MAKING CALLS
5. Player makes calls on own side of the net. A player calls all shots
landing on, or aimed at, the player’s side of the net.
6. Opponent gets benefit of doubt. When a match is played without officials,
the players are responsible for making decisions, particularly for line
calls. There is a subtle difference between player decisions and those of an
on-court official. An official impartially resolves a problem involving a call,
whereas a player is guided by the unwritten law that any doubt must be
resolved in favor of the opponent. A player in attempting to be scrupulously
honest on line calls frequently will find himself keeping a ball in play that
might have been out or that the player discovers too late was out. Even so,
the game is much better played this way.
7. Ball touching any part of line is good. If any part of the ball touches
the line, the ball is good. A ball 99% out is still 100% good.
8. Ball that cannot be called out is good. Any ball that cannot be called out
is considered to have been good. A player may not claim a let on the basis of
not seeing a ball. One of tennis’ most infuriating moments occurs after a long
THE CODE 53
hard rally when a player makes a clean placement and the opponent says: “I’m
not sure if it was good or out. Let’s play a let.” Remember, it is each player’s
responsibility to call all balls landing on, or aimed at, the player’s side of the net.
If a ball can’t be called out with certainty, it is good. When you say your opponent’s
shot was really out but you offer to replay the point to give your opponent
a break, you are deluding yourself because you must have had some doubt.
9. Calls when looking across a line or when far away. The call of a player
looking down a line is much more likely to be accurate than that of a player
looking across a line. When you are looking across a line, don’t call a ball
out unless you can clearly see part of the court between where the ball hit and
the line. It is difficult for a player who stands on one baseline to question a
call on a ball that landed near the other baseline.
10. Treat all points the same regardless of their importance. All points in
a match should be treated the same. There is no justification for considering
a match point differently than the first point.
11. Requesting opponent’s help. When an opponent’s opinion is requested
and the opponent gives a positive opinion, it must be accepted. If neither
player has an opinion, the ball is considered good. Aid from an opponent is
available only on a call that ends a point.
12. Out calls corrected. If a player mistakenly calls a ball “out” and then
realizes it was good, the point shall be replayed if the player returned the ball
within the proper court. Nonetheless, if the player’s return of the ball results
in a “weak sitter,” the player should give the opponent the point. If the player
failed to make the return, the opponent wins the point. If the mistake was
made on the second serve, the server is entitled to two serves.
13. Player calls own shots out. With the exception of the first serve, a
player should call against himself or herself any ball the player clearly sees
out regardless of whether requested to do so by the opponent. The prime
objective in making calls is accuracy. All players should cooperate to attain
this objective.
14. Partners’ disagreement on calls. If one partner calls the ball out and
the other partner sees the ball good, they shall call it good. It is more important
to give your opponents the benefit of the doubt than to avoid possibly
hurting your partner’s feelings. The tactful way to achieve the desired result
is to tell your partner quietly of the mistake and then let your partner concede
the point. If a call is changed from out to good, the principles of Code §12
apply.
15. Audible or visible calls. No matter how obvious it is to a player that
the opponent’s ball is out, the opponent is entitled to a prompt audible or
visible out call.
16. Opponent’s calls questioned. When a player genuinely doubts an
opponent’s call, the player may ask: “Are you sure of your call?” If the opponent
reaffirms that the ball was out, the call shall be accepted. If the opponent
acknowledges uncertainty, the opponent loses the point. There shall be no
further delay or discussion.
54 THE CODE
17. Spectators never to make calls. A player shall not enlist the aid of a
spectator in making a call. No spectator has a part in the match.
18. Prompt calls eliminate two chance option. A player shall make all
calls promptly after the ball has hit the court. A call shall be made either
before the player’s return shot has gone out of play or before the opponent
has had the opportunity to play the return shot.
Prompt calls will quickly eliminate the “two chances to win the point”
option that some players practice. To illustrate, a player is advancing to the
net for an easy put away and sees a ball from an adjoining court rolling
toward the court. The player continues to advance and hits the shot, only to
have the supposed easy put away fly over the baseline. The player then
claims a let. The claim is not valid because the player forfeited the right to call
a let by choosing instead to play the ball. The player took a chance to win or
lose and is not entitled to a second chance.
19. Lets called when balls roll on the court. When a ball from an adjacent
court enters the playing area, any player shall call a let as soon as the player
becomes aware of the ball. The player loses the right to call a let if the player
unreasonably delays in making the call.
20. Touches, hitting ball before it crosses net, invasion of opponent’s court,
double hits, and double bounces. A player shall promptly acknowledge if:
• a ball touches the player;
• the player touches the net;
• the player touches the player’s opponent’s court;
• the player hits a ball before it crosses the net;
• the player deliberately carries or double hits the ball; or
• the ball bounces more than once in the player’s court.
21. Balls hit through the net or into the ground. A player shall make the
ruling on a ball that the player’s opponent hits:
• through the net; or
• into the ground before it goes over the net.
22. Calling balls on clay courts. If any part of the ball mark touches the line
on a clay court, the ball shall be called good. If you can see only part of the mark
on the court, this means that the missing part is on the line or tape. A player
should take a careful second look at any point-ending placement that is close
to a line on a clay court. Occasionally a ball will strike the tape, jump, and then
leave a full mark behind the line. This does not mean that a player is required
to show the opponent the mark. The opponent shall not cross the net to
inspect a mark. See USTA Regulation I.N.8. If the player hears the sound of
the ball striking the tape and sees a clean spot on the tape near the mark, the
player should give the point to the opponent.
