How To Play

Choose your style:
- Original Hand Tennis (Glove optional)
- Pro Hand Tennis (pick your Glove Racket of choice)

Determine First Serve: Players/teams can flip a coin or a glove racket. The winner of the toss has the option to choose to serve first or which side of the court to start on.

2v2 Starting Positions: In doubles, players must decide their starting positions on their side of the court before the first serve of the game.

Serving Sequence (Doubles): In doubles, the first serving team will have only one server to start the game. If they lose the rally, a "side-out" occurs, and the serve goes to the opposing team. Thereafter, each team member gets to serve before a side-out occurs. This means the first server on a team continues to serve until their team loses a rally. Their partner then serves until their team loses a rally, resulting in a side-out to the opposing team.

Win by Two: The winning side must have a lead of at least two points to win the game (e.g., 11-9, 12-10).

General Rules

The serve must be made underhand. The paddle/hand must pass below the waist on the upward swing.

The serve is initiated from the right-hand service area on the first serve of each side-out.

The ball must travel diagonally across the net and land within the service box opposite the server.

Only one serve attempt is allowed per server, except in the case of a "let" serve (see below).

Singles Serving Rules

At the start of each game, the server serves from the right service area. If a point is scored, the server switches to the left service area for the next serve. The server continues alternating service areas as long as their team scores. When the serving team loses a rally, it is a side-out, and the serve goes to the opponent, who will start serving from their right service area.

Doubles Serving Rules

The first server of the serving team will serve from the right service area. If their team scores a point, they switch service areas (to the left) for the next serve. They continue serving, alternating service areas, until their team commits a fault and loses the rally (side-out).

When the first server's team loses the rally, the serve goes to the opponent on the right service area.

At the start of each subsequent service turn for a team, the player who is positioned on the right-hand court serves first. After their team loses a rally, the serve goes to the other player on their team (if it's their turn to serve).

First Server Designation: At the beginning of each game, the serving team must announce which player will be the first server. This order cannot be changed during the game.

"Let" Serve: If a served ball touches the net and lands in the correct service box, it is a "let," and the serve is replayed.

Double Bounce Rule: After the serve, the receiving team must let the ball bounce once before returning it. After the receiving team returns the ball, the serving team must also let it bounce once before returning it. After these two bounces have occurred, the ball can be either volleyed (hit in the air without bouncing) or played off a bounce. This is known as the "two-bounce rule."

Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) / "The Kitchen": The area within 7 feet on either side of the net is called the non-volley zone. Players cannot volley the ball while standing within the NVZ. This includes touching the NVZ lines.

It is permissible to be in the NVZ at other times, including after hitting a bounced ball.

Momentum from hitting a ball outside the NVZ cannot carry a player into the NVZ before their feet touch the ground.

Ball Return: The ball can be returned with any part of the body and/or glove racket.

Extra Hit on Body Bounce: If the ball bounces off any part of the body, the player gets one immediate extra hit to return the ball legally. The subsequent hit must be a clean contact.