Another Foot Fault Question - Caused by USTA Newsletter

[cdvcj8]

Long time stalker. Finally joined for this question:

Foot faults have been covered before in other threads. I thought I had it down. If you start in a legal position and then hit the ball before your foot comes down across the centerline it is NOT a fault. Basically, I do what you see at 1:12 in this video:

# But reversed as I'm right handed.

However, the latest USTA NewsLetter covers this topic and says it is a fault:

What's the call: Crossing the service line

When playing a singles match, I noticed my opponent getting close to the center service mark. It wasn’t until the second set that I realized he was crossing it during his service motion. Is this allowed? Can the server start behind the baseline and cross the center service mark during his...

www.usta.com

It doesn't say anything about touching. It seems to infer that the centerline is extended vertically. From reading the rules, this doesn't seem right. Thoughts??

Thanks!!
Chris V.

 

[Cashman]

It seems to infer that the centerline is extended vertically.

That is not my impression from reading the linked Q&A.

Whilst there is no mention of touching in either question or answer, it seems to me that they take it as read that ‘crossing’ means ‘touching down’. The language ‘imaginary extension’ they talk about is lifted straight from the rules and in that context quite clearly means on the court, not in the air.

BTW - readers infer, writers imply. Just a personal nitpick...

 

[schmke]

For the purposes of this discussion, the center service mark is extended straight back outside the court. The server cannot step into or across that extended line during their service motion.

There is no vertical plane that cannot be crossed, it is only the feet that must stay behind the baseline and to the proper side of the center service mark until the ball is struck. Note of course that the player must stay within the extension of the sideline too.

From the ITF rules of tennis:

During the service motion, the server shall not:
a. Change position by walking or running, although slight movements of the feet are permitted; or
b. Touch the baseline or the court with either foot; or
c. Touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline with either foot; or
d. Touch the imaginary extension of the centre mark with either foot.

If the server breaks this rule it is a “Foot Fault”.

 

[Rattler]

lol call that one in a league match and watch the court burn

 

[cdvcj8]

Yes, I guess they just muddied the waters by showing the illustration of the foot crossing the centerline above the ground.

@Rattler True. Another guy tried to call it on me in our block time. If you're looking for foot faults in a block, you've already lost the match

 

[sureshs]

What if a person was so huge that his body width was more than half the width of the court? He would to have one foot on the other court while serving.

 

[J B]

Yes, I guess they just muddied the waters by showing the illustration of the foot crossing the centerline above the ground.

@Rattler True. Another guy tried to call it on me in our block time. If you're looking for foot faults in a block, you've already lost the match

disagree, its called learn to serve right and if that gets in the other guys head then so be it. I find time to work on my serve to get it right. I bet if you were getting aced by a bombing foot faulted serve you would call it too

 

[jered]

Many league players step up to a foot into the court regularly from what I've observed (before ball contact.) Men are much more guilty of this than women. Most that do have the jankiest serve motions, too. I think they are completely unaware that they're stepping over the line. Not worth calling at our level of play IMO since they aren't getting any advantage with their terrible serves anyway.

 

[cdvcj8]

@JB Sorry, I'm confused by your response. As we've discussed my serve is legal and is therefore "right". I have no problem with anyone calling a foot fault if it's really an illegal serve. My point (in jest which is why I used a smiley face) was that it's best in my experience not to be distracted looking for minute infractions.

As @jered says, most of the time foot faulters have "janky" serves. The guy that tried to call me on my legal serve actually steps over the line every time he hits it up the middle. I haven't said a word as it's not worth it.

 

[kylebarendrick]

As has been discussed ad nauseum here, calling footfaults as people step on or over the baseline is tough, since the receiver doesn't have a great view and is (or should be) concentrating on their return. The people that line up across the center or sidelines, though, need to be called out. These are easy to see from the returner's side because: (1) They are looking up the line at the server; and (2) The server is stationary and generally hasn't even started their motion yet. I don't try to call a footfault in this situation - I generally play the first point when I notice it and then the next time they line up in an illegal position I stop them and tell them to move. A lot of people don't even know the rule.

Stepping on the baseline usually provides no huge advantage for the server. Standing outside the court to serve creates angles for them that shouldn't exist.

 

[Pete Player]

Some players stand so close to the center hash on deuce court, that when they start the motion leaning back and stepping back, they cross the center line extension. However stepping forward to pin-point stance cleares the issue. Hence it is still a faul.

Stepping over the base line is more common, and that gives an advantage. Quite many seem to loose their serve, if you take the issue into discussion, cause they know having a tendency. Observing not to foot fault will distract them from hitting their spots, due to concetration drop and unfamiliar angles.

Especially they blow the lid, if you impudently start off by taking your stance clearly inside the court and say it to be done equallizing the foot faults the opponent makes.




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Again on pain meds, now for good - all contributed matter and anti-matter are subject to disclaimer

 

[sovertennis]

What if a person was so huge that his body width was more than half the width of the court? He would to have one foot on the other court while serving.

Are you asking on behalf of a friend, or do you need to lose some weight?

 

[sureshs]

Are you asking on behalf of a friend, or do you need to lose some weight?

No I was trying to see if the rules discriminate against obese people

 

[Blade0324]

All really pretty irrelevant as you can't call foot faults on your opponents in matches. Only an official for the league or tournament on the court can call foot faults.

 

[schmke]

All really pretty irrelevant as you can't call foot faults on your opponents in matches. Only an official for the league or tournament on the court can call foot faults.

And you would be wrong. Find the many times this topic has come up and people have posted the language from Friend at Court on how foot-faults can be called by an opponent in the absence of an official.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

All really pretty irrelevant as you can't call foot faults on your opponents in matches. Only an official for the league or tournament on the court can call foot faults.

From the 2020 Friend of Court doc:

24. Calling foot faults. The receiver or the receiver’s partner may call foot faults only after all reasonable efforts, such as warning the server and attempting to get an official to the court, have failed and the foot fault is so flagrant as to be clearly perceptible from the receiver’s side.

 

[onehandbh]

If you want to foot fault, paint the front half of your shoes the same color as the court you play on and then paint white line across the middle of your shoe

 

[Deleted member 769694]

Its a foot fault, you have to stand on the add or the duece side, not both.

I liked in "tennis our way", if your playing against someone who is constantly footfaulting. Walk to the next to net and serve from there to illustrate your point

Just tell them, "we arent using that rule today"

 

[RogueFLIP]

For the purposes of this discussion, the center service mark is extended straight back outside the court. The server cannot step into or across that extended line during their service motion.

There is no vertical plane that cannot be crossed, it is only the feet that must stay behind the baseline and to the proper side of the center service mark until the ball is struck. Note of course that the player must stay within the extension of the sideline too.

From the ITF rules of tennis:

During the service motion, the server shall not:
a. Change position by walking or running, although slight movements of the feet are permitted; or
b. Touch the baseline or the court with either foot; or
c. Touch the area outside the imaginary extension of the sideline with either foot; or
d. Touch the imaginary extension of the centre mark with either foot.

If the server breaks this rule it is a “Foot Fault”.

Just saw "D" happen tonight at the NY Open. Doubles match, Hugo Nys was called for a foot fault by the official on the opposite side of the court for crossing the center mark line. Never seen that before.

 

[mmk]

Its a foot fault, you have to stand on the add or the duece side, not both.

I liked in "tennis our way", if your playing against someone who is constantly footfaulting. Walk to the next to net and serve from there to illustrate your point

Just tell them, "we arent using that rule today"

I know someone who did just that in high school after his opponent, his opponent's coach and his own coach said that foot faults weren't a real thing. He made his point.

 

[FuzzyYellowBalls]

I've seen many foot faults in my life, I really have no idea if I do it a little or a ton, but I've never seen someone who had a great serve because of a foot faulting. Some of the more obvious foot faulters I've played with and against are the worst servers. Anyone else have this experience?

 

[Cloister]

I've seen many foot faults in my life, I really have no idea if I do it a little or a ton, but I've never seen someone who had a great serve because of a foot faulting. Some of the more obvious foot faulters I've played with and against are the worst servers. Anyone else have this experience?

Not from a great server, but a guy in our club league will serve and volley often. More chucks the ball up than tosses it, so not much control and he may end up going sideways or forwards a fair bit before he hits it. And "a fair bit" means he can easily be 2-3 ft inside the baseline and moving forward when he hits the serve, which means he's got a hell of a head start getting in to the net.

 

[jered]

I've seen many foot faults in my life, I really have no idea if I do it a little or a ton, but I've never seen someone who had a great serve because of a foot faulting. Some of the more obvious foot faulters I've played with and against are the worst servers. Anyone else have this experience?

agreed. Usually the funkiest serves. An uncoordinated mess. Or unathletic people “trying” to serve and volley.