actually you do not have to hit the ball with the racquet in order to keep it in play. i was playing a league match. my partner floated a ball over the net. the opponent smash it right into my hip which bounced back over the net. everybody kept playing except for me who thought the point was over. i later realized my error. it seems that everyone knew the proper rules but me.
That's wrong (or is my sarcasim dectector not working??). You can't play the ball off your body. Once the ball hit your hip the ball is dead and it's your opponent's point.
However they may not have realized it hit your hip and kept playing. At that point you should have let them know you touched the ball.
http://assets.usta.com/assets/1/UST...cument Assets/2008/01/07/doc_13_15617_001.pdf
24. PLAYER LOSES POINT
The point is lost if:
a. The player serves two consecutive faults; or
b. The player does not return the ball in play before it bounces twice
consecutively; or
c. The player returns the ball in play so that it hits the ground, or before
it bounces, an object, outside the correct court; or
d. The player returns the ball in play so that, before it bounces, it hits a
permanent fixture; or
e. The receiver returns the service before it bounces; or
f. The player deliberately carries or catches the ball in play on the racket
or deliberately touches it with the racket more than once; or
g. The player or the racket, whether in the player’s hand or not, or anything
which the player is wearing or carrying touches the net, net
posts/singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the opponent’s
court at any time while the ball is in play; or
h. The player hits the ball before it has passed the net; or
i. The ball in play touches the player or anything that the player is
wearing or carrying, except the racket; orj. The ball in play touches the racket when the player is not holding it; or
k. The player deliberately and materially changes the shape of the racket
when the ball is in play; or
l. In doubles, both players touch the ball when returning it.
http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Player-to-Player/Rules/Ruling_on_body_shots/