Stare down at the line, then a delayed call...

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Deuce court, slice serve out wide. I admit it was very close. If it wasn't spot on the line, I probably missed it by half a tennis ball. Anyway, from my angle it looked good, so I started walking to pick up a ball and serve on the ad court.

Half way through my leisure walk to retrieve the ball for the next point, he shouts "OUT!" At least 10 seconds have gone past since the ball in question touched the ground.

Naturally, I stopped and went , didn't argue and walked back to the deuce court for a second serve. This is where I got mildly agitated: He offered me a first serve instead.

Now, I'm fine if he called a line-clipper out on the spot, because he was there, and he had a better view of it. But I don't think it was right for him to:

1) Have doubts about the call himself, evident by the long pause. Then make a 50/50 choice.
2) No evidence of the spot, the court was not dusty and he didn't even walk to the spot in question. He just stood behind the baseline, thought about it, and shouted "OUT!"
3) Ace or fault, you can't just erase it because you weren't sure. What's to stop you from having a "do over" on anything that's close to the line?

He exhibited some other gamesmanship too, but that's for another discussion. I'll just list them here:
1) Wasted a LOT of time between points
2) Excessively long change-overs (in my opinion)
3) Shadow/check swings/tosses on big points during his service games. That's gamesmanship in my book because he was trying to freeze me out on breakpoints.

Curious to see who would have said something to the dude if they were in my shoes?

[LeeD]

If it was a real match, slight gamesmanship, he's out of shape, and at least he gave you a let.
Practice match, you find another partner.
If he keeps calling balls out, then you can say it's pure gamesmanship.
Some people just play slow, taking time to towell off, get a sip, walk in circles. If you want to play with this guy, you'll have to wait.
During a match, when it counts, it's time for the ref.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I can look past time consuming tactics. A case of "everyone does it, no point in fighting it". I also understand that some people takes a while to gather themselves, so I'll let it rest.

But I don't think I'll allow another delayed call from him. Whatever it is, call it on the spot.

[LeeD]

UPON FURTHER REVIEW, is something we've all heard.
Some players take time to think if their call was worth giving you the let.
Some players are blind, and need recall to substantiate their initial call.
Don't hit so close to lines. If you think you really can, just hit the next one at the same spot.
You don't want to resort to LUCK to win, do you?

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by LeeD

UPON FURTHER REVIEW, is something we've all heard.
Some players take time to think if their call was worth giving you the let.
Some players are blind, and need recall to substantiate their initial call.
Don't hit so close to lines. If you think you really can, just hit the next one at the same spot.
You don't want to resort to LUCK to win, do you?

Haha, I actually did, I used the same serve and cut it pretty close to the line again. Just to dare and see if he would pull the same crap again, and he didn't.

So I was like: "Alright, this sort of confirms it, b****** just took away an ace."

[dizzlmcwizzl]

I have always taken the delayed call to mean ... "I am not sure but I am going to call it out anyway, so f--- you."

Obviously in almost every match we play there are no line judges or officials so there is really nothing you can do about it on the spot. The only options are to get upset about it and let it affect your play going forward or let it go and avoid playing him again if it becomes habitual.

I aspire for the latter, but sometimes it just bothers me.

[LeeD]

OK, match play.
You obviously quelled his antics, by placing another ball near the one called out. He didn't try to hook you after that, done deal.
Most match play, we still gotta abide by our blind opponent's calls. Usually, if they hit big and go for winners, they will give decent calls.
If they are pushers, counterpunchers, baseliners who hit soft, they will cheat you every chance they get.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by LeeD

OK, match play.
You obviously quelled his antics, by placing another ball near the one called out. He didn't try to hook you after that, done deal.
Most match play, we still gotta abide by our blind opponent's calls. Usually, if they hit big and go for winners, they will give decent calls.
If they are pushers, counterpunchers, baseliners who hit soft, they will cheat you every chance they get.

It's hard for me to say he was a cheater based on his tactics and this one-time incident of delayed call. But he was as you described. Moonballs were his go-to shots.

[LeeD]

"if the shoe fits".......
30 years of tennis, 4 of which serious, have taught me something.
Pushers need and covet every point they can win.
Hitter's can give a point away almost every game, and make up for it.
Counterpuncher's somewhere in between.
In my twisted world, pusher's exist in 7.0 levels, as told to me by HaroldSolomon, as his bud, EddyDibbs was walking into the stringing booth.

[rufus_smith]

If you want to enjoy tennis fully ignore stuff like that. Just keep playing.

[tenniscasey]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

Deuce court, slice serve out wide. I admit it was very close. If it wasn't spot on the line, I probably missed it by half a tennis ball. Anyway, from my angle it looked good, so I started walking to pick up a ball and serve on the ad court.

Half way through my leisure walk to retrieve the ball for the next point, he shouts "OUT!" At least 10 seconds have gone past since the ball in question touched the ground.

Naturally, I stopped and went , didn't argue and walked back to the deuce court for a second serve. This is where I got mildly agitated: He offered me a first serve instead.

Now, I'm fine if he called a line-clipper out on the spot, because he was there, and he had a better view of it. But I don't think it was right for him to:

1) Have doubts about the call himself, evident by the long pause. Then make a 50/50 choice.
2) No evidence of the spot, the court was not dusty and he didn't even walk to the spot in question. He just stood behind the baseline, thought about it, and shouted "OUT!"
3) Ace or fault, you can't just erase it because you weren't sure. What's to stop you from having a "do over" on anything that's close to the line?

He exhibited some other gamesmanship too, but that's for another discussion. I'll just list them here:
1) Wasted a LOT of time between points
2) Excessively long change-overs (in my opinion)
3) Shadow/check swings/tosses on big points during his service games. That's gamesmanship in my book because he was trying to freeze me out on breakpoints.

Curious to see who would have said something to the dude if they were in my shoes?

Blown calls are part of rec tennis. You sure typed a lot of words for a circumstance that is relatively common and most people can just shrug off.

[t135]

Everybody makes bad calls...going both ways. It just happens. It blows my mind to see some of my shots that are called out. Crazy stuff. Then you have guys questioning balls that are clearly out and even feature a clear mark. Guys trying to call their own balls on the opposite baseline...AT NIGHT!

You just have to roll with it. It's part of tennis. Especially on hard courts. The mistake is thinking you never make mistakes calling the lines.

At least he recognized the delayed call and gave you a first serve. And balls leave faint skid marks on hard courts that can only be seen from certain angles. Dust or no dust.

[tennis tom]

The guys messing with your head, the ball's in or out, if he's not sure you get the benefit of the doubt, calls must be immediate. Giving two is amateurish. It's 20 seconds between points now at tournaments changed recently from 25 seconds, 90 seconds on changeovers except the first one and two minutes between sets. Follow your watch until you get a natural feel for it, it won't take long until you naturally feel when the time is up. If this was a rec match don't play with him anymore. If it's a tournament, find an official to monitor the match.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by tenniscasey

Blown calls are part of rec tennis. You sure typed a lot of words for a circumstance that is relatively common and most people can just shrug off.

Obviously I typed so much that you missed the point entirely. I said I was fine with the call either way, in or out. What I had a problem with was, the delay, and then erasing it off the match entirely.

[Bergboy123]

Any time I have to hesitate on a line call I will pretty much always give it to them..

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by t135

Everybody makes bad calls...going both ways. It just happens. It blows my mind to see some of my shots that are called out. Crazy stuff. Then you have guys questioning balls that are clearly out and even feature a clear mark. Guys trying to call their own balls on the opposite baseline...AT NIGHT!

You just have to roll with it. It's part of tennis. Especially on hard courts. The mistake is thinking you never make mistakes calling the lines.

At least he recognized the delayed call and gave you a first serve. And balls leave faint skid marks on hard courts that can only be seen from certain angles. Dust or no dust.

Then I'm going to need to see some kind of proof, like walking up to the spot in question and say "this is the spot." Or something of that nature. Next time, I will ask for evidence for sure.

Don't just stand behind the baseline, extrapolate something out of thin air, and make a 50/50 decision.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by rufus_smith

If you want to enjoy tennis fully ignore stuff like that. Just keep playing.

I agree, I almost never argue about a point unless I'm standing on top of the shot in question. But you just can't erase things off the board just because you're not sure.

[LeeD]

This is bothering you, we can all see.
Also, you're bordering on obsessive compulsive behavior over a detail that you will encounter many times in the course of your future tennis career, and with no resolution!

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I certainly hope to never encounter such bs again. But hearing from you guys and especially LeeD, I should expect it anytime I play a pusher/counterpuncher...

[LeeD]

There is a reason I skipped playing in the B's when I won a big entry C tournament.
B, or 4.5, is loaded with guys who maxed out their tennis skills, so they push and cheat, gamesmanship and cheat, to win every conceivable point they can. Remember, their physical skills are already maxed out.
In those days, A/Open were filled with players trying to emulate pro level tennis of the times. You didn't fight, cheat, lie, and resort to mind games to win points, you only hit winners to win, losers to lose. Few pushers were around playing A/Open, and those who did, often had problems getting practice partners and matches.
Most top players watched a few points of the lower level players, and seemed to base their ideas of who to hit with, and who to avoid, on the line calls made in the practice matches.
I got calls from several A level players, because I played for artform, and not to tenaciously try to grab and hang on to every single darn point.