Double bounce or not?

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by Maui19

Don't people say "not up" when they don't get the ball on the first bounce, or doesn't that happen any more?

Most (or a lot anyway) of league/tournament players don't know that's the correct terminology for a "double bounce". That's the issue.

[B@NK@1]

Just do what I do when someone is clearly trying to cheat, Hit a really looooong flat first serve. But to answer your question, it's your opponents' call. It sucks. For me, when ever there is a questionable call where no one can agree on anything, we just re-play the point.

[B@NK@1]

also, why is he the one making the call though, in the heat of the action, we see what we want to see. His partner should have stepped in and either agree or over rule his partners' call.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by B@NK@1

also, why is he the one making the call though, in the heat of the action, we see what we want to see. His partner should have stepped in and either agree or over rule his partners' call.

His partner may have been behind him or at an angle where there's no way he could have known.

[tennis tom]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

People don't say "Not up", though. Perhaps they should, but they don't.

Even in the pros, the other player will just return the ball despite the double-bounce. Just in case it doesn't get called.

This "people", that being me, says "NOT UP". In the pros, you have umpires who do it for you, an honorable player will call it on himself even if the umpire missed it.

[jswinf]

This could have the makings of a Viagra commercial...

[Bobby Jr]

Speaking of wanting to make calls on your opponent's side of the net. I played a league doubles match recently where whenever we made a remotely close call one of our opponents would stand there like McEnroe as if we'd hooked him. Yet on every single first serve he hit he foot-faulted by miles.

Eventually after one of his call questionings I said to him he could continue to question every call (none of which his partner ever questioned) if he liked but we'd start calling foot fault on him every time he served. His reply was: you can't make foot fault calls from your end.

Well... doh! Pot > kettle > black.

[MisterP]

This happened to me this past Saturday only I was the one who hit the ball in question. He hit a dropper. I reacted kinda late but got there and sorta scooped it up and over. He just watched it land and called a double bounce.

Now - I was running my @ss off and had to nearly lay out forward just to get a racquet on it, but I didn't see it bounce twice and I didn't hear it bounce twice. I feel like I picked it up within an inch or so of the ground. My racquet grounded out when I got it.

When he called the double bounce I stopped and shook my head and said, "I think I got it just before the second bounce." He said he didn't think so, and I said, "No, I'm pretty sure it didn't bounce twice." He recommended that we replay the point and we did. I lost the replayed point.

So in this case since I was 90% sure it was not a double bounce should I have just taken the point? Or do I need to be 100% sure, kinda like calling a ball out (if you don't know for sure, then it is in)?

What would you have done?

[beernutz]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

Whenever you think there is a double-bounce or your opponent will never get to the ball, set up and hit the winner.

There is no clearly recognizable gesture or immediately discernible word to signal double-bounce. People just mutter something, often. If you wait for them to acknowledge it, it is too late to play the ball.

Sadly, this means that I will usually play the ball right back to the player I think had a double-bounce as aggressively as I can. They are usually off balance, so my shot will be a winner or cause an error. Then we don't have to discuss whether there was a double-bounce.

The other thing that is annoying about double-bounce situations is that the person will often ask their partner or the opponent. To me, that suggests doubt so they should concede the point. I think the Code is not clear enough that players should resolve doubt in favor of their opponents, and asking "Did I get to that?" suggests doubt.

And if they ask my opinion, shouldn't they have to go with that, just like an out call?

That exact situation happened last night. Our opponent hit a ball that apparently was a double bounce--I didn't see it but my partner did--and it floated up in front of me about chest high so I just put in away between them. My partner then said, hey that was a double bounce, and the guy who hit it sheepishly said that it was.

So I agree, if you can, put the ball away then there will not be a question about whether it is a double bounce or not.

I should add that my partner last night is also a tennis official and will be umpiring the upcoming NAIA men's and women's national championships so when rules questions come up on court you'd better know what you are talking about if you disagree with him.

[LuckyR]

This is a case where it should be obvious to anyone watching (or certainly playing) the shot. Even though our eyes might fail us in seeing the ball/racquet contact point, the ball behaves very differently if it is on the way down (legal) or a half volley on the way up (illegal double bounce). Heck you could tell even if you were watching it on TV.

[Carefree]

I think it's possible that he wasn't cheating. Some people don't realize how late they get to the ball and they think they get it just before it hits the ground as opposed to just after. It's also the angle that you view it at, people are stretching and they aren't looking at the ball at contact (that's why there are so may "tips" telling you to watch the ball through contact.

I would definitely say that it bounced twice, but it's ultimately his call.

If it were me, and you said it bounced twice I'd probably take your word for it as you are in a better position to see it than me. Though I do know it's my call.

[Fintft]

So, the team that did the double bounced has the final word on it?

[beernutz]

Originally Posted by Fintft

So, the team that did the double bounced has the final word on it?

In an unofficiated match, the team on the side where the double bounce occurred has the final word on whether to call it or not.

[AtomicForehand]

When I call a double bounce on myself (which I had to do three times today...boo), I say...

"Double bounce. Your point."

If I said "Not up" I don't think anyone would have any kind of clue what that meant.

[Mel911]

Originally Posted by AtomicForehand

When I call a double bounce on myself (which I had to do three times today...boo), I say...

"Double bounce. Your point."

If I said "Not up" I don't think anyone would have any kind of clue what that meant.

I agree! I've never heard of "not up" before, though I believe everyone who says it's the right way to express a double bounce.

I usually yell loudly "two, Two, TWO! Don't hit me!" Doesn't always work, though!

[tennis_ocd]

one of those tennis things; opponents call but/while you likely have a much better view of play. next point.

[IA-SteveB]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

Maybe he wasn't cheating.

Maybe, he honestly thought he got it just before the second bounce.

Maybe you saw it incorrectly.

Either way, it's his call.

Well said. I hate it when people call people cheaters on a call. Not everyone is perfect on calls and this is just the way he saw the situation.