How long do you go before saying something?

[JackB1]

Question is this......

How long will you go into a match before saying something about repeated bad line calls? How many will you let go? I had a match recently where my opponent did multiple things that were bad "tennis etiquette" and just downright annoying and after a blatantly horrible "out" call in the 3rd set (on a crucial, would be game winning point), I lost it and called him out on it.

This was a organized league match and unfortunately this situation will happen from time to time. Most of the guys do not call "tight" calls out...they just leave them as "in". But now and then you get someone who makes "selective" tight calls always go their way. How do you handle this?
Normally if a call seemed "questionable" to me, I will say "Are you sure"?
But if you suspect your opponent is purposely hooking you on important points, what do you do and how long before you say something?

[ollinger]

"Perception is motivation" is axiomatic in cognitive psychology. Study after study indicates we see what we want to see; you are not in a position (psychologically) to reliably say that the other guy made a bad call. Accept this and move on. It's a game.

[blakesq]

were they bad line calls, or just tight line calls that didn't go your way? You bring up both but they are two different things. The fact that you bring up bad tennis etiquette, but don't give any examples of this bad etiquette, makes me wonder if you are just being a sore loser?

Sorry, just reading between the lines. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Originally Posted by JackB1

Question is this......

How long will you go into a match before saying something about repeated bad line calls? How many will you let go? I had a match recently where my opponent did multiple things that were bad "tennis etiquette" and just downright annoying and after a blatantly horrible "out" call in the 3rd set (on a crucial, would be game winning point), I lost it and called him out on it.

This was a organized league match and unfortunately this situation will happen from time to time. Most of the guys do not call "tight" calls out...they just leave them as "in". But now and then you get someone who makes "selective" tight calls always go their way. How do you handle this?
Normally if a call seemed "questionable" to me, I will say "Are you sure"?
But if you suspect your opponent is purposely hooking you on important points, what do you do and how long before you say something?

[IA-SteveB]

I haven't been in quite that situation, but I think I would have let it go the same amount of time as you did. I am pretty non-confrontational but bad calls can get to anyone. The only time this has really happened to me was after about three bad calls. I hit one that was clearly in and the guy called it out. I asked him if he was sure about it and he said he was pretty sure he saw it, asked his partner who said he didn't see it and then said we could replay the point. I said no, he could have it. I think that just put him on notice that I wasn't going to settle again. I don't think he was blatantly hooking ... just making bad calls. He was much more careful. Not that everything I think is in is really IN.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by blakesq

were they bad line calls, or just tight line calls that didn't go your way? You bring up both but they are two different things. The fact that you bring up bad tennis etiquette, but don't give any examples of this bad etiquette, makes me wonder if you are just being a sore loser?

Sorry, just reading between the lines. Please correct me if I am wrong.

They were balls so close to the line that it was imperceivable to call them "out". I said "how can you call something like that repeaditly out"? and he said "it's either in or out and that was out". I am talking about angled fast shots that skip accross or very close to the lines or fast serves that are close to the service line. Personally I always calls balls that close as "in" to avoid starting a "close call war".

My main question to all of you is...do you just let these go or do you definitely say something after a certain point? Some people respond well to you questioning their calls, but some take it not so well at all. Even if said very politely, some people seem shocked that you are questioning their calls.

[blakesq]

well, if the balls are so close, that you cannot clearly see them IN, then how can you complain if your opponent calls them out, especially since he is much closer to the ball than you? Sounds like you just want your opponent to give you the "close ones" rather than to call them as he sees them.

Therefore, in your case, what I would do, is not hit the balls "so close to the line that it was imperceivable to call them out". problem solved.

Originally Posted by JackB1

They were balls so close to the line that it was imperceivable to call them "out". I said "how can you call something like that repeaditly out"? and he said "it's either in or out and that was out". I am talking about angled fast shots that skip accross or very close to the lines or fast serves that are close to the service line. Personally I always calls balls that close as "in" to avoid starting a "close call war".

My main question to all of you is...do you just let these go or do you definitely say something after a certain point? Some people respond well to you questioning their calls, but some take it not so well at all. Even if said very politely, some people seem shocked that you are questioning their calls.

[slowfox]

I played a pickup set earlier this week. After 4 games we're on serve. Then the "calls" start happening. A serve I saw as in (close but I could tell) was called out. Then an approach to the corner (which again I could tell was in) gets called as "just out". So I start thinking "If that's how this guy wants to play it, then I'm outta here." I pretty much tanked the set, shook hands, smiled and left.

Close ones on my side I will call as in. And I'm usually fine if close ones on the other side get called out if I really couldn't tell. But if I see it as in (not wish it as in, but see it), then I expect fair line calls. If not, then frak 'em. If they gotta win so badly, then I just let 'em.

And to answer OP's question... I guess I don't really say anything. I just bail. Tennis is just relaxation and fun for me.

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by blakesq

well, if the balls are so close, that you cannot clearly see them IN, then how can you complain if your opponent calls them out, especially since he is much closer to the ball than you? Sounds like you just want your opponent to give you the "close ones" rather than to call them as he sees them.

Therefore, in your case, what I would do, is not hit the balls "so close to the line that it was imperceivable to call them out". problem solved.

That's the point. Balls that u aren't 100% sure are out are supposed to be called in. That's the code. If everyone just calls those super close calls "as they see them", it would be crazy. 95% of my opponents leave those as "in" as do I.

So your solution is to not hit near the lines??? I wish it were that easy

[Relinquis]

Dunno if this applies to etiquette or formal rules or whatever...

be clear, are they clearly out, or merely "questionable"?

if the latter, then just cowboy up and continue playing as if the call was good... if the former, then i usually call them out on it after the 2nd one.... none of this "are you sure?" stuff rather "C'mon man, that was clearly out. make proper calls next time" and continue playing. usually that takes care of it... one of my regular hitting partners is a pathological liar* though, so whenever i play with him i have to get a third party to umpire otherwise we don't play points.


* He actually believes he is calling them correctly. Even when a ball is 30cm out, he'll call it in if it is an important point and he'll genuinely believe it. People have an amazing ability to lie to themselves. We all suffer of this to some extent, but for some it is a serious condition.

[gameboy]

I just play my normal game and move on.

If I lose a match, so what? It is just a game.

If the person was particularly egregious, I might file a report with a coordinator, but this situation doesn't seem to be that serious.

[spinorama]

I call them on it the first time. No reason to let them start down that road. You can do it gently, "you sure dude? Looked way in from here". Next one: "c'mon bro". Next one "alright I'm gettin a line judge hang on"

Simple

[J_R_B]

Originally Posted by JackB1

That's the point. Balls that u aren't 100% sure are out are supposed to be called in. That's the code. If everyone just calls those super close calls "as they see them", it would be crazy. 95% of my opponents leave those as "in" as do I.

So your solution is to not hit near the lines??? I wish it were that easy

Just because YOU aren't sure doesn't mean he isn't. When you called him on it, he told you he clearly saw it out. What's the problem? He saw it clearly out, you couldn't tell. What ground do you have to stand on to call him on it?

[JackB1]

Originally Posted by gameboy

I just play my normal game and move on.

If I lose a match, so what? It is just a game.

If the person was particularly egregious, I might file a report with a coordinator, but this situation doesn't seem to be that serious.

That's a great attitude to have. I'm going to try that from now on. I get too competitive and I let the bad calls get to me too much and it brings my game down.

[Cindysphinx]

I just laugh at them.

Nobody likes to be laughed at.

[TennisYonex]

Originally Posted by JackB1

Question is this......

How long will you go into a match before saying something about repeated bad line calls? How many will you let go? I had a match recently where my opponent did multiple things that were bad "tennis etiquette" and just downright annoying and after a blatantly horrible "out" call in the 3rd set (on a crucial, would be game winning point), I lost it and called him out on it.

This was a organized league match and unfortunately this situation will happen from time to time. Most of the guys do not call "tight" calls out...they just leave them as "in". But now and then you get someone who makes "selective" tight calls always go their way. How do you handle this?
Normally if a call seemed "questionable" to me, I will say "Are you sure"?
But if you suspect your opponent is purposely hooking you on important points, what do you do and how long before you say something?

First time they do it give them the benefit of the doubt.
Second time they do it ask them directly "Are you sure?"
Third time they do it get the tournament officials involved.

That's how I would approach it.

[RollTrackTake]

Originally Posted by JackB1

That's a great attitude to have. I'm going to try that from now on. I get too competitive and I let the bad calls get to me too much and it brings my game down.

First occurrence, I like to stop and just look at where the ball landed for a long moment. 2nd blatant miscall I will verbally say I thought the ball was without a doubt in. If it continues, then I start calling his shots a lot tighter. I normally give a fair amount of leeway if I think a ball may have clipped a tiny fraction of the line. That stops when BS calls continue.

[spot]

Originally Posted by JackB1

They were balls so close to the line that it was imperceivable to call them "out". I said "how can you call something like that repeaditly out"? and he said "it's either in or out and that was out".

Wow. I think that you are out of line for questioning shots like that. If you consider them "imperceivable" from your side of the net how on earth are you going to whine about the other person's call?

Its one thing if you think that the ball was unquestionably and without doubt in, if you can't tell either way it makes you seem rather desperate to be irritated that the ball was called out.

[stapletonj]

At some point in this thread, I got confused.
Did somebody refer to being hooked by balls that were out being called in by the opponent? Except for the 2 chances service return, how is that possible?

[floridatennisdude]

My three step process:

1st bad call- say nothing, everyone makes mistakes

2nd bad call- say, "really? That felt really good coming off my racquet."

3rd time- say, "no no no, check that mark. I saw that hit right there." ....while pointing at it.

Any push back results in my not returning calls to play again as they are placed in my tennis purgatory. If its a USTA match, I just voice my displeasure about the opponent to my teammates and advise them to watch out in future matchups.

[g4driver]

Thankfully 99.9% of the people play fairly and don't hook.

I played a ladder match on Friday am. The weather was beautiful. sunny, low 70s, and the signs of spring all around us.

It was nice to play for the love of the game and not a spot in the playoffs, or state or better. If the ball was too fast and I couldn't call it out, several times I said "too close too call, nice shot". My generous opponent offered "lets replay the point, since my shot looked out, and you weren't in a good position to see it. "

He was that generous all match long. He played points that I thought were out. Maybe he and I played so much alike. Our calls, the long rallies, and the winners and unforced errors. It was recreational tennis and the mutual respect was evident.

In the second set, 5-5, I hit a forehand and he played it, but I knew it was out and stopped play and conceded the point. I simply said, "my ball was wide-your point"
I lost the match 6-4, 7-5 in 2 hours and 15 minutes but met a new friend that would like to play again. I would gladly play this guy anytime. He was the opponent you want in a match. He pushed me and was more than fair.

This match reminded of why I love tennis. Imagine if all USTA matches were like this --- Simply played for the love of the game.