squeaking shoes on purpose

[tennisdad65]

did not think this would be such a squeaky topic..

I did watch the same 2 guys play again even more carefully, and this time 100% confirmed my previous observation, that the guy is doing it on purpose, and his friend just plays on without any problem .

There is no squeaking when he goes to the net (split step) and volley. There is no squeaking during his service return and there is no squeaking when he takes small steps to hit ground strokes, and running all over for balls. It is only when he is moving back to the center after hitting a groundstroke that he does it, precisely at the time that his friend is getting ready to hit.

I agree that it is very difficult to prove, but I think a ref would warn the guy in a ref'ed match.

[migjam]

Originally Posted by tennismike33

The squeaky wheel gets the grease again. I squeak too, I come to net and occasionally when I split step I hear my sneakers squeak, it isn't on purpose but it happens.

Hate to tell you, but it isn't the shoes that are squeaking.

[himynameisminh]

Originally Posted by travelerb

If I were playing someone like this, my thought would be go ahead and shuffle your feet around during a match and avoid proper footwork. Might just catch him squeaking left when I hit it right.

Well said!

I played a duo in doubles that didn't do this exact thing; however, one of the players, when awaiting the return at net, would strafe in a perimeter of the service box as soon as I or my partner was getting ready to serve. It irked us A LOT, but we didn't call a hindrance. His partner did nothing of the sort.

[blakesq]

Its completely legal to move when the other side is serving.

Originally Posted by himynameisminh

Well said!

I played a duo in doubles that didn't do this exact thing; however, one of the players, when awaiting the return at net, would strafe in a perimeter of the service box as soon as I or my partner was getting ready to serve. It irked us A LOT, but we didn't call a hindrance. His partner did nothing of the sort.

[bleach]

Originally Posted by blakesq

Its completely legal to move when the other side is serving.

If the purpose of the move is to distract the server, then it is a hiderance.... but of course that is a subjective decision.

I played a match where everytime I tossed my serve the "up-man" would start shuffling his feet (causing squeaking). I tossed and caught a couple of times, each time he would "squeak" just as I tossed. Finally I served and hit the up man. I told him I was sorry, but I was distracted by a squeaking noise coming from "somewhere". Then I called the score (taking the point) and moved to the other side. The look on his face as priceless and the mysterious squeaking never returned.

[blakesq]

This is from THE CODE:

"34. Feinting with the body. A player may feint with the body while the ball
is in play. A player may change position at any time, including while the server
is tossing the ball. Any movement or sound that is made solely to distract
an opponent, including, but not limited to, waving the arms or racket or
stamping the feet, is not allowed."


Thus, moving during the service is allowed, even IF one of the purposes is to distract the opponent. The only time it is NOT allowed is IF the purpose is SOLELY to distract the opponent.

I love it when guys try to call a hindrance on me for moving during the serve, I tell them to just pay attention to the ball, i can move whenever I want. Of course, I am not waiving my arms or stomping my feet, I am simply changing position, moving from one side of the non-service box to another, or moving towards the net.

Originally Posted by bleach

If the purpose of the move is to distract the server, then it is a hiderance.... but of course that is a subjective decision.

I played a match where everytime I tossed my serve the "up-man" would start shuffling his feet (causing squeaking). I tossed and caught a couple of times, each time he would "squeak" just as I tossed. Finally I served and hit the up man. I told him I was sorry, but I was distracted by a squeaking noise coming from "somewhere". Then I called the score (taking the point) and moved to the other side. The look on his face as priceless and the mysterious squeaking never returned.

[Dark_Angel85]

Originally Posted by tennisdad65

I was watching a singles match and one of the guys had very squeaky shoes. Also, it definitely looked like he was purposely taking small dragging steps while getting back to the center after a shot. This resulted in lots of annoying noises while his opponent was getting ready to hit.

It seemed very obvious to me that he was trying to distract his opponent. However, it did not seem to phase his opponent at all.

What is the rule on this? is this allowed?

the 'small dragging steps' i think refers to the little steps players do before setting their motion for the shot. totally legit

many players including the pros have squeaky noises when they run on hard-courts. very loud sometimes... so i doubt there's a ruling against it

[heninfan99]

I suppose there are worse sounds an opponent can make --some of these are accompanied by smells. :-/

Would someone really go through all that extra footwork just for the sake of squeaking?

[Tennisguy3000]

Bumping this thread after being called for having squeaky shoes (New Adidas Barricade 7s). My shoes squeak during play but the challenged squeaks were after my partners serve & my movement to cut off the middle or fake a poach. Any further thoughts on this... it definitely wasn't intentional. It was mentioned during a changeover. Thanks for input & advice

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I think squeaky shoes during a point is fine, and inevitable.

Some people I know at a local park squeak their shoes on purpose right when I'm about to serve/at the toss. And I do warn them if this match meant something, it's gamesmanship and I will call hindrance.

One squeak is fine with me, I'm going to believe in the good will of people and the ONE squeak is coming from the split step.

But if they get all happy feet and I hear "squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak", it's hindrance and I'll go out of my way to remind them on every single point.

The squeaks doesn't bother me, but I'll fight fire with fire. If they want to throw me off my game by distracting me, I'll throw them off their game by reminding them it's hindrance. And we all know what happens when a tennis player is prohibited from their on court habits . Their game falls apart.

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

I think squeaky shoes during a point is fine, and inevitable.

Some people I know at a local park squeak their shoes on purpose right when I'm about to serve/at the toss. And I do warn them if this match meant something, it's gamesmanship and I will call hindrance.

One squeak is fine with me, I'm going to believe in the good will of people and the ONE squeak is coming from the split step.

But if they get all happy feet and I hear "squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak", it's hindrance and I'll go out of my way to remind them on every single point.

The squeaks doesn't bother me, but I'll fight fire with fire. If they want to throw me off my game by distracting me, I'll throw them off their game by reminding them it's hindrance. And we all know what happens when a tennis player is prohibited from their on court habits . Their game falls apart.

The squeaks are only a hindrance if your opponent is doing this for the purpose of distracting you. If they are moving their feet to split step on your toss and they squeak, even several times, it is not a hindrance.

Personally, at the club I play, the courts are such that when I am wearing new shoes I squeak every time I move quickly and there is no way you would bully me into calling a hindrance.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by dizzlmcwizzl

The squeaks are only a hindrance if your opponent is doing this for the purpose of distracting you. If they are moving their feet to split step on your toss and they squeak, even several times, it is not a hindrance.

Personally, at the club I play, the courts are such that when I am wearing new shoes I squeak every time I move quickly and there is no way you would bully me into calling a hindrance.

I think there's a difference between doing a split step, and shuffling their feet back and forth and doing a happy feet dance.

[LuckyR]

Originally Posted by dizzlmcwizzl

The squeaks are only a hindrance if your opponent is doing this for the purpose of distracting you. If they are moving their feet to split step on your toss and they squeak, even several times, it is not a hindrance.

Personally, at the club I play, the courts are such that when I am wearing new shoes I squeak every time I move quickly and there is no way you would bully me into calling a hindrance.

Not quite right. What you said is true but also it has to actually hinder you. Does that sort of nonsense really hinder you? Really?

[dizzlmcwizzl]

Originally Posted by LuckyR

Not quite right. What you said is true but also it has to actually hinder you. Does that sort of nonsense really hinder you? Really?

Not me ... of course I wasn't the one complaining.

[Gonzalito17]

Remember Ana Ivanovic used to squeak her shoes right before her opponent served a few years ago in Australia I think it was. Very cunning, but cute at the same time. Gotta love Ana )

[Tennisguy3000]

Originally Posted by Gonzalito17

Remember Ana Ivanovic used to squeak her shoes right before her opponent served a few years ago in Australia I think it was. Very cunning, but cute at the same time. Gotta love Ana )

Haha Yes... and it wasnt allowed as a fault then either

'It's a distraction to the server. We played before and she never did it.' She said she had alerted umpire Alison Lang, but no action was taken.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/85775-te...-squeaky-shoes

Tennis player cries foot fault over squeaky shoes

Women's tennis has already suffered rows over loud grunting – and now a player is blaming her downfall on another annoying sound: squeaky trainers.

Daniela Hantuchova said opponent Ana Ivanovic had committed an unusual 'foot-fault' yesterday to get to the finals of the Australian Open.

Hantuchova and Ivanovic Cold handshake: Hantuchova, right, looks away from Ivanovic

The match, in Melbourne, saw Slovakian Hantuchova let slip a 6-0 2-0 lead and go down in three sets.

Her claims of noisy gamesmanship, which recall arguments over the infamous grunts of Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova, saw her accuse Serbian Ivan-ovic of deliberately shuffling her feet before each point. This made a loud, off-putting squeak on the hard court surface.

After a cold handshake at the end of the game, when she barely glanced at her opponent, Hantuchova said: 'I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair.

Ivanovic It’s a shoe-in: Ana Ivanovic celebrates her winning point . Squeaky shoes not pictured.

'It's a distraction to the server. We played before and she never did it.' She said she had alerted umpire Alison Lang, but no action was taken.

But an indignant Ivanovic, 20, insisted: 'I just tried to move my feet to return the ball, so it really was not intentional.

'If you see other matches, I was doing exactly the same thing. It's just the way these courts play.

'Maybe she was just trying to pick on something, to get upset.'

To add to the bitterness, 24-year-old Hantuchova disputed whether Ivanovic had reached the ball before it bounced twice during a crucial break-point in the final set – but later admitted she could have been mistaken.

The final should prove interesting, if incredibly noisy: Ivanovic and her squeaky shoes are going up against the notorious grunts of Sharapova


Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/news/85775-te...#ixzz2Cz4Qz9Nt

[michael_1265]

My sneakers squeak sometimes. At 6'4" and 240 pounds and with pretty decent burst speed, I suspect it is not my sneakers interacting with the ground but rather screaming in pure agony, like the tires on a Wells Fargo armored truck.

[tamdoankc]

I've had a doubles opponent actually stomp his feet during my service motion. This only happened when I was serving for the match.

[dcdoorknob]

Originally Posted by tennisdad65

did not think this would be such a squeaky topic..

I did watch the same 2 guys play again even more carefully, and this time 100% confirmed my previous observation, that the guy is doing it on purpose, and his friend just plays on without any problem .

There is no squeaking when he goes to the net (split step) and volley. There is no squeaking during his service return and there is no squeaking when he takes small steps to hit ground strokes, and running all over for balls. It is only when he is moving back to the center after hitting a groundstroke that he does it, precisely at the time that his friend is getting ready to hit.

I agree that it is very difficult to prove, but I think a ref would warn the guy in a ref'ed match.

I think the actual productive thing to take out if this thread has nothing to do with whether there is a hindrance or not. Instead of worrying about that, I think we'd all be better off figuring out how to handle it (and plenty of other things like it) like the opponent did. Let's say the squeaking is intentional and is meant to distract his opponent. How frustrating it must be for the guy to waste all that energy when his opponent doesn't even seem to notice?

In general I have often thought that the best response (if possible) to many acts of gamesmanship is to just no give it a 2nd thought (or even a 1st one if you can help it). If they are really trying to get to you somehow, the only real response that thwarts them is no response. Oftentimes, they aren't even trying anything so sinister as that anyways, and it's just an honest quirk or something. Even if it is intentional, if you just ignore it and keep playing as you would have otherwise you've still likely come upon the best solution to the matter.

I mean, in this case, its silly squeaking shoes. Get over it.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by tamdoankc

I've had a doubles opponent actually stomp his feet during my service motion. This only happened when I was serving for the match.

I had the same thing.

Doubles opponent net player had been quiet the entire match, but then on match point she started shuffling her feet during my toss so her shoes would squeak.

I dealt with it by catching tosses until she knocked it off, staring at her after each caught toss.