Is Blowing On The Ball Legal? - Page 2

ProgressoR · 06-15-2010, 03:23 AM

I think you should practice this move, the approach the net whilst the ball is sitting on the tape and blow it over shot.

You should spend at least 5 minutes every week drilling this shot. With practice you should be able to control the ball placement post-blow - ie going directly behind the ball, but staying on your side of the net will blow the ball directly into the opponents court, but you could consider approaching the ball from one side and thus blowing it at an angle onto the other side, thus keeping it closer to the net and making the opponent move sideways to return the ball.

You might also consider increasing your lung capacity to ensure the blow is not weak and feeble.

Moving to the net to play this shot and then realising you havent got enough blow to get it over the net would be highly embarassing.

stapletonj · 06-15-2010, 03:29 AM

actually, I jokingly do this on down the line passes or lobs that I REALLY REALLY hope are wide....

Frankly, the odds of being able to actually do this and have any hope of influencing the ball are so miniscule as to be unworthy of a rule or interpretation, etc., but since I am here already, I would suggest that as long as it is not specifically illegal, it is legal. Especially if you are a libertarian.

Gemini · 06-15-2010, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ucantplay2much

I wasn't thinking of trying to direct it in the air, just knock it off the net and on to his side without touching it. The ball would have way too much going for it as far as momentum goes.

I never made reference to whether the ball was in the air or on the net. But, especially if the ball is on the net, you've only got fractions of a second before it falls off or changes position along the net (before it finally falls off). No one is fast enough to track a ball and predict its movement in that situation to be able "blow" it off of the net.

pyrokid · 06-15-2010, 08:21 AM

If someone did this to me I'd be laughing my as* off too hard to care whether or not it was legal.

sureshs · 06-15-2010, 08:24 AM

Carrying the hypothetical analysis further, it is also possible to blow on the ball through means other than the mouth, you know.

06-15-2010, 08:46 AM

you have way too much time on your hands....

gameboy · 06-15-2010, 09:14 AM

Related topic, let's say my opponent hits a really high lob and while it is in the air, a lightning strikes it. But the ball lands in, but it does not bounce.

Who's point is it?

P.S. What if the lighting hits my partner while the ball is in the air, is it a let? Even better, my partner gets abducted by aliens using their tractor beam. but touches the ball while going up, is that legal?

Sherlock · 06-15-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameboy

Related topic, let's say my opponent hits a really high lob and while it is in the air, a lightning strikes it. But the ball lands in, but it does not bounce.

Who's point is it?

P.S. What if the lighting hits my partner while the ball is in the air, is it a let? Even better, my partner gets abducted by aliens using their tractor beam. but touches the ball while going up, is that legal?

1. The ball is broken during the point, so you should replay the point (1st serve).

2. A situation outside your partner's control hindered him, so the point should be replayed. Unfortunately, your partner would probably be unable to continue playing so you would have to retire from the match.

3. I think this would depend on whether or not the tractor beam hindered your opponents from playing the shot.

Austinthecity · 06-15-2010, 11:17 AM

I would like to believe that you cannot blow on the ball in an attempt to change the direction of the ball. As a broader ruling, I would like to interpret the rules as to say that you can't try to move the ball with anything other than your racket.

With these interpretations, maybe I would have a chance against Jedis.

Ucantplay2much · 06-15-2010, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinthecity

I would like to believe that you cannot blow on the ball in an attempt to change the direction of the ball. As a broader ruling, I would like to interpret the rules as to say that you can't try to move the ball with anything other than your racket.

With these interpretations, maybe I would have a chance against Jedis.

They read your mind and know exactly where you're going to hit , so you're still hosed.

Ucantplay2much · 06-15-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by decades

you have way too much time on your hands....

Nope, just thought about it after watching a ball sit right on top of the net for two seconds or so after hitting a drop shot.

Figjam · 06-15-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gameboy

Related topic,
P.S. What if the lighting hits my partner while the ball is in the air, is it a let? Even better, my partner gets abducted by aliens using their tractor beam. but touches the ball while going up, is that legal?

are they legal or illegal aliens? also depends on if you are in arizona or not.

sureshs · 06-15-2010, 01:23 PM

El Diablo · 06-15-2010, 01:32 PM

Let's turn that argument around. If I had hit the ball that was sitting on top of the net cord and followed the ball to net to begin to blow it to the opposite side, it would have to be a hindrance as, even if the opponent was not near the ball, my being inches from it is an obvious distraction and hindrance such that he could not approach the ball freely to strike it with my head next to it(which, even if he was still on the baseline, he could do, as the ball was not yet fallen). So clearly the person who hit the ball could not be allowed to blow on it. Would you then say that the receiver could do it but the hitter couldn't.

Ucantplay2much · 06-15-2010, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Diablo

my being inches from it is an obvious distraction and hindrance such that he could not approach the ball freely to strike it with my head next to it

If that's the case, if the receiver just dinks it with HIS racquet, his racquet would be on my side of the net, I wouldn't be able to hit the ball upwards to get it over the net and therefore it would be a hindrance to me returning the ball to him...

Ucantplay2much · 06-15-2010, 01:53 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Hx5ka1FiA

LuckyR · 06-16-2010, 11:39 AM

Blowing on the ball is legal, but using your telepathic powers is not.

Annika · 06-16-2010, 12:14 PM

Blowing on the ball is legal but your pathetic post is not.

subban · 06-17-2010, 07:45 AM

Well, if we ever colonize Mars or the Moon with much less gravity than earth and tennis catches on outdoors with spacesuits this thread has substance.

amarone · 06-17-2010, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spot

I think the correct answer is that it would be legal unless the person on the other side is in position to hit the ball and doesn't do so because you are hindering their ability to swing through it.

I am not sure about that. If you are standing in a legitimate position on your side of the court, I don't see that the opponent can claim a hindrance just because s/he cannot do a follow through. What if, instead of blowing on the ball, you hit it with your racquet? You are still in a position right up against the net - are you saying that the opponent can claim a hindrance if unable to perform their follow through without hitting you? This specific situation is not addressed in the rules, but it doesn't sound like a valid hindrance to me.

06-15-2010, 03:23 AM	#21
ProgressoR Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: No Man's Land Posts: 1,535	I think you should practice this move, the approach the net whilst the ball is sitting on the tape and blow it over shot. You should spend at least 5 minutes every week drilling this shot. With practice you should be able to control the ball placement post-blow - ie going directly behind the ball, but staying on your side of the net will blow the ball directly into the opponents court, but you could consider approaching the ball from one side and thus blowing it at an angle onto the other side, thus keeping it closer to the net and making the opponent move sideways to return the ball. You might also consider increasing your lung capacity to ensure the blow is not weak and feeble. Moving to the net to play this shot and then realising you havent got enough blow to get it over the net would be highly embarassing. __________________ Those who say it is not equipment that makes the player, clearly do not understand the importance of the right sweat band

06-15-2010, 08:21 AM	#24
pyrokid Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 1,768	If someone did this to me I'd be laughing my as* off too hard to care whether or not it was legal. __________________ Stereotypical Teen Player Babolat APDGT, Vamos Rafa, all that jazz.

06-15-2010, 01:32 PM	#34
El Diablo Hall Of Fame Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,097	Let's turn that argument around. If I had hit the ball that was sitting on top of the net cord and followed the ball to net to begin to blow it to the opposite side, it would have to be a hindrance as, even if the opponent was not near the ball, my being inches from it is an obvious distraction and hindrance such that he could not approach the ball freely to strike it with my head next to it(which, even if he was still on the baseline, he could do, as the ball was not yet fallen). So clearly the person who hit the ball could not be allowed to blow on it. Would you then say that the receiver could do it but the hitter couldn't. __________________ "I may be synthetic but I'm not stupid" Bishop, in "Aliens"

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06-15-2010, 01:23 PM	#33
sureshs Talk Tennis Guru Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 25,914