How long does a server have between points, and when does the clock start?

loosegroove

loosegroove

Hall of Fame
You have 20 secs to serve, right? When does that countdown begin, since I assume that having to fetch balls etc wouldn't be part of the 20 secs. I ask because I played a league match and one of the guys on the other team had the LONGEST serve prep. He did a bouncing squat at the baseline for a few moments while staring off into nowhere, then stood up and proceeded to individually stretch and shake out both wrists, and then finally would begin what you consider a regular routine of bouncing the ball multiple times and serving. Drove us nuts! Sometimes he even did his routine between first and second serves. I don't get petty about little rules, since USTA is about having fun for me. But this was beyond annoying, since I felt like I was just standing around for his service game.
 
Last edited:
woodrow1029

woodrow1029

Hall of Fame
It is 20 seconds in between points (It is only 25 seconds at ATP World Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events).

The time technically starts as soon as the previous point ends. However, in USTA tournaments and league matches, when there are no ballkids, it's very, very subjective. You will generally only see a time violation if the player is "obviously stalling".
 
woodrow1029

woodrow1029

Hall of Fame
However, your individual league may have a different rule than the standard USTA rule, so you may want to verify with that also.
 
Cindysphinx

Cindysphinx

G.O.A.T.
woodrow1029 said:
However, your individual league may have a different rule than the standard USTA rule, so you may want to verify with that also.
Click to expand...

Woodrow, if you came upon the situation described above and you were a roving official, would you do anything? Would you just time the 20 seconds and give a time violation or soft warning at 21 seconds? Does that sort of service routine constitute stalling, or do you go strictly by the clock?
 
woodrow1029

woodrow1029

Hall of Fame
Cindysphinx said:
Woodrow, if you came upon the situation described above and you were a roving official, would you do anything? Would you just time the 20 seconds and give a time violation or soft warning at 21 seconds? Does that sort of service routine constitute stalling, or do you go strictly by the clock?
Click to expand...

I would at least give a soft warning, if it were a pattern. After that if he continued, then would give a time violation.
 
M

Mike Y

Rookie
Yeah this makes me mad. I played a guy the other day that took forever doing his service motion. He would stare into space, then bounce the ball, stare into space again, bounce the ball, stare into space, then he would finally serve the ball. He would do this for his 2nd serve as well. Nice is rec tennis, just serve the freaking ball!

And sometimes before he would actually serve the 2nd serve a ball from another court would go by the back fence and he would go get it and want another 1st serve. We could have finished a point already! We had so many more lets just because he would take forever to serve the darn ball. I hate it when people delay points that long, keep it moving!
 
corbind

corbind

Professional
loosegroove said:
You have 20 secs to serve, right? When does that countdown begin, since I assume that having to fetch balls etc wouldn't be part of the 20 secs. I ask because I played a league match and one of the guys on the other team had the LONGEST serve prep. He did a bouncing squat at the baseline for a few moments while staring off into nowhere, then stood up and proceeded to individually stretch and shake out both wrists, and then finally would begin what you consider a regular routine of bouncing the ball multiple times and serving. Drove us nuts! Sometimes he even did his routine between first and second serves. I don't get petty about little rules, since USTA is about having fun for me. But this was beyond annoying, since I felt like I was just standing around for his service game.
Click to expand...

I'm amazed this madness happens ... Run to your car!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Zardoz7/12
  • Poll
A question I have to ask is when does the Djokovic bubble burst? How long can he go on?
2
Replies
73
Views
2K
Mainad
Mainad
S
I think I fixed my serve.... how does it sound?
Replies
6
Views
1K
JCo872
J
D
What is the difference between crosscourt and inside out for a lefty?
Replies
6
Views
2K
SystemicAnomaly
SystemicAnomaly
M
How to handle someone who drop shots my serve in doubles?
2
Replies
50
Views
2K
mauricem
M
Gut4Tennis
Took a female Chair UMP have the balls to stand up to Nadal
2 3 4
Replies
158
Views
12K
Gut4Tennis
Gut4Tennis
Top