Pickleball Protocol Disclaimer

The views and opinions as well as the explanation, paraphrasing, and interpretation of the rules, norms and etiquette for club-level PIckleball are that of Pickleball Pete.

You may notice a repeated theme on some of the topics on Pickleball Protocol regarding line calls.

It is popular for players, novice and on up, to cite the principle they heard about once, that players have the only and final say about all line calls on their end of the court.

The actual Rule 6.D.1. says "Players are responsible for calling the lines on their end of the court."

"Responsible." Sure, sure, but with this responsiblily comes tremendous and solemn obligation.

The gist of this is: when you make line calls, you should be super-super generous to your opponents.

Super-super accuracy needs to take a back seat, always in favor of your opponents.

It's not just a nice idea.

Its. In. The. Rulebook.

It's restated several times in that book.

A great personal strategy for handling these situations is: when it's close, see if your opponent was in a good position to look down the line. Then ask them for a call.

9,999 out of 10,000 times, your opponent will give you an honest call. (Once you ask, you must accept their call.)

If they are unable or unwilling to make a clear call, then GIVE IT TO THEM, call it "In."

It won't kill you.

Oh, and no "do-overs" for those uncertain line calls. In Pickleball, there are precious few situations that call for a do-over, line calls are not one of them.

See: