Can the ball bounce in beach tennis?

No. The ball must not bounce on the sand in beach tennis. If the ball bounces on a player's side of the court, that player loses the point immediately. Per ITF Rule 9.3.

Full Explanation

Per ITF Beach Tennis Rules Rule 9.3, the ball is not permitted to bounce at any time during a rally. If the ball touches the sand on your side of the court, you lose the point. This rule is what fundamentally distinguishes beach tennis from tennis: there are no groundstrokes from a standing-still bounce; every contact must be made before the ball lands. This makes volleying and quick reactions the central skills of the sport. The no-bounce rule applies from the moment the serve is returned; the serve itself must land in the service box, which is allowed (the serve bounces to be received only in the service box -- there is no let for landing in the correct box).

Ruleset: ITF  |  Rule Reference: ITF Beach Tennis Rules, Rule 9.3 (No Bounce Permitted)