Each player, or each doubles pair, makes the calls for the ball landing on their side of the net, honestly and as well as they can.

Say “out” or “fault” promptly, and loud enough for your opponents to hear.

If you aren’t sure, give your opponent the benefit of the doubt.

If you call a ball out or a fault and then realise it was good, the point is replayed – unless your opponent’s shot was a clear winner, or you have already made wrong calls in the match, in which case you lose the point.

The server should call the score, out loud, before each first serve.

A player who is unhappy can ask for the Referee (or someone the Referee has appointed). Spectators, coaches and other supporters must not try to settle disputes or sway decisions.

Both sides are equally responsible for calling lets. A ‘not-up’ or foul shot is called by the player whose side of the court it is on. Foot faults can only be called by an on-court official – never by your opponents.

Breaking these rules can mean the hindrance rule (below) is applied, and may also be treated as a breach of the LTA Competition Code of Conduct.

If your opponent deliberately does something that stops you playing the point – shouting as you are about to hit, say, or a distracting movement on purpose – you win the point.

If the hindrance was unintentional, or caused by something outside your control (such as a ball rolling onto the court from next door), the point is replayed. This doesn’t include permanent fixtures such as the net posts or the fence.

A call can be a hindrance. If a player calls a ball out, the other side stops playing, and the ball turns out to have been good, that call has hindered them. That is why a wrong call usually means a replay – but if it keeps happening, or the opponent had clearly hit a winner, the player who made the call loses the point (see point 4).