Dear Eric - Of Hands and Hindrance

Dear Eric —

"I was playing pickleball and my partner was at the kitchen and returned a speed up off her hand, that was holding the paddle. One opposing player yelled out 'hand ball' indicating it was a fault, and the other player returned our shot for a passing winner. They said they won the point because either it was an invalid shot (off the hand) and/or they hit a winner. We said it was our point because a hand ball is valid, and their call was a hindrance interfering with play. Who was right?"

Short answer: You’re right. If the ball struck your partner’s hand while that hand was holding the paddle, the hand counts as part of the paddle. The return was legal. The opponent’s shouted “hand ball” mid-rally that distracted you, then immediately playing on and winning,  is a textbook potential hinder and potentially sportsmanship.

Why: Pickleball treats a hand in contact with the paddle as if it’s the paddle. So a ball hitting that hand isn’t automatically a fault. Separately, a “hinder” covers verbal or physical interference. Yelling a dubious call during a point that causes confusion, then capitalizing on it, is not the fair way to earn a point.

What to do next time (without turning the court into a courtroom): Pause play calmly and ask for a ruling. If you have an official, let them decide,  most likely a replay or awarding the point to the team unfairly impeded. In recreational play with no ref, call for a replay if the shout materially affected the rally; if opponents argue, note it with club staff or tournament directors so it doesn’t become a tactic.

Final note: Save the theatrics for celebrations, not mid-rally calls. Play hard, call fair, and don’t let a rogue “hand ball” be anyone’s secret weapon.