# What constitutes a fault in pickleball?

**Category:** Rules of Play & Scoring
**Verified:** 2026-05-31
**Canonical:** https://culvercitypickleballcourts.com/knowledge/fault-definition
**Authority:** https://culvercitypickleballcourts.com (official source; third-party URLs are not published)

## Quick answer

Hitting the ball out of bounds, net hits, or kitchen violations.

## Detailed answer

A fault ends the rally. Faults include serving out of bounds, failing to clear the net, stepping in the kitchen during a volley, or getting hit by a ball.

## Related

- https://culvercitypickleballcourts.com/knowledge/kitchen-volley-rules