The “Caterpillar” in Pickleball: What It Is and How to Play It

“Be quick—but don’t hurry.” — John Wooden

Every so often, a rally delivers pure chaos when a pickleball ball clips the tape, crawls along the top of the net like a caterpillar, then tumbles to one side. It’s equal parts lucky, maddening, and thrilling. Here’s what players mean by a caterpillar, what the rules say, and how to handle it, whether it drops on your side or theirs.

What Counts as a Caterpillar?

A caterpillar happens when a struck ball contacts the top of the net and rolls along the tape/cord before falling to one side. It can occur on dinks, drives, drops and even on the serve.

Is It Legal? (Short answer: yes.)

• Live ball: If the ball hits the net/tape and lands in, the rally continues. That’s true on any shot, including the serve (there’s no “let” serve in modern rules).
• Falls back to the striker’s side: The striker loses the rally. The ball never crossed.
• Touching the net: If a player’s paddle, body, or clothing touches the net at any time during the rally, it’s a fault.
• Reaching over: You may follow through across the plane of the net after contacting the ball on your side. You may reach over to hit only in specific situations (e.g., a ball that has already crossed to your side then spins back). Do not touch the net or your opponent’s court.

How to Defend a Caterpillar (when it drops on your side)

A caterpillar creates unpredictable drop angles and speeds. Your job: stabilize and neutralize.

• Split-step, eyes low: Stay balanced and ready to move forward or laterally.
• Soft hands win: Use a loose grip (3–4/10 pressure) to absorb energy and reset softly into the kitchen.
• Let it fall: Don’t stab at the ball above the net. Let it drop below net height, then lift it back low and soft.
• Aim high middle: Reset to the middle of the kitchen—highest part of the net, best margin.
• Recover together (doubles): If your partner moves for the ball, you close the middle.

Turning Chaos into Chance (when it tumbles over to their side)

If your shot caterpillars over the net:

• Close the line: Take a small step in as they scramble; be ready for a desperate pop-up.
• Cover the middle: Many emergencies reply leak middle, park your paddle there.
• Don’t overswing: Expect a soft, late contact from your opponent, finish with placement, not power.

Can You “Create” a Caterpillar on Purpose?

Not reliably. Intentionally aiming for the tape is a low-percentage play. What you can do is play low with margin to the top of the net, which naturally increases tape grazes:

• Roll dinks/drops that travel net-high with soft topspin.
• Third-shot drops that arc with enough depth to clear by an inch or two.
• Angles that skim the highest part of the net (middle) with safe shape.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Reaching into the net: Lunging forward and touching the net—automatic fault.
• Panic swing: Stabbing hard and popping it up; soften and reset instead.
• Late call on serve: On a caterpillar serve that lands in, play on. There’s no let.
• Over-aiming for the tape: It tanks consistency; build a net-high margin instead.

Quick Caterpillar Drills

• Tape ribbon drill: Tie a ribbon atop the net; practice dinks/drops that barely clear it for feel and margin.
• Soft-hand resets: Partner feeds low, spinny balls just over the net. You absorb and drop to the kitchen middle.
• Scramble recoveries: Partner intentionally clips the tape from midcourt. You read, reset, recover together.

Etiquette Tip

If you get a caterpillar winner, a quick “sorry” and a smile goes a long way. It’s part of the game, but everyone appreciates the nod.

Game Point

A caterpillar is pickleball’s little wildcard—legal, unpredictable, and momentum-shifting. Stay balanced, soften your hands, and make the next ball playable. Handle the chaos better than your opponent, and you’ll win more of these knife-edge rallies.

See you on the courts!