Let
A serve or rally that is replayed without penalty, often because a serve clips the net or a player is obstructed.
Definition
In tennis, a let most commonly happens when a serve touches the top of the net but still lands in the correct service box; the serve is simply taken again with no penalty. No point is scored when a let is called.
In sports such as squash, racquetball and badminton, a let is called to replay a point when a player is obstructed or cannot play a fair shot through no fault of their own. In each case the aim is to give a fair, replayed chance rather than award the point.
Where you’ll hear “let”
Sports that use this term:
Tennis
A singles or doubles racquet sport that blends agility, strategy and stamina on court.
Squash
A fast, high-intensity indoor racquet sport played inside an enclosed court where the walls stay in play.
Racquetball
A lively indoor racquet sport played on an enclosed court where the walls, and often the ceiling, stay in play.
Badminton
A fast indoor racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that rewards agility and touch.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Let to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Rules
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
- Touching the netA net-play rule that penalises a player for contacting the net during a rally in net-divided sports.
- Tennis serving rulesThe rules governing how a tennis point begins, including where the server stands and where the serve must land.
- TravelingA basketball violation for moving illegally with the ball without dribbling it.
- Foot faultA serving fault called when the server's foot touches the baseline or court before striking the ball.
Officiating
- UmpireA match official who rules on lines, serves and dismissals in racket, bat-and-ball and net sports such as tennis, cricket and baseball — and, in racket sports, also keeps the running score.
- Line JudgeA boundary-line official who calls whether the ball or player is in or out and flags foot faults, working under the head referee across many sports.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
- RefereeThe primary on-field official who enforces the rules, controls play, penalises fouls, awards restarts, and blows the whistle to start and stop a match.
Skills
- ServingThe skill of putting the ball or shuttle into play to start a point or rally.
- Net playThe skill of controlling points close to the net with volleys and touch shots.
- Returning serveThe skill of reading and playing back an opponent’s serve to stay in the rally.
- RallyingThe skill of exchanging shots back and forth to build and win a point.
Tactics
- Serve and volleyAn attacking tennis tactic where the server follows their serve to the net to finish the point with a volley.
- Baseline playA patient tennis style built around rallying from the back of the court and constructing points with groundstrokes.
- Doubles formationHow a pair positions itself on court — one up, one back, or both at the net — to control space in doubles.
- Pick and rollA two-player basketball action where one player screens for the ball-handler, then rolls to the basket.
- Zone defenceA defensive system where each player guards an area of the court rather than a specific opponent.
Positions
- GoalkeeperThe goalkeeper is the last line of defence in football and the only player allowed to handle the ball inside their own penalty area.
- Outside hitterThe outside hitter attacks from the left side of the net and is often a volleyball team’s main scoring option.
- OppositeThe opposite is a volleyball attacker who plays on the right side of the net, opposite the setter in the rotation, and is often a key scorer.
- StrikerA striker is the main attacking player in football, positioned furthest forward with the primary job of scoring goals.
- CenterThe center is usually the tallest player on a basketball team, playing near the basket to score inside, rebound, and protect the rim.
Player roles
- Utility playerA dependable, versatile player who can competently fill several different positions as the team needs, rather than specialising in just one.
- Target playerA target player is a focal attacker who receives, holds up and links play for others, often physically strong and good in the air or with the hands.
- Ball-winnerA ball-winner is the player tasked with regaining possession through pressing, tackling and interceptions — a team's tireless defensive workhorse.
- PlaymakerThe playmaker is a team's creative hub — the player who orchestrates attacks, controls the tempo and distributes the ball so teammates can score.
Go deeper with Let
Everywhere else on the platform that covers Let — assembled from what actually references it, so nothing here is a dead end.
Take it away
Open data and the whole-platform view of this subject.
How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
Evergreen, first-party explanation — it makes no claim that needs an external source. How we handle sources and reviews.