Line calls in a doubles match

[greg_in_atl]

During a league doubles match, how should one deal with a situation where the player looking across the line, as opposed to the player looking down the line, consistently calls close shots out?

Here is what The Code has to say (that I could find):

9. Either partner may make calls in doubles. Although either doubles partner may
make a call,the call of a player looking down a line is more likely to be accurate than that
of a player looking across a line.

and

25. Service calls in doubles. In doubles the receiver’s partner should call the
service line, and the receiver should call the sideline and the center service line.
Nonetheless, either partner may call a ball that either clearly sees.

So over the course of my match this weekend, the opponent looking across the line regularly made line calls on what we thought were very close shots. It wasn't just one guy, they each managed to excel at this...

On a few occasions when we asked about a particular call, the opponent who didn't make the call either said absolutely nothing or just said, "my partner called it out"

What else should my partner & I have done?

 

[Bdarb]

What else should my partner & I have done?

basically you can suck it up. It's their call unfortunately. If my partner makes a call I'll go with it unless I saw something clearly to the contrary. If I'm not sure and he is, then 'we're' sure.

 

[Cindysphinx]

There's nothing you can do. And I agree that it is infuriating to be in this situation.

When players are frequently calling close balls out on the far sideline, that is when you know you have a big problem.

 

[newpball]

During a league doubles match, how should one deal with a situation where the player looking across the line, as opposed to the player looking down the line, consistently calls close shots out?

If he calls them out they are out.

What is your problem?

 

[Adles]

I sometimes find myself to be the person who calls across the lines - I have one mixed partner who just will not call the service line, so I have to call all the lines myself when I receive serve. Perhaps this was that sort of situation?

 

[TimeSpiral]

Snip!

So over the course of my match this weekend, the opponent looking across the line regularly made line calls on what we thought were very close shots. It wasn't just one guy, they each managed to excel at this...

On a few occasions when we asked about a particular call, the opponent who didn't make the call either said absolutely nothing or just said, "my partner called it out"

What else should my partner & I have done?

You'll get that reaction because any disagreement by the opposing team means you're awarded the point.

It's there call to make, so there is nothing to be done about the result, but it is within reason to ask them, "how far out/how close was that shot?" If they pinch of a half inch of air, you know you'll be getting bad calls for the rest of the match--adjust your play accordingly. If they clarify that it was two ball lengths out, then you might have a decent call.

 

[CFreeborn]

If it's a tournament or match where there is an administrator of some sort you can use the break between sets to notify them you'd like a line judge for at least a couple of games. Other than that you gotta suck it up - it's part of the game. Retaliatory gestures seldom go well...

 

[tennis tom]

If he calls them out they are out.

What is your problem?

Sounds like someone wants to start the week off arguing--not enough action over the weekend?

 

[tennis tom]

...either partner may call a ball that either clearly sees.

...we thought were very close shots.

It's always suspect when the person furthest from the ball and having the worst angle of sight makes the call. But sometimes it's necessary if your partner has bad eyesight, gets tongue tied, the ball's at their feet or they're running hard on a return. I'll make the call if I have to, the key word being clearly sees.

If you only thought they were close, better not make an issue of it, but if you're SURE then ask for an official or level the playing field as needed.

 

[newpball]

ask for an official or even the playing field as needed.

What's the playing field?

 

[tennis tom]

What's the playing field?

this:

http://www.ask.com/wiki/Kezar_Stadium?o=2801&qsrc=999&ad=doubleDown&an=apn&ap=ask.com

 

[86golf]

If it makes you feel any better, in any given D1 college match or even ITF futures or challengers ala Pro circuit match, there may be upwards of 3-4 bad line calls in a match. Just part of the game until you can make it up to a show court or Indian Wells.

 

[RetroSpin]

My question is how many times did this happen? Are there really that many close sideline calls to get upset about it? Was it one person or both doing it?

If it was blatant, I think after the second time I would say something to the effect of "why are you calling that instead of your partner? That ball was clearly good." At least you put them on notice. If they keep doing it, call for an offical or hook them on a couple of calls, provided you are ready for an argument.

 

[greg_in_atl]

My question is how many times did this happen? Are there really that many close sideline calls to get upset about it? Was it one person or both doing it?

If it was blatant, I think after the second time I would say something to the effect of "why are you calling that instead of your partner? That ball was clearly good." At least you put them on notice. If they keep doing it, call for an offical or hook them on a couple of calls, provided you are ready for an argument.

Okay, I thought I'd follow up & try to answer some of the questions raised so far.

First off, this was an ALTA match and their rules state that they won't provide linesmen or umpires for matches. Basically, the flow is ALTA rules, then USTA rules, then The Code.

As for how many times it happened, I'd say 8 - 10 times over the course of a two set match. I'd say most of our games went to deuce, so we played a lot of points.

Finally, it wasn't just one of the opponents, both of them did it.

Basically, it struct me as odd after about the 3rd or 4th time, then the trend where the player furthest away & looking across the line was calling the ball out just became annoying.

There were several times where I was inside the service line looking down the line in question & could see the ball land in. Same goes for my partner. Yes, we questioned some of their calls & we tried to be civilized about it, but it was to no avail.

The consensus was that there's nothing we could do about it other than assume we're going to get bad calls.

Even if we we'd quoted them The Code chapter & verse during the match, it really wouldn't have mattered, because they could have just claimed that "either partner may make the call". The part about what players "should" do and what is "more likely to be accurate" is really just a nice suggestion.

It's all water under the bridge at this point, I was just looking for insight as to what we could have done differently.

Thanks for the feedback from everyone.

 

[goober]

There is not much you can do about it if they are firm in their calls.

All you can do is-

a) ask them if they are sure about their call. If you keep asking, I noticed that teams will not continually call every close ball out.

b) Don't go for shots close to the line. In doubles a lot of balls should be going down the middle and when you angle shots, give yourself a large margin of error.

 

[RetroSpin]

Eight or 10 close sideline calls in one match is a lot. I think after the second blatantly bad call, you have to complain.

I wonder if what was happening is that they had the idea the partner not returning the shot is responsible for the calls? In other words, they thought the whole match should be called like returning serve?

 

[blakesq]

The balls were out. end of story.

During a league doubles match, how should one deal with a situation where the player looking across the line, as opposed to the player looking down the line, consistently calls close shots out?

Here is what The Code has to say (that I could find):

9. Either partner may make calls in doubles. Although either doubles partner may
make a call,the call of a player looking down a line is more likely to be accurate than that
of a player looking across a line.

and

25. Service calls in doubles. In doubles the receiver’s partner should call the
service line, and the receiver should call the sideline and the center service line.
Nonetheless, either partner may call a ball that either clearly sees.

So over the course of my match this weekend, the opponent looking across the line regularly made line calls on what we thought were very close shots. It wasn't just one guy, they each managed to excel at this...

On a few occasions when we asked about a particular call, the opponent who didn't make the call either said absolutely nothing or just said, "my partner called it out"

What else should my partner & I have done?

 

[astlaw]

Okay, I thought I'd follow up & try to answer some of the questions raised so far.

First off, this was an ALTA match and their rules state that they won't provide linesmen or umpires for matches. Basically, the flow is ALTA rules, then USTA rules, then The Code.

As for how many times it happened, I'd say 8 - 10 times over the course of a two set match. I'd say most of our games went to deuce, so we played a lot of points.

Finally, it wasn't just one of the opponents, both of them did it.

Basically, it struct me as odd after about the 3rd or 4th time, then the trend where the player furthest away & looking across the line was calling the ball out just became annoying.

There were several times where I was inside the service line looking down the line in question & could see the ball land in. Same goes for my partner. Yes, we questioned some of their calls & we tried to be civilized about it, but it was to no avail.

The consensus was that there's nothing we could do about it other than assume we're going to get bad calls.

Even if we we'd quoted them The Code chapter & verse during the match, it really wouldn't have mattered, because they could have just claimed that "either partner may make the call". The part about what players "should" do and what is "more likely to be accurate" is really just a nice suggestion.

It's all water under the bridge at this point, I was just looking for insight as to what we could have done differently.

Thanks for the feedback from everyone.

Which ALTA team was it? Haven't played a match yet in ALTA that didn't have some questionable behavior. I agree with the folks who've suggested ignoring it, but if you want to have some fun, make a couple horrible horrible calls and tell them that you can play one of two ways and see how they take it.

For some reason, ALTA turns folks into sociopaths on Saturday mornings.

 

[LuckyR]

If you are not willing to pony up for a Hawkeye system, then it isn't you call/concern. Nothing wrong with asking if they are sure though...

 

[SwankPeRFection]

If it's clay, go look at the mark. If it's hard court, go look for the felt mark on a few calls and see who's right. Otherwise, don't play close to the lines. Even the person looking on top of the line can be wrong sometimes because they CANNOT see the bounce if it's a fast ball. Your eyes aren't always quick enough to see if the ball bounce just inside the line or just outside... it's too fast, so the other person needs to call it.

However, some leagues have a new rule that if the partners disagree on a call, it was a bad call and you're rewarded the point. That's about all you can rely on.

I usually get robbed on a few aces that are on the line or half on them and half out because people can't see the ball fast enough. If I'm feeling ballsy and I'm serving well, I put the second serve in the same vicinity and slightly inside the line and they then see it in and are kinda ****ed off a bit cuz of the second serve ace. I then ask if that was a little easier for them to see? That usually really ****es them off, but it gets the point across.