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Electronic line calling (ELC) is technology that determines whether a tennis ball landed in or out. It can either provide a decision when a player requests a review or make calls automatically on every bounce. Which role it can perform depends on the system’s classification, approved conditions and the rules of the competition.
What electronic line calling means
ELC is an umbrella term for systems that judge whether a ball landed inside or outside the court lines. It does not refer to one brand or to a single setup used everywhere. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) classifies systems for particular conditions, including court surface, indoor or outdoor setting, and whether the system provides review or real-time calls. Its classified-systems table is updated, so approvals and scope should be checked there rather than assumed.
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Review ELC and live ELC are different
| Type | What it does | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| Review ELC | Provides an electronic decision when a player requests review of a call. | It does not automatically make every line call. |
| Real-time (live) ELC | Makes line calls for all bounces. | Its use at one event does not establish that it is used at every tournament or court. |
Both are electronic line calling, but their jobs during a point differ: one answers a requested review; the other supplies calls as play happens.
How the ITF classifies systems
The ITF evaluates ELC systems for accuracy, reliability, practicality and suitability. Its classification is tied to the listed use conditions, not a blanket approval for every surface, venue or type of call. The ITF introduced three tiers on 23 July 2025: Gold for elite international competition, Silver for second-tier international competition and Bronze for national-level competition. The same evaluation principles apply at each tier, according to the ITF announcement.
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For example, on 16 February 2026 the ITF announced that PlayReplay had met the criteria for real-time Silver-level ELC on hard courts after accuracy, choreographed, match-play, shadow and live testing, as well as reliability audits. That is a dated decision for a defined scope, not evidence that all systems share the same approvals or performance. See the current ITF classification table for the listed systems, settings, surfaces and call types.
What happens in an ATP match
Under the 2026 ATP rulebook, an approved and designated live ELC system is mandated at ATP events. In that protocol, line umpires do not make the line calls: live ELC calls all lines. If the system does not make a call, the chair umpire steps in. If the chair umpire cannot determine whether the ball was in or out, the point is replayed.
If the system malfunctions, play may be delayed while the problem is corrected. If it is not resolved within 15 minutes, the ATP Tour Supervisor decides when and how play resumes. This is the ATP protocol; it should not be generalized to other tours, tournaments or recreational courts. For another competition, consult the rules that govern that event. The ITF provides its annual rules and regulations through its rules portal.
Why ELC is evaluated—and what accuracy claims can establish
A ball’s impact is difficult to assess because contact with the surface is extremely brief and fast-moving. In its June 2025 evaluation procedures, the ITF says the impact lasts less than 0.01 seconds and involves rapid changes in the ball’s position, direction and speed. The procedure is available as an ITF ELC evaluation document.
Accuracy is one part of the ITF’s evaluation, alongside reliability, practicality and suitability. The ITF also says poor performance can lead to suspension of a classification. These sources do not establish one comparable error rate across every system, surface, condition or human official, so a universal accuracy percentage—or a claim that ELC cannot err—would be misleading.
What to check before assuming a system is approved
- Competition: Check the governing body’s rules for the event; a protocol used on the ATP Tour is not automatically universal.
- Classification scope: Verify the system’s tier and the specific surface, indoor or outdoor setting, and call type listed by the ITF.
- Function: Confirm whether it is approved for review, real-time calls or both.
Classification and permission to use a system at a particular event are related but distinct: event rules and the system’s approved scope both matter.
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