Can you do whatever you want during your court time?

[Moonarse]

Went for the Club sunday eve for a match with an older friend. Guy has concrete feet but has this filthy BH slice, great doubles player. Anyway that's not the point.

On sunday all courts are open for playing at the club without needing to rent and locate.

Both courts were filled with people and one court seemed empty (we have 3 clay courts). when I got there I realized that there was a couple that had just arrived before me. they have never held a racket in their hands and had not a single athletic hint. they couldn't keep a 2 balls in sequence.

It's okay, you suck, but you have as much right as me or whomever wanted to used. The point here is: it took almost 20 minutes for them to start playing. Selfies, running to the toilet, cellphone checking. and every 15 minutes they took 15 minutes break.

Is there something to do about it? I mean, I don't care your level of play, as long as you are playing. but sucking pretty bad and giving this long breaks while we where both ansious to hit, I was starting to get pissed!

Is it really like "I have 1 hour to play and I can play the way I want it" and I have nothing to do about it but to get angry and wait?

or you can just go there and say "15 minutes on the phone, you're out and we're taking from here!" ?

 

[Turbo-87]

I don't think your definition of playing tennis should apply to them. It's their time to have fun and that should be why anyone is at a court.

 

[Dartagnan64]

It'll get worse before it gets better with the social media addicted generation.

 

[Dartagnan64]

As Steve points out, it's a free country so apparently common decency doesn't apply to public facilities. It is pretty rude to monopolize a court while others are waiting and not actually do much more than use your phone and bunt a few balls around. Get your exercise in and get off when folks are waiting.

 

[Moonarse]

I don't think your definition of playing tennis should apply to them. It's their time to have fun and that should be why anyone is at a court.

but if they feel like fun to play for 10 minutes and sit and chat for 20, is it still they're time? If they got that time by reserving the court during the week, I would say yes. but sunday is quite different.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

they are probalby there just for the experieince... ie. tell their friends on fb or instagram, that they played tennis "channeling my inner serena with my bestie.... checked in at posh posh country club"

you see that on the slopes all the time... there are folks that ski/snowboard (ie blacks, bumps, trees, etc...)
then there are folks who've been doing greens since forever... do 2 runs, post a pic, and head to the bar

on the flip side, pros must think it's "cute" watching us rec folks "dink" the ball over the net.

 

[Moonarse]

As Steve points out, it's a free country so apparently common decency doesn't apply to public facilities. It is pretty rude to monopolize a court while others are waiting and not actually do much more than use your phone and bunt a few balls around. Get your exercise in and get off when folks are waiting.

My point here is really the exception of Sunday no reserve system. Maybe that's how it happens for the public courts where you guys live, here we just have tennis courts on private clubs.

how do people usually behave in public courts when there is someone really wasting court time? (not from beeing bad, but for not really using it right.)

 

[Moonarse]

on the flip side, pros must think it's "cute" watching us rec folks "dink" the ball over the net.

Not if they're waiting for training! hahahaha

 

[r2473]

Did they pay for the court time?

 

[Turbo-87]

but if they feel like fun to play for 10 minutes and sit and chat for 20, is it still they're time? If they got that time by reserving the court during the week, I would say yes. but sunday is quite different.

I still think it is fine and I wouldn't be upset at all. They got there first and they are using the court to have fun. Isn't that why the courts are free schedule on Sunday? If they actually play for half the time I don't think it matters. They have an hour just like you would and it isn't like they were there half the day. Everyone has their own definition of what playing tennis really is and they shouldn't have to conform to anyone else's way. It's not like they were bothering anyone by playing loud music or setting their tennis bags on someone else's bench. That's how all out brawls start, at least in TTW lore.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

My point here is really the exception of Sunday no reserve system. Maybe that's how it happens for the public courts where you guys live, here we just have tennis courts on private clubs.

how do people usually behave in public courts when there is someone really wasting court time? (not from beeing bad, but for not really using it right.)

Most public courts have either a time limit if you're not playing a set or a set limit of one.

What's the club's policy?

 

[NTRPolice]

LOL! Since when does player skill determine their rights to the court. Look, if they were riding bicycles and making marks on the court, sure, you could tell them to leave. Or, even if they were not playing tennis and doing taichi or w/e. Just because they are filming an eHarmony commercial and have no actual tennis skill dosent mean they cant use the courts. Some people view tennis as an extremely social activity.

 

[texasleaguer]

the simple answer to your question is.... yes

 

[Moveforwardalways]

If they are a “couple”, perhaps they were on a date. I know of people who use tennis as a fun date idea. That could be why they were doing more socializing than playing.

 

[Moonarse]

Did they pay for the court time?

No. Not even the light fee.

 

[Moonarse]

LOL! Since when does player skill determine their rights to the court. Look, if they were riding bicycles and making marks on the court, sure, you could tell them to leave. Or, even if they were not playing tennis and doing taichi or w/e. Just because they are filming an eHarmony commercial and have no actual tennis skill dosent mean they cant use the courts. Some people view tennis as an extremely social activity.

I made myself clear that the fact that they sucked wasn't the issue. It was the amount of time they took for starting (almost 20 minutes from the time they got to the court) and all the long 15 minute breaks for chating. If it was during the week, you "rent your hour" and that's yours to do whatever you feel like. But during weekends, when people stand next to the court waiting for you to leave, it is kind of rude to take 20 minutes to start while on the phone.

And the fact that they sucked really aggravated the scenario for the ones lingering off the court.

 

[tennis tom]

...or you can just go there and say "15 minutes on the phone, you're out and we're taking from here!" ?

I nominate you try that one, and get back to us on how that worked out for you.

 

[J_R_B]

I made myself clear that the fact that they sucked wasn't the issue. It was the amount of time they took for starting (almost 20 minutes from the time they got to the court) and all the long 15 minute breaks for chating. If it was during the week, you "rent your hour" and that's yours to do whatever you feel like. But during weekends, when people stand next to the court waiting for you to leave, it is kind of rude to take 20 minutes to start while on the phone.

And the fact that they sucked really aggravated the scenario for the ones lingering off the court.

Why is it rude? They only get an hour no matter what they do with it, so taking selfies and chatting isn't making you wait any longer.

 

[Moonarse]

I nominate you try that one, and get back to us on how that worked out for you.

if it works you might apply this attitude? hahahaha I would never do that, but I was having some thoughts on the matter...

 

[Moonarse]

Why is it rude? They only get an hour no matter what they do with it, so taking selfies and chatting isn't making you wait any longer.

Once you lift up the veil of the "Pollitically Correctness" on your arguments we shall discuss.

 

[tennis tom]

ask them if they want to play dubs for money...

 

[tennis tom]

That's the problem with unsupervised clubs, if there was a tennis "host" on deck they could gently explain to the perps that folks are anxiously waiting for their precious court--and to either play tennis--or get a room.

 

[J_R_B]

Once you lift up the veil of the "Pollitically Correctness" on your arguments we shall discuss.

Ok, here's the un-PC version. You're being a jerk. Just wait your turn.

 

[krisdrum]

I see no need to get mad or frustrated. Public courts around here, first come, first serve, 1 hour max if there are people waiting to play. I don't see how the nature of the play has anything to do with those rules. Your workout is your workout, whether you are going hard for an hour straight or playing 15 minutes, taking a break, then playing another 15. It may seem rude from your perspective, but if the shoe was on the other foot (a pro waiting for your court), I think you'd feel pretty protective of the time allotted to you (whether you paid for it, or not) by the rules of the court.

Perfect example - I was hitting with my machine the other day, about 30 minutes into my hour, after waiting about 15 minutes to grab a court (it was crowded, first really nice day of spring). A gentleman came over to ask if I was finishing up as I was collecting some balls to re-load, I said, no, sorry, still playing. I went about my business. Within 5-10 minutes, he and his buddy had a court. No harm, no foul.

 

[Dartagnan64]

The players have a right to use their court time as they want. The OP has the right to feel frustrated.
And I think most of you standing up for the couple would be annoyed by this kind of thing as well if you were waiting for a court.

 

[OnTheLine]

I will add a small caveat:

Yes, people can do whatever they want with their court time providing:

• They are not disturbing others unduly (no, this does not include sending too many of their balls into your court, unless on purpose)
• They are not damaging the court in any way
• They are playing tennis or some semblance thereof at whatever pace they desire ... so they are not playing soccer, tag, volleyball, etc.

I can understand OP's frustration though

 

[tennis tom]

There's a couple of middle-aged, ex-college looking players who meet-up next to my court every Sunday morning and spend half their time chatting business. They do at least 15 minutes chat to 15 minutes hitting. It's the first morning time slot so there aren't many others hanging out looking for a game, but when I try to reserve for that hour they are usually filled. I don't think they have a clue they are under utilizing or hogging a commodity others would like to more fully exploit--it's the only time I ever see them, so they probably feel they pay good money for their club dues and don't maximize their usage and they can do whatever they feel with their time slot. There's a lot of people who go to the courts, and tennis is just tangential to the tennis ball smacking sweet-spot experience--it's kinda' like renting a room--as long as you don't smoke, bring pets, drink beverages that stain the cancha, it's no one's business but the payee's--you're just a little more exposed then in the privacy of your boudoir.

 

[5sets]

Its their hour so they can do with it what they choose as annoying as that is. Social Tennis means different things to different people. Some of us are fairly competitive, some just like to get out hack a few balls and have extended water breaks and chit chat. Deal with it.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using Tapatalk

 

[5sets]

This actually ties into my pickleball thread some months ago. I do not think pickleballers should be allowed to interrupt our game when my hour's up. 2.0 hackers yes, but Pickleball is a different animal and it burns me up. I would actually prefer your tea time chit chat players taking the court.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using Tapatalk

 

[Moonarse]

Just to clarify, I did nothing towards them (not even a frown face) and I waited ansiously, but peacefully, for them to finish their practice and walk off the court.

And i treated them nicely, too.

Some other ********* (that gave up on tennis to play beach tennis, btw), though, started to scream out loud that they said they were no "new members" so they should knew how to behave!!!!!!!

I really had nothing on them but the frustation of having to wait on some fellas that no one ever seen around playing tennis. I mean, it is a big club but with a restrict tennis population and only 3 courts.

I would be less frustated if it was a couple of our beloved grumpy old farts that take a bottle of wine to the court on the winter matches.

 

[NTRPolice]

The players have a right to use their court time as they want. The OP has the right to feel frustrated.
And I think most of you standing up for the couple would be annoyed by this kind of thing as well if you were waiting for a court.

Oh, I would definitely be annoyed! However, it's not "actionable".

I get annoyed when there is traffic due to a marathon. I could say, "well, roads are for CARS. GET OUT OF THE WAY!" but I dont. I just write it off as "well, I find Nascar boring because the cars just go in a circle, so I can understand not wanting to run 20 kilometers or whatever on a track." and this doesnt happen every weekend.

 

[tenisdecente]

I think it is definitely rude. If you want to chat, go somewhere else. Tennis courts are for being used, not for having a chat half of the time, it is ridiculous
And whatever the level is, if they suck I think you can be even more frustrated

 

[NLBwell]

As long as they aren't damaging the court they can do what they want.

 

[Turbo-87]

 

[ChaelAZ]

Tough call always. I have had a few instances at park courts where kids are skateboarding or riding bikes on a court and I ask them to leave. I had one parent come over and give me grief about kicking their kids off so we could play saying that just because they are tennis courts doesn't give me any more right to use them than their kids. I told them to call the Parks and Rec folks to see how that argument held up. Also back when i played racquetball I had several times that people would come and try and get us to play doubles if we were playing singles, saying the courts need to be "maximized" for use. That never worked either, unless I wanted to play dubs.

Anyway...in your case though if it is open courts and they are there to play tennis, their pace is their pace unfortunately and it's first come first serve I suppose.

 

[NLBwell]

Bicycle riding and skateboard riding damage the courts and you should kick them off.

 

[TTMR]

Call the police to come down and interpret the signage rules. They don't have anything better to do.