Do you consider this poor sportsmanship?

[dParis]

Originally Posted by cghipp

I played tennis through my ninth month of pregnancy (including two days before I went into labor), and I never expected anyone to avoid the drop shot because I was slower. Or to not make me play the ball at net, for that matter. People are out there to play.

I don't know about anyone else, but I would love to see video of this!

[cghipp]

Originally Posted by dParis

I don't know about anyone else, but I would love to see video of this!

Thank god, as far as I know none exists!

I had such a miserable first pregnancy - I was terribly sick for pretty much the whole time. I couldn't even imagine playing tennis. With the last one, I felt so great in comparison, and I was surprised that once I got over the morning sickness and started playing again, I never felt off-balance, light-headed, tired, or anything like that. I was going to quit the first time it happened, but it never did. (This was doubles only, by the way. Singles would probably have been a different story.)

Let me tell you - huge pregnant women can also serve huge! Having that cannonball in front really gets you moving into the court. And serving aces when you're nine months pregnant is extremely satisfying! Afterward, it probably took about six months before I felt like I was playing as well as I did when I was pregnant. That part was not so fun...

[ProgressoR]

I would and could not ever ever ever ever underhand serve. If someone does it against me, its all fine, I will play it out and try to win the point. I would be a bit puzzled as i have never seen this serve used, but its all good experience. And if opponent resorts to UH serves, then i guess something is going pretty wrong for them to try that. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

If I indicate I am ready to receive his normal serve, then i think i better be ready if he UH serves it too, if it surprises me, then that is my fault.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by blakesq

Please explain what you mean by: "Snotty attitude about announcing the score"?

He was a Low-Talker. If he was about to serve and I said "Score please?" he would treat my request in a rather derisive fashion. That sort of thing.

[blakesq]

that is a jerky thing to do, it is his duty under the rules to announce the score so you can hear it. violating the rules of tennis is a jerky thing to do. underhanded serving does not violate the rules, hence it is perfectly acceptable.

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

He was a Low-Talker. If he was about to serve and I said "Score please?" he would treat my request in a rather derisive fashion. That sort of thing.

[a10best]

underhanded serving means I won't play that person again.
very simple.
drop shot an older guy, not just dink them back.
OTOH, if you're real winner drop shot them and then top-spin lob it.

[blakesq]

you must not play a lot of people again.

Originally Posted by a10best

underhanded serving means I won't play that person again.
very simple.
drop shot an older guy, not just dink them back.
OTOH, if you're real winner drop shot them and then top-spin lob it.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by blakesq

that is a jerky thing to do, it is his duty under the rules to announce the score so you can hear it. violating the rules of tennis is a jerky thing to do. underhanded serving does not violate the rules, hence it is perfectly acceptable.

Yep, underhanded serving is legal. That doesn't make it acceptable in the eyes of many people, who view it as bush league. If you don't care what those people think of you, then go for it. I was just saying that you will make yourself "memorable," which might or might not be what you want.

[blakesq]

Why would I care what cry-babies think of me? Because people who think of underhanded serves as being bush league, are, crybabies.

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Yep, underhanded serving is legal. That doesn't make it acceptable in the eyes of many people, who view it as bush league. If you don't care what those people think of you, then go for it. I was just saying that you will make yourself "memorable," which might or might not be what you want.

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by blakesq

Why would I care what cry-babies think of me? Because people who think of underhanded serves as being bush league, are, crybabies.

I dunno. Martina Hingis probably thinks they are bush league now, but she found out the hard way.

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by blakesq

Why would I care what cry-babies think of me? Because people who think of underhanded serves as being bush league, are, crybabies.

Because you'll limit your playing options? People aren't going to want to play with you. But to each his/her own.

[blakesq]

If people are so fragile that they won't play with me because of an underhanded serve thrown into the mix, I am sure I will have done something else to offend them long before. So, to $%&& with them. I don't need to waste time worrying about what crybabies are going to whine about next.

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

Because you'll limit your playing options? People aren't going to want to play with you. But to each his/her own.

[West Coast Ace]

Originally Posted by blakesq

If people are so fragile... So, to $%&& with them. I don't need to waste time worrying about what crybabies are going to whine about next.

Sportsmanship has nothing to do with being 'fragile' or being a crybaby. It's about playing the game the way it was meant to, treating your opponents with respect and not resorting to using questionable tactics.

[blakesq]

Making legal shots is sportsmanship. Whining about doing things that are within the rules of tennis, makes one a wimp, crybaby, and sore loser.

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

Sportsmanship has nothing to do with being 'fragile' or being a crybaby. It's about playing the game the way it was meant to, treating your opponents with respect and not resorting to using questionable tactics.

[Cindysphinx]

If people who serve underhand don't care what others think, why do they get so very angry when they hear what others think?

[cghipp]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

If people who serve underhand don't care what others think, why do they get so very angry when they hear what others think?

People who ask questions about why people contradict themselves should go home and play with their dolls!

[Big_Dangerous]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

He was a Low-Talker. If he was about to serve and I said "Score please?" he would treat my request in a rather derisive fashion. That sort of thing.

Lolz, Low-Talker like from Seinfeld.

Yeah I'm not one to usually yell out the score after every point, but I wouldn't act like that if someone asked me what the score was.

[beststringer]

Originally Posted by AR15

My club has a tennis challenge ladder with a wide range of age between the adults participating. We have a few men who play that are 65 to over 70 years old. These guys hit the ball very well, but a couple of them have the disadvantage (that comes with age) of not being able to cover the court like someone 20 years younger than them.

I had a discussion with fellow club members about the concept of sportsmanship in hitting particular shots against our more senior members. I'd like to throw it out to you:

If you were a fit player in your 40's, would you hit a drop shot on a 70 year old opponent? Or, an underhand serve?

Before I give my thoughts, I'd like to read yours.

I do a lot of drop shots against 50's guys. it's a huge weapon for me.

[Xisbum]

While I wouldn't hit an underhand serve - fear of missing it and really looking stupid - I don't mind those who try it on me. Part of the game, just like any other shot, and you just gotta be ready for it. The first one may surprise you, but the second one shouldn't.

My 2 centavos.

BTW, please keep drop shotting us older guys; some of us still have the wheels to chase them down.

[blakesq]

spoken like a person with true sportsmanship, unlike some of the whiners we have heard from already.

Originally Posted by Xisbum

While I wouldn't hit an underhand serve - fear of missing it and really looking stupid - I don't mind those who try it on me. Part of the game, just like any other shot, and you just gotta be ready for it. The first one may surprise you, but the second one shouldn't.

My 2 centavos.

BTW, please keep drop shotting us older guys; some of us still have the wheels to chase them down.