Time between serves

[samprasizking]

I have a question regarding the time between serves. Tonight I played this guy who missed about 70% of his first serves (even he knew it wouldn't go in most of the time) and his second serve was just "poked" over. Now my issue is that after the first serve...he would immediately serve his second basically giving me no time to go up to the service line and punish them. Is this allowed? Does the returner have no say so in the speed in which the server is serving? I was always under the impression that the server does in fact dictate pace...but this was ridiculous!!! Needless to say I ended up losing the match which I guess is the main reason I'm sending this thread

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Zets147]

you can ask him to slow it down some, and if he isn't a jerk, he will slow down.

 

[rfprse]

Just make a signal that shows you are not ready, and change your position.

Though the server can set the pace, but the server's pace has to be reasonable and the receiver has the right to take a reasonable time to be ready for the serve.

 

[Kathy]

Yes, I find that the best way to handle it is to not even make a move for it. Just hold out your hand and say, "Sorry, I wasn't ready yet." That usually works -- just doing that once or twice. That way, if it's unintentional, you've politely reminded him that you need time. If it's intentional, you've shown him that it won't work.

Though the server dictates pace, you have a right to be ready. So, for example, he can't quickly shift along the baseline and hit the second serve from a different angle without allowing you time to adjust your receiving position to his new serving position. Likewise, on a second serve, you need time to clear the ball and step forward a bit. You can't stall, but he can't quick-serve you either, unless you let him.

Kathy K
www.operationdoubles.com

 

[papa]

Yes, I find that the best way to handle it is to not even make a move for it. Just hold out your hand and say, "Sorry, I wasn't ready yet." That usually works -- just doing that once or twice. That way, if it's unintentional, you've politely reminded him that you need time. If it's intentional, you've shown him that it won't work.

Though the server dictates pace, you have a right to be ready. So, for example, he can't quickly shift along the baseline and hit the second serve from a different angle without allowing you time to adjust your receiving position to his new serving position. Likewise, on a second serve, you need time to clear the ball and step forward a bit. You can't stall, but he can't quick-serve you either, unless you let him.

Kathy K
www.operationdoubles.com

Excellent post. I do the same thing and they quickly get the point.

 

[andrew_b]

Yes, I find that the best way to handle it is to not even make a move for it. Just hold out your hand and say, "Sorry, I wasn't ready yet." That usually works -- just doing that once or twice. That way, if it's unintentional, you've politely reminded him that you need time. If it's intentional, you've shown him that it won't work.

Though the server dictates pace, you have a right to be ready. So, for example, he can't quickly shift along the baseline and hit the second serve from a different angle without allowing you time to adjust your receiving position to his new serving position. Likewise, on a second serve, you need time to clear the ball and step forward a bit. You can't stall, but he can't quick-serve you either, unless you let him.

Kathy K

This is good advice. If, after you've given notice that you need a moment to be ready before the second serve (Kathy's approach is good - it's polite yet firm), the rules state that if the server serves and the receiver is not ready, the receiver can make NO ATTEMPT to move towards the ball or return it. If they do, they no longer have the right to claim they were not ready.

Trying to find what happens if you are quick-served. There's a rather confusing statment in the rules:

Rule 21 (Old 12 & 30):
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server and be ready to receive within a reasonable time of the server being ready.

A receiver who attempts to return the service shall be considered as being ready. If it is demonstrated that the receiver is not ready, the service cannot be called a fault."

Ok, I'm good until the last sentence. If the receiver is NOT ready, the serve CANNOT be called a fault. What is it? A let? Based on some of the USTA Comments, this seems to be the case, but it's pretty restricted.

See RULES, scroll down to page 18. There are some comments that apply pretty directly to the OP's questions.

play well,
Andrew

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

yet, another good reason to hold your racquet in your non-playing hand until you are ready to play.

For nobody can claim you were ready to receive or made an attempt to return a ball while your racquet is held by its neck in your non-playing hand.

 

[kevhen]

After the first serve goes whizzing by or hits the net, hold out your arm to indicate you are not yet ready to receive the second serve. Move in to a comfortable attacking spot and now lower your arm and say 'OK'. If he serves while your arm is raised, you have the right to replay his second serve.

 

[Ten_is]

^ what everybody said. If anyone is doing this and you're rushing and not ready.. then it sounds like you're allowing yourself to get emotionally moved in the game resulting in your loss. Remember tennis has alot to do with your mental state so if someone is trying to control it and you're letting them.. then you'll lose due to nerves etc..

 

[samprasizking]

Excellent replies...thanks to everyone who responded. If I should meet this opponent again...or play someone of similar style...I'll now know how to handle it. Thanks!

 

[Geezer Guy]

Trying to find what happens if you are quick-served. There's a rather confusing statment in the rules:

Rule 21 (Old 12 & 30):
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server and be ready to receive within a reasonable time of the server being ready.

A receiver who attempts to return the service shall be considered as being ready. If it is demonstrated that the receiver is not ready, the service cannot be called a fault."

Ok, I'm good until the last sentence. If the receiver is NOT ready, the serve CANNOT be called a fault. What is it? A let? Based on some of the USTA Comments, this seems to be the case, but it's pretty restricted.

I think it's just saying that if the serve comes in before the receiver is ready (either a 1st or 2nd serve), the server will re-serve. For instance, if the serve would have been an Ace, they would still serve over. In the opposite situation, if the quick-serve was Out, they'd serve over also (as opposed to losing the point).

 

[Moves]

I have an opponent who is quite similar. It's like he trying to beat you to your position.

After about 2 of those I just got in a habit of lightly jogging up into position and split-stepping.

I am pretty good at hitting approach shots on short balls so this actually plays into my strength. There is also the added benefit of pressure when he sees me running up and beating him at his own game.

- Moves

 

[papa]

I think it's just saying that if the serve comes in before the receiver is ready (either a 1st or 2nd serve), the server will re-serve. For instance, if the serve would have been an Ace, they would still serve over. In the opposite situation, if the quick-serve was Out, they'd serve over also (as opposed to losing the point).

Yeah, and this happens. Yesterday, my opponent double faulted in a doubles match. I gave him another second serve because I was not ready so it does work both ways - incidently, they won that point and then the game but thats ok.