishing zone demands quick reactions and precision: an over-hit volley, a missed smash, touching the net on the follow-through.
Between points
This is where code violations happen. Time between points is limited (25 seconds on the professional tours, with a visible shot clock on many courts). Penalties escalate: warning, point penalty, then game penalty, and the umpire can go as far as a default.
How can you make fewer errors in tennis?
Making fewer errors does not mean playing timidly; it means playing smarter. At the Academy we work on four pillars:
- Repeatable technique: grip, positioning, balance and a fluid swing. Practise consistency drills (for example 20 cross-court balls in a row, clearing a target height over the net) rather than power.
- Mental routines: breathing between points, a ritual before serving, neutral self-talk after a miss. Read our guide to the mental side of tennis to go further.
- Sound tactical choices: play high and deep when under pressure, save risk for the right balls, adapt your intentions to the surface and the opponent.
- Match analysis: log your errors by shot and by situation (after how many shots? on which break points?), or film yourself. You can only fix what you have identified.
This work is at the heart of our Performance Camp Adult as well as our junior camps: identify your recurring errors, then fix them in match situations.
At the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera (Biot, near Nice), coaches count unforced errors in practice matches to set measurable goals. The Mouratoglou Method uses these statistics to individualise the work. Discover the Academy.
AdultsFull daysAll levelsPerformance Camp AdultA week of intensive tennis, 4 players per coach: technique, match play, physical and mental training.DISCOVER Frequently asked questions
What are the consequences of a fault in tennis?
A playing fault loses you the point. Piled up, errors can also break your momentum and tell your opponent where your weaknesses lie. A code violation can bring a warning, a point or game penalty, or even a default.
What are the most common errors among club players?
Unforced errors: balls into the net or long on playable balls, often caused by poor positioning or badly chosen risk. Double faults come next, when the second serve lacks safety.
Are faults penalised the same way in singles and doubles?
Yes: the fault costs the point to the side that commits it, whether it is a double fault, a ball into the net or a foot fault. The difference is the court: the tramlines are out in singles but in during doubles rallies (not on the serve).
Can you challenge a fault call in tennis?
It depends on the officiating. With electronic line calling, the call is final. With line judges, some events give players a limited number of video challenges per set. In matches without an umpire, each player calls the balls on their own side of the net, and the opponent gets the benefit of the doubt.
How can I cut down on unforced errors in matches?
Play with more margin: aim a metre inside the lines and higher over the net, especially on difficult balls. Count your errors in practice to track progress. At the Performance Camp Adult, coaches analyse your match errors and build targeted drills.
