Ever notice at the Open level...

[jdubbs]

Opponents stop calling lines and mostly stop calling out score?

They just assume you know the ball is out, and frankly, 95% of the time, it's obvious.

The most you'll get is maybe a finger pointing out if its close.

I actually really like this. Most balls its obvious they are out, I don't need someone saying "out!" or sticking that finger in the air unless it's super close.

On score, most guys are sharp enough to know the score.

Just something I observed from playing a couple of Open matches/players and watching a few as well.

 

[NTexas]

I agree with most all of this, except the score. Call it out every time and it sure makes it easier when there is a disagreement.

 

[kylebarendrick]

If you assume line calls are obvious and you don't call out the score, you are definitely setting yourself up for some interesting conversations.

That said, I agree with your observations. It just seems like a recipe for problems.

 

[beernutz]

I have seen this behavior in many of the D1 college matches I've watched but on the other hand some of the meltdowns I've seen that happen when there is a score or call disagreement are epic.

 

[Sakkijarvi]

Do it by the book, signal out balls, call out the score. Not hard.

 

[anubis]

I've probably watched virtually every single one of Matt's youtube college matches. When the matches have no lines people, the two players always called the lines themselves. But there was always an official to call out the score. This out of perhaps 100 or so NTRP 5.5+ matches... I definitely consider those to be "open" level.

 

[jmc3367]

I have noticed this as well. I will probably never play at that level but if I did I would call the score for sure.

 

[kevrol]

15. Audible or visible calls. No matter how obvious it is to a player that an opponent's ball is out, the opponent is entitled to a prompt audible or visible out call.

 

[blakesq]

the open players you have been watching are idiots.

Opponents stop calling lines and mostly stop calling out score?

They just assume you know the ball is out, and frankly, 95% of the time, it's obvious.

The most you'll get is maybe a finger pointing out if its close.

I actually really like this. Most balls its obvious they are out, I don't need someone saying "out!" or sticking that finger in the air unless it's super close.

On score, most guys are sharp enough to know the score.

Just something I observed from playing a couple of Open matches/players and watching a few as well.

 

[TobyTopspin]

I've been playing opens for a long time. I stopped calling out line calls verbally when I was in my early teens. I just raise my finger on the close calls. For serves, I just stay there and don't move. there is no need to call the serve out if everybody knows that it's out. The server has a better view of the ball as far being in the service box anyway.

I call out the score at times, but not always. I'm very rare in doing this and I often feel that it gets on my opponents nerves. When I sense this, I usually stop calling it out. I also stop calling it out if my opponent doesn't call it out.

I think it comes from playing a lot of tournaments through the years with multiple matches going on at the same time on nearby courts. Hearing out calls from other courts in the middle of points can be distracting.

 

[tennis tom]

I've been playing opens for a long time. I stopped calling out line calls verbally when I was in my early teens. I just raise my finger on the close calls. For serves, I just stay there and don't move. there is no need to call the serve out if everybody knows that it's out. The server has a better view of the ball as far being in the service box anyway.

I call out the score at times, but not always. I'm very rare in doing this and I often feel that it gets on my opponents nerves. When I sense this, I usually stop calling it out. I also stop calling it out if my opponent doesn't call it out.

I think it comes from playing a lot of tournaments through the years with multiple matches going on at the same time on nearby courts. Hearing out calls from other courts in the middle of points can be distracting.

This guy knows what he's talking about.

 

[lstewart]

It is common, and I saw lots of it through my son's junior career. Not making a call if a ball is clearly out is fine, but if it is close it is reasonable to at least raise your finger to let them know. Not calling out the score is also common, but just asking for trouble. I've advised my son to call out the score when serving, and to even call it out when returning if the server is not calling it out. Confusion or disagreement over the score is very common when the score is never called out. I have experienced this first hand many times in my matches, and saw it 100 times when watching my son's matches. I always kept up with the score in his matches, and almost every time there was a disagreement, the opponent would claim a score that was not correct, and in their favor. I saw this so often that I feel some juniors may even be coached to use this tactic. My all time disaster for this was playing the national grass courts, being down 7-6, and on serve at 3-4 in the second. My opponent suddenly claimed he was up a break at leading 5-2. We had a long disagreement, and sought an official. The rule is you have to go back to where you agree on the score, so I was told I was going to have to start the set over serving at 0-1. I discussed this with some other experienced tournament players and heard horror stories of people being about to lose, and suddenly claiming they were about to win. If you don't have an official watching your match, you can really get into some issues. So I would advise keeping the score and calling it out, to help avoid such issues.

 

[treo]

I've noticed that the higher the level, the less score calling and verbal line calling. At low levels it gets annoying with all the chatter.

High level players have excellent eyesight and don't need verbal calls. At most, just a finger for close balls. They tend to play each other often and have established trust.

Older low level players often have bad eyesight and memory and need constant reminders.

 

[anubis]

I've been playing opens for a long time. I stopped calling out line calls verbally when I was in my early teens. I just raise my finger on the close calls. For serves, I just stay there and don't move. there is no need to call the serve out if everybody knows that it's out. The server has a better view of the ball as far being in the service box anyway.

I call out the score at times, but not always. I'm very rare in doing this and I often feel that it gets on my opponents nerves. When I sense this, I usually stop calling it out. I also stop calling it out if my opponent doesn't call it out.

I think it comes from playing a lot of tournaments through the years with multiple matches going on at the same time on nearby courts. Hearing out calls from other courts in the middle of points can be distracting.

Then I guess that's the norm for open level stuff. But for small potatoes USTA rec level tournaments, I've been warned many times by roaming officials for not giving audible line calls. I always point, I sometimes verbalize it but not always. But pointing is not enough for the typical USTA NTRP tournament.

 

[TobyTopspin]

This guy knows what he's talking about.

Thanks Tennis Tom! Appreciate the support!

 

[TobyTopspin]

Then I guess that's the norm for open level stuff. But for small potatoes USTA rec level tournaments, I've been warned many times by roaming officials for not giving audible line calls. I always point, I sometimes verbalize it but not always. But pointing is not enough for the typical USTA NTRP tournament.

I think you said it best yourself '..small potatoes USTA rec level tournaments..'
Imagine playing a very hard hitting college kid on one court with long baseline rallies going 20+ shots regularly. Now, image the same thing occurring less than 7 feet from you on the court next to you. If both sides are making loud audible calls if can get very distracting with 'out' calls.

You'll never see it if the bigger (more money Opens). When I played Challengers, you never peeped a word as well.

 

[Rob_C]

I think you said it best yourself '..small potatoes USTA rec level tournaments..'
Imagine playing a very hard hitting college kid on one court with long baseline rallies going 20+ shots regularly. Now, image the same thing occurring less than 7 feet from you on the court next to you. If both sides are making loud audible calls if can get very distracting with 'out' calls.

You'll never see it if the bigger (more money Opens). When I played Challengers, you never peeped a word as well.

Do you mean Challengers or Futures?? In Challengers there are usually linespersons. In Futures you might have to call your own lines early in the tournament.

I used to be like that as well. Used to think, this guy's not stupid, he knows what the score is, no need for me to call the score. Until I had the score changed on me twice. After that, I always called the score. And I disagree about Open players not calling lines or the score. Ive played and watched tons of Open tourneys, people called both all the time.

 

[Bergboy123]

I have definitely witnessed this too. The higher the level, the less the sound/calls. I didn't get it at first, but it sorta makes sense. Why make obvious calls.