The reality of a game involving a ball and racket is that somewhere a player is bound to get hit by an opponent or even a teammate. Certain sports may encourage you to hit your opponent, but what happens when you hit or "tag" your opponent in a game of pickleball?
It's not wrong to hit your opponent with the ball in pickleball. Players can hit the ball either with a paddle or from anywhere under the wrist of the hand holding the paddle. So, if a player hits an opponent with the ball on any other part of the body, the player who struck the ball through the opponent's fault gets a point.
In recent years, pickleball has become a much faster-paced game than ever before. Advances in paddle and ball technology allow players to hit shots harder and harder, increasing the risk of one of the players being hit by a fast-moving ball. It doesn't matter if a player hits their opponent with or without intent. The result is the same.
In pickleball, the official rules for what happens when a player hits another player with the ball are similar to other racquet and ball sports.
It is strictly forbidden for players to hit the ball with any other part of the body that is safe for the lower wrist of the hand holding the paddle. For example, if Player 1 hits Player 2 with the ball on his chest, it may seem unfair to some people, but Player 2 is the one at fault by using a paddle to fail to make contact with the ball.
In almost every sport in which a ball is hit with a racquet, bat or paddle, the player eventually gets hit. Most of the time, the hitter doesn't aim for the opponent on purpose, but occasionally does so because there is something to be gained by outwitting the opponent and putting him in an awkward position when he returns.
Pickleball is a template between tennis, badminton and table tennis. All three sports, including pickleball, are known for being social and friendly games that follow a strict code of ethics that requires good manners when participating. Therefore, players who disregard sports etiquette and use abusive language may be kicked out of their club.
While hitting an opponent with a ball in pickleball is not against the Code of Ethics, is it okay to deliberately target an opponent for points when it could potentially cause injury?
In most cases where a player is hit by the ball, the player hitting the ball has no intention of injuring or injuring the opponent, and the player usually apologizes immediately. However, some players take advantage of the fact that hitting an opponent with the ball is a strategic advantage.
In pickleball, it is a common and accepted strategy to aim at the opponent's feet and put them in an awkward position to return the shot. However, intentionally targeting an opponent's face or chest is not considered a fair play tactic by most people. This is because on smaller courts with fast-paced shots, players can get hurt if hit by a ball in a sensitive area.
