Tennis rule?

[Midlife crisis]

I saw this happen today during a practice session, but wondered what would be the actual ruling in a competitive match. It was doubles, two players were tight up at the net and two were back. One of the backcourt players drills a groundie that hits the tape and bounces nearly straight up. One of the net players takes it out of the air and hits a winner. The net player did not touch the net, but the follow through clearly went over the net. It is not possible to say if the contact was on the net player's side on the court, and it is not possible to say if the ball would have landed in or not.

What's the ruling for a situation like this? Is it any different because the ball first struck the net?

[Redflea]

My understanding is that as long as long as contact is made at or behind the plane of the net, follow-through into the opposing court is perfectly legal.

[psp2]

My understanding is that as long as long as contact is made at or behind the plane of the net, follow-through into the opposing court is perfectly legal.

Right you are!!

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25. A GOOD RETURN (OLD 24)
It is a good return if:
a. The ball touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal
cable, strap or band, provided that it passes over any of them and
hits the ground within the correct court; except as provided in Rule
2 and 24 (d); or
b. After the ball in play has hit the ground within the correct court and
has spun or been blown back over the net, the player reaches over the
net and plays the ball into the correct court, provided that the player
does not break Rule 24; or
c. The ball is returned outside the net posts, either above or below the
level of the top of the net, even though it touches the net posts, provided
that it hits the ground in the correct court; except as provided
in Rules 2 and 24 (d); or
d. The ball passes under the net cord between the singles stick and the
adjacent net post without touching either net, net cord or net post and
hits the ground in the correct court, or
e. The player’s racket passes over the net after hitting the ball on the
player’s own side of the net and the ball hits the ground in the correct
court; or
f. The player hits the ball in play, which hits another ball lying in the
correct court.

[lethalfang]

Also you can contact the ball anywhere after the ball bounces.

25. A GOOD RETURN (OLD 24)
It is a good return if:
a. The ball touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal
cable, strap or band, provided that it passes over any of them and
hits the ground within the correct court; except as provided in Rule
2 and 24 (d); or
b. After the ball in play has hit the ground within the correct court and
has spun or been blown back over the net, the player reaches over the
net and plays the ball into the correct court, provided that the player
does not break Rule 24; or
c. The ball is returned outside the net posts, either above or below the
level of the top of the net, even though it touches the net posts, provided
that it hits the ground in the correct court; except as provided
in Rules 2 and 24 (d); or
d. The ball passes under the net cord between the singles stick and the
adjacent net post without touching either net, net cord or net post and
hits the ground in the correct court, or
e. The player’s racket passes over the net after hitting the ball on the
player’s own side of the net and the ball hits the ground in the correct
court; or
f. The player hits the ball in play, which hits another ball lying in the
correct court.

[fuzz nation]

According to the code, reaching over the net to hit the ball is something you have to call on yourself when there's no official standing at the net to witness the shot. There seems to be a rising tide of players who are trying to call this against their opponents, so look out. Where the ball might have landed is not an issue because it was essentially volleyed after catching the net cord.

It's fine if you follow through over the net as long as you hit the ball on your side of the net and do not touch the net while the ball is in play.

[papa]

According to the code, reaching over the net to hit the ball is something you have to call on yourself when there's no official standing at the net to witness the shot. There seems to be a rising tide of players who are trying to call this against their opponents, so look out. Where the ball might have landed is not an issue because it was essentially volleyed after catching the net cord.

It's fine if you follow through over the net as long as you hit the ball on your side of the net and do not touch the net while the ball is in play.

Well, this just isn't the case. If a ball lands on your side of the net and because of spin/wind is headed back over the net you may reach over the net to strike the ball - however, you cannot touch the net in the process.

If you reach over the net to strike a volley, then you lose the point. The follow-through path of the racquet is not an issue as long as you strike the ball on your side of the net and don't touch the net in the process.

Although this does happen, it doesn't happen very frequently. Players do complain if someone strikes the ball on the opponents side - tough call to make in many/most cases.

[Midlife crisis]

Thanks for all the replies and for posting the rules. It seems that in this case, where the ball was taken in the air directly after hitting the net cord and without having touched the ground, that it is up to the person/team hitting the ball to make the call as to whether or not the ball was on their side of the court at the time of contact.

Is there any time when it is the opponent's call? Are there any special exceptions in the rules to cover this?

[Geezer Guy]

I'm not trying to be a jerk, but what's the deal? You're going to lose the point either way - unless you can win due to a technicality.

If the ball bounces straight up or to your opponents side of the net, your opponent volleys the ball for a winner (although you WOULD have a chance to continue playing the point - and you might actually WIN the point).

If the ball bounces up but back to your side of the court, it's not going to cross the net and you're going to lose the point when it bounces on your side anyway.

[tangoll]

I have a question about item f in the rules printed above, which says the return is good if the played ball hits another ball lying in the correct court. What happens if the two balls riccochet off each other; how can you say for certain which is the originally played ball, that the opposing player ought to try and play back? Assuming that the balls are of the same brand, number, etc. Most likely, it's clear which ball was the originally played ball, but if any player challenges which ball was the correct one, how should this be handled?

Has this happened in tournament play with an umpire, and how was that handled?

Seems to me that a let should be called and the point replayed if it appears that the opponent could have had a play on the ball if it had bounced without hitting the ball on the ground.

[Redflea]

I've seen that rule enforced in a tournament just recently (watching a match). The two guys argued after it happened and got an official to help, and the official ruled that it was a good return and gave the point to the guy who hit the ball.

Someone next to me in the stands said that if the active ball had been playable and the guy had been able to return it the point could have continued, but I've never had that confirmed...

I believe it's not a let because it's up to you to decide if you want to leave a ball lying on the court when you're playing...if you do, you run the risk that it will become a factor in the play.

[psp2]

I have a question about item f in the rules printed above, which says the return is good if the played ball hits another ball lying in the correct court. What happens if the two balls riccochet off each other; how can you say for certain which is the originally played ball, that the opposing player ought to try and play back? Assuming that the balls are of the same brand, number, etc. Most likely, it's clear which ball was the originally played ball, but if any player challenges which ball was the correct one, how should this be handled?

Has this happened in tournament play with an umpire, and how was that handled?

Seems to me that a let should be called and the point replayed if it appears that the opponent could have had a play on the ball if it had bounced without hitting the ball on the ground.

In MOST cases it's obvious which ball was the ball in play after the collision given the trajectory/speed of the 2 balls. If both players (or all 4 in doubles) clearly can not make a ruling on which ball is which, then play a let. Let me see if I can find a ruling in the rules.

The situation in rule (f) can always be avoided by removing stray balls (the ones inside the lines) on a consistant basis.

[psp2]

...found it.

25. A GOOD RETURN (OLD 24)
..........
Case 2: A ball in play hits another ball which is lying in the correct court.
What is the correct decision?
Decision: Play continues. However, if it is not clear that the actual ball in
play has been returned, a let should be called.
USTA Comment 25.1: What happens if the ball in play strikes a
ball that came from another court after the start of the point? Replay
the point.

[yemenmocha]

I think this needs to be addressed more often. I'm sick of some of these people standing right on top of the net. They frame half of their volleys and often end up as ugly winners. I'll drill a few returns at them to back them off and then suddenly it's "bad sportsmanship" accusation time.