Pickleball Line Call Rules: Who Calls In and Out

The basics

• You call the lines on your end. In doubles, either partner can make the call.
• On the line is in. The lines are part of the court, so a ball touching any line is good. The one exception is the serve: a serve on the kitchen line is short, and a fault.
• If in doubt, it’s in. You should only call a ball out if you clearly saw space between where it landed and the line. Any call you’re not sure of goes in your opponent’s favor.

How and when to call it

Call “out” right away, by voice, a hand signal or both. If you’re going to hit the ball, the call has to come before your opponent’s next shot or before the ball goes dead. If you let the ball go, a prompt “out” still counts after it lands. (That one’s new in 2026.)

Shouting “bounce it!” or “out!” to your partner while the ball is in the air is just advice. It isn’t a line call.

When partners disagree

If one partner says out and the other says in, the ball is in. You can always overrule your own side’s call to your own disadvantage, for example “Sorry, that was in, your point.”

Asking the other side

You can ask your opponents for their opinion before the next serve. If they clearly saw it, their call stands. If they didn’t see it, the ball is in. Don’t ask spectators: since 2026 the rulebook says spectators must not be consulted.

Tournaments

With a referee but no line judges, players still call the baseline, sidelines and centerline on their own end, and the referee calls the faults. With line judges, the line judges make the calls.