Body Contact: Knuckles Legal, Elbow Fault
Summary
Aylex cites USA Pickleball Rule 10.C.3: if the ball touches you or anything you wear or carry during a rally, it’s a fault against you — even if the ball was flying out.
The exception is your paddle and the paddle hand below the wrist while holding it. So a ball off the knuckles on the paddle hand can be a legal shot; a ball off the elbow is a fault.
Key takeaways
- Touching you / your clothes / carried items = fault (even if going out)
- Exception: paddle + paddle hand below the wrist
- Knuckles (paddle hand) can be legal; elbow is a fault
Action items
- Next time a ball brushes you, know the call before the argument starts