How you remember score?

dlam · Mar 12, 2013

Sometimes i forget the score of the Game.
usually first 2 point are okay but after a long rally , i have no idea if I serve on the deuce side or ad side.
usually in the beginning of the game, like 15-15 or 30-L or L-30 I can remember.

But starting at 30-15 or 15-30 or 30-30 i start to lose concentration on the score

when we get to 40-40 then i can remember. ad in and ad out.
but the middle phases of the game I sometimes forget especially if its a long point.

How do you stay focus and keep score in your mind the middle of the game?

OrangePower · Mar 12, 2013

It's hard. Sometimes I even forget where my racquet is. I look all over the court and even ask my opponent. And then I realize that it was in my hand all along - how embarrassing

Clive Walker · Mar 12, 2013

I am terrible for forgetting- especially on others serves.

I tend to "feel" the score- it often goes wrong though.

tennis tom · Mar 12, 2013

When I'm serving, I always call the score out right after the point ends, then again while I'm bouncing the ball before serving. If it's doubles, if you call the score out loudly, there's a good chance one of the four will remember it.

If the opponent doesn't call the score out but often forgets it, I'll call it out for him. I've played with very old rec players who only call out the score for their opponents and vice-versa--they've been around awhile.

You can always buy a score-keeping watch, but you have to remember to press the button, and it looks annoying like your always taking your pulse.

robert · Mar 12, 2013

Instead of yelling "ah", I like to call out score on every single shot. So it is impossible to forget. Sometimes, oppoents complain that it is too much pressure to hear the real score. Who cares!

Mongolmike · Mar 12, 2013

I keep a small razor blade velcro'd to my racquet. After every point I cut a hash mark in my left arm for lost points, in my right arm for won points. Easy to read the score when I wipe the blood away, and it often intimidates the opponents, especially in Mixed. If it doesn't, then I figure I'm in big trouble that day.

At the end of the match, I super-glue the cut marks closed... blow on it a little to hasten the drying process and I'm good to go for the next match.

(Thanks for the tip and 5 sets of Solinco Barb Wire to my friend Cactus Jack)

Say Chi Sin Lo · Mar 12, 2013

Sometimes I forget if I want to hit a forehand or a backhand, forget about drinking water too.

tennismonkey · Mar 12, 2013

woodrow1029 · Mar 12, 2013

Mongolmike said:
I keep a small razor blade velcro'd to my racquet. After every point I cut a hash mark in my left arm for lost points, in my right arm for won points. Easy to read the score when I wipe the blood away, and it often intimidates the opponents, especially in Mixed. If it doesn't, then I figure I'm in big trouble that day.

At the end of the match, I super-glue the cut marks closed... blow on it a little to hasten the drying process and I'm good to go for the next match.

(Thanks for the tip and 5 sets of Solinco Barb Wire to my friend Cactus Jack)

This is the best way to do it. I would recommend this for newcomers to the game of tennis. If you get them in the pattern of doing this, they will have few scoring disputes during their career.

Maybe chair umpires should start doing this as well, it would be a lot cheaper than the tablets and PDA's that the tours have now.

gmatheis · Mar 12, 2013

I sometimes have trouble knowing what the score is, but then I remember that I'm not as dumb as a rock and I start to keep track of it.

LuckyR · Mar 12, 2013

dlam said:
Sometimes i forget the score of the Game.
usually first 2 point are okay but after a long rally , i have no idea if I serve on the deuce side or ad side.
usually in the beginning of the game, like 15-15 or 30-L or L-30 I can remember.

But starting at 30-15 or 15-30 or 30-30 i start to lose concentration on the score

when we get to 40-40 then i can remember. ad in and ad out.
but the middle phases of the game I sometimes forget especially if its a long point.

How do you stay focus and keep score in your mind the middle of the game?

...umm... concentrate?

Relinquis · Mar 12, 2013

i tell whomever is watching me play to keep score... not umpire, just keep score.

MayDay · Mar 12, 2013

Learn Chinese. You'll have slightly less syllables to say and keep track. Maximize your limited memory allocation.

Tammo · Mar 12, 2013

I forget to breath, then I pass out and go to the hospital.

tennytive · Mar 12, 2013

I call out the wrong score on purpose just to see who's paying attention.

Roger Wawrinka · Mar 12, 2013

LuckyR said:
...umm... concentrate?

+1

How do you not remember the score. If you can not remember the score how will you know how to play the point. It is a big part of the game I hope you know.

tenniscasey · Mar 12, 2013

Gotta love open mic night at the Talk Tennis board.

Forgetting the score happens every once in a while in social tennis. Nothing to get worked up over or worry about, just try to talk through the points with your opponent if there's a dispute.

It helps me remember when I replay in my head how each point ended right after it ends.

SystemicAnomaly · Mar 12, 2013

Saying the score out loud before the serve helps a lot. I'll often remember hearing the sound of the score if it was called out -- it particularly helps me when I am the one serving and calling the score. It amazes when I've called the score out loud for 3 or 4 points and then have one of the opponents claim that the score is wrong. I'll ask why they did not object to the score the previous 2 or 3 times (since we all should know who won the most recent point).

.

Mongolmike · Mar 13, 2013

tenniscasey said:
Gotta love open mic night at the Talk Tennis board.

Forgetting the score happens every once in a while in social tennis. Nothing to get worked up over or worry about, just try to talk through the points with your opponent if there's a dispute.

It helps me remember when I replay in my head how each point ended right after it ends.

OP can't remember the score, and you are suggesting he reconstruct the previous points?

Isn't that like someone saying they lost their keys, and you respond, "Well where did you leave them last?"

MegacedU · Mar 13, 2013

If you can remember which side of the court you're supposed to be serving from, that limits your options of what the score can be. For example 40-15, 30-0, 30-30, 15-15 or vice versa can only happen on the deuce side.

rufus_smith · Mar 13, 2013

In this day and age, we high level players tap our Ipads to keep score. Of course an app is coming out any day now that will track the actual match and keep score by itself.

(in reality, I've seen USTA tourney final matches between two high ranked experienced players who both still had trouble with keeping the score. In fact, it may be a sign of a better mental approach to a match if you are focusing more on your strokes than on the score. But don't take it to an extreme. )

goran_ace · Mar 14, 2013

Carrying an ipad or even an iphone onto the court seems like a bit much (and may violate league rules). There are digital and analog bracelets you can buy if you have trouble keeping score.

NLBwell · Mar 24, 2013

Remember the ... What was that again?

Alchemy-Z · Mar 25, 2013

far as scoring the game - I always call the score out twice once at the start of the serve and then as soon as a point is over I will say (ok thats 30- 30....walk over to serve and say 30 all serving)

scoring sets and finished games if we have no score keeper on the net I always keep chalk in my bag to write in on the ground by the net post

Adles · Mar 25, 2013

Play doubles - chances are twice as good that somebody will remember.

Mongolmike · Mar 25, 2013

Adles said:
Play doubles - chances are twice as good that somebody will remember.

And.... chances are twice as good that 2 people will forget the score or remember it wrong!

storypeddler · Mar 25, 2013

LuckyR said:
...umm... concentrate?

ROFL. I was gonna say that very thing. Touche.

volleygirl · Mar 28, 2013

Are you serious? Tennis is by far the easiest sport out there to keep up with the score. After playing volleyball and changing from side out scoring to rally scoring and having no problem with keeping up with the score, I cant imagine having trouble remembering the score while playing tennis.

volleygirl · Mar 28, 2013

Mongolmike said:
OP can't remember the score, and you are suggesting he reconstruct the previous points?

Isn't that like someone saying they lost their keys, and you respond, "Well where did you leave them last?"

Awesome. too funny

dlam · Mar 28, 2013

volleygirl said:
Are you serious? Tennis is by far the easiest sport out there to keep up with the score. After playing volleyball and changing from side out scoring to rally scoring and having no problem with keeping up with the score, I cant imagine having trouble remembering the score while playing tennis.

I agree side out scoring is more difficult to remember
I comparing to volleyball , squash or table tennis where it goes to a certain number like 15 , 9, 21 .
This is easier.

I want longer games and less games per set.
say you win a game after to 8 points instead of 4 ponts and you win a set after 3 games rather than 6

sureshs · Mar 28, 2013

MegacedU said:
If you can remember which side of the court you're supposed to be serving from, that limits your options of what the score can be. For example 40-15, 30-0, 30-30, 15-15 or vice versa can only happen on the deuce side.

omega4 · Mar 29, 2013

I use my iPhone.

Just kidding. I keep it in my head.

The day I have trouble remembering a tennis score is the day I stop playing tennis and worrying if I'm developing a case of Alzheimers....

dlam said:
Sometimes i forget the score of the Game.
usually first 2 point are okay but after a long rally , i have no idea if I serve on the deuce side or ad side.
usually in the beginning of the game, like 15-15 or 30-L or L-30 I can remember.

But starting at 30-15 or 15-30 or 30-30 i start to lose concentration on the score

when we get to 40-40 then i can remember. ad in and ad out.
but the middle phases of the game I sometimes forget especially if its a long point.

How do you stay focus and keep score in your mind the middle of the game?

Sakkijarvi · Mar 29, 2013

I squat down, spit on my fingers and write it in the dust.

3fees · Mar 30, 2013

Easy Keep score when your ahead , when your opp is ahead say my add.

tennis tom · Mar 30, 2013

omega4 said:
The day I have trouble remembering a tennis score is the day I stop playing tennis and worrying if I'm developing a case of Alzheimers....

You've probably never played a long point on a hot day.

TomT · Mar 30, 2013

dlam said:
Sometimes i forget the score of the Game.
usually first 2 point are okay but after a long rally , i have no idea if I serve on the deuce side or ad side.
usually in the beginning of the game, like 15-15 or 30-L or L-30 I can remember.

But starting at 30-15 or 15-30 or 30-30 i start to lose concentration on the score

when we get to 40-40 then i can remember. ad in and ad out.
but the middle phases of the game I sometimes forget especially if its a long point.

How do you stay focus and keep score in your mind the middle of the game?

Whether I'm serving or not, I call out the score before and after each point. It stays in my mind. The fact that I don't play long points probably has something to do with it.

tennis tom · Mar 31, 2013

TomT said:
... I call out the score before and after each point. It stays in my mind.

I do the same and it works real well, as soon as the last point ended and before bouncing the ball three times on my serve.

MegacedU · Mar 31, 2013

sureshs said:

Ha, I thought it went without saying that deuce would occur on the deuce side.

Overdrive · Mar 31, 2013

Are you serious Original Poster?

There's a reason why players call the score before serving the ball!!!

No wonder why Tennis is such a niche sport in America... :roll:

rufus_smith · Mar 31, 2013

Out of curiousity, what do you guys do if the server rarely calls out the score. Do you, as returner, start calling the score before each point? Is that good tennis etiquette?

Say Chi Sin Lo · Mar 31, 2013

rufus_smith said:
Out of curiousity, what do you guys do if the server rarely calls out the score. Do you, as returner, start calling the score before each point? Is that good tennis etiquette?

I always keep score in my head at all times. If I'm returning, I usually wait until either my opponent walks to the wrong side, or calls out a blatantly wrong score. Then I'll ask for a score confirmation.

One time, it was my opponent's serve and after only two points, the dude yelled out "40-15!!!". I was like, at least say "30-love" if you want it to be favorable... -.-

TomT · Mar 31, 2013

rufus_smith said:
Out of curiousity, what do you guys do if the server rarely calls out the score. Do you, as returner, start calling the score before each point? Is that good tennis etiquette?

As I said in post #37, whether I'm serving or not I call out the score before and after each point. No matter what my opponent does. I don't see anything wrong with doing that.

Say Chi Sin Lo · Mar 31, 2013

TomT said:
As I said in post #37, whether I'm serving or not I call out the score before and after each point. No matter what my opponent does. I don't see anything wrong with doing that.

It's sort of like an unspoken rule to some insane tennis players that the server calls out the score, and that the returner shall accepts the score as told.

Frankly I don't care either way.

Mongolmike · Apr 1, 2013

Funny, I played doubles Saturday, and one of the opponents who was serving is pretty ridgid... my partner called the score after a point and the opponent said, "It's my responsibility to call the score.", then called the score the exact same way my partner did. I just laughed. I guess if I wanted to get in his head, I'd start calling the score out everytime he was setting up to serve.

corbind · Apr 1, 2013

In doubles I rely on the other players to remember. If I'm playing singles I keep track. Drives me crazy when the server constantly calls out the score before and after the point. Sheesh! But at least there are no errors that way.

tennis tom · Apr 1, 2013

If players habitually forget the score, I'll start calling it out for them. If they start paying attention and start doing it consistently and right, I'll stop calling it out, I don't really want to be doing it for everyone else. It's important to know what the score is because it will determine which percentage shot you will be playing.

Some of the more seasoned rec players, in their 80's, have learned it's best to keep score for the other side. They call the score out loud for the other side and vice-versa.

How you remember score?

Semi-Pro

Legend

Rookie

Legend

Rookie

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Semi-Pro

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Legend

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Banned

Hall of Fame

Professional

Semi-Pro

Bionic Poster

Hall of Fame

Professional

Professional

Hall of Fame

Legend

Hall of Fame

Rookie

Hall of Fame

Semi-Pro

Rookie

Rookie

Semi-Pro

Bionic Poster

Rookie

Semi-Pro

G.O.A.T.

Legend

Hall of Fame

Legend

Professional

Legend

Professional

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

G.O.A.T.

Hall of Fame

Professional

Legend

Similar threads