SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/tennis-foot-fault

While serving, your foot touches the baseline before you hit the ball. What is it called?

A foot fault, so that serve is a fault.

Start playing free

  1. A let
  2. A legal serve
  3. A foot fault ✔

Why: During the service motion, the server must not touch the baseline or the court with either foot. Doing so is a foot fault, which counts as a service fault.

Huh, didn't know that: Jumping is fine. The rules allow a server to have one or both feet off the ground.

The dad joke
Why did the tennis player get a foot fault? He was putting his best foot forward a little too early.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: A foot fault. During the service motion, the server must not touch the baseline or the court with either foot. Doing so is a foot fault, which counts as a service fault.

  1. ITF 2026 Rules of Tennis, Rule 18 Foot Fault www.itftennis.com/media/7221/2026-rules-of-tennis-english.pdf
    Touch the baseline or the court with either foot
    Checked 2026-10-12.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Sports & FitnessWhat happens when a server misses both the first and second serve?Sports & FitnessUnder standard ITF rules, a serve clips the net and lands in the correct box. What happens?Sports & FitnessYou miss your first serve, then your second serve is a let. What serve is next?

That's stuff everyone should know.