If one member of a doubles team smashes a sitter, follows through over the net and hits one of his opponents with his racquet, would the point stand? I know that a follow-through cannot contact the net, but can it contact a person on the other side without penalty?
— Dave McNamara, Moorpark, CA
Flail away with impunity. There is no penalty for striking your opponent with your racquet on the follow-through, on either side of the net. However, if striking the opponent somehow prevented him from making a play on the ball, he would be entitled to a let for unintentional hindrance (Rule 26.1).
Except where noted, answers are based on the ITF Rules of Tennis and USTA's The Code.
Got a question? Email it to: courtofappeals@tennis.com