A ball reaching the glass does not automatically end the point. First check whether it was a serve or a rally shot, and where it bounced.
Start with the serve
Bounce the ball before an underarm serve and send it into the diagonally opposite service box. The receiver must let it bounce before returning. You have a second attempt after a first-service fault.
Glass and Cage Are Different on a Serve
A serve that lands correctly and then reaches the glass can stay in play. If it reaches the metal cage after that first bounce and before a second bounce, it is a fault.
During a Rally, Check the First Bounce
A shot reaching the opponents’ glass or cage before their court surface is out. A legal bounce followed by glass or cage contact can stay in play. Return the ball before its second floor bounce.
Use three situations to practice the decision
Ask your partner to describe the order of contacts before naming the result. These examples assume the ball clears the net normally.
- Serve: correct service box, then glass — play continues.
- Serve: correct service box, then cage before a second bounce — service fault.
- Rally: opponents’ glass before the floor — the shot is out.
Separate the decision from the return
When the rebound is legal, you still need to return the ball in time. Practice reading a gentle glass rebound with your partner or coach. Keep the same ball while learning; changing equipment after every missed return makes the practice harder to compare.