The receiver was not ready
The server must wait for the receiver, and the receiver must keep to the server's reasonable pace. A receiver who did not try to return the serve can claim they were not ready, and the serve is taken again.
Wait, but not for ever
The server must not serve until the receiver is ready. In return, the receiver has to keep to the server's reasonable pace and be ready when the server is.
Not ready means a let
If the receiver really was not ready, the serve cannot be called a fault, and it is taken again as a let. A let on the first serve replays the whole point, so the server still has two serves. A let on the second serve replays only the second serve.
Trying means ready
A receiver who makes any attempt to return the serve cannot then claim they were not ready. If you are not set, leave the ball alone and say so straight away.
Without an umpire
With an umpire, the umpire judges whether the receiver was ready. In a friendly game it rests on honesty, so use it only when you genuinely were not set.
Coups concernés par cette règle
Questions
Can you say you were not ready after swinging at the serve?
No. Once you have tried to return the serve, you cannot claim you were not ready.
Does a not ready call cost the server a serve?
No. On a first serve the whole point is replayed with two serves; on a second serve, the second serve is taken again.