Anyone know the rule for playing a ball that goes into another court

[Ferris]

Played a doubles match this weekend and had something happen a few times I've not had to deal with. It's probably easy to look up but I'll see what y'all have to say. I rarely play the deuce side but my partner felt stronger on ad so we did that. I'm returning serve and got a slice serve from a righty and I hit a heavy topspin forehand (I'm also a righty) and a few times pushed the server into the adjacent court. The ball landed in (easily but nearish the side line) on an angle that pushed the server pretty well into the nearby court. The server could not hit the ball because a player on the other court was in the way. We didn't really know if that is a hindrance or not and decided to play it as a good shot by me. This happened maybe 3-4 times.

Interestingly the other opposing player was a lefty who had a great slice serve who pushed my partner into the other court a few times too. We agreed that serve was good even though my partner may have run into someone on the other court too.

We had no idea what the rule is....anyone know? Does the player who is forced onto another court and may run into another player hindered. Seems like it's just a good shot and should not be a hindrance but I don't know.

Thanks.

 

[kevrol]

You hit a ball the other player couldn't return. Your point. Can't claim a hindrance because of something that happens on another court.

 

[liam the shark]

Not hinderance, just bad court design, and also it is on the player if that keeps happening to them. After it happening once or twice you'd figure they would step in and try to take it off the rise or at least earlier than running on to the other court.

 

[Ferris]

Thanks @kevrol and @liam the shark. That is how we played it, just did not know for sure.

 

[antony]

Let for the other court and your opponent gets no breaks because he/she couldn’t retrieve a ball you hit

 

[Moon Shooter]

We have nets and curtains and a good slice serve will often go into those. We count the points and consider playing the curtains as part of the game. But it does make it hard because if you step in to cover the angle they will blast a flat serve right at you or down the t.

 

[antony]

If the ball hits the hanging scorecard at the net and bounces in, is the ball counted in or out? Is the scorecard part of the net or is it more like hitting the ceiling?

 

[JLyon]

If the ball hits the hanging scorecard at the net and bounces in, is the ball counted in or out? Is the scorecard part of the net or is it more like hitting the ceiling?

Ball is out, the scorecard is a permanent fixture, like the ceiling

 

[NoChance]

antony is correct, as is JLyon. This happened to me, when I was in the chair, for a D1 college match. The young lady chasing the wide ball bumped into a player on the adjoining court, and did not return the shot.

I ruled that the player chasing the ball was not entitled to a let, but the player she bumped into was so entitled. After conferring with the match referee, it was determined that I was correct (not that it happens often; ).

As for scorecards hanging on the netpost--I can tell you that if the ball hits that scorecard, the point is over. We officials typically remove any scorecards hanging on the net post during doubles, but will replace them for singles, since they sit outside of the singles sticks.

Most schools at that level have scorecards that can hang on the umpire's chair, or there is an electronic scoreboard.

I guess the bottom line is that, if you are that concerned about it, then remove the scorecard hanging on the net post before play.

 

[JLyon]

antony is correct, as is JLyon. This happened to me, when I was in the chair, for a D1 college match. The young lady chasing the wide ball bumped into a player on the adjoining court, and did not return the shot.

I ruled that the player chasing the ball was not entitled to a let, but the player she bumped into was so entitled. After conferring with the match referee, it was determined that I was correct (not that it happens often; ).

As for scorecards hanging on the netpost--I can tell you that if the ball hits that scorecard, the point is over. We officials typically remove any scorecards hanging on the net post during doubles, but will replace them for singles, since they sit outside of the singles sticks.

Most schools at that level have scorecards that can hang on the umpire's chair, or there is an electronic scoreboard.

I guess the bottom line is that, if you are that concerned about it, then remove the scorecard hanging on the net post before play.

best discussions are the ones regarding where does the playing court for a player end and the next court begins. Many want to assume the doubles alley, but always interesting to note it goes past the halfway mark between courts. The let versus no let is always going to be an issue with courts next to each other.

 

[TennisOTM]

But if you do manage to chase a good a ball onto the neighboring court, dodge the people playing there, and hit the ball back to into your opponents court without it striking anyone or anything on the way, that's a good shot, right? Could your opponents claim a let because they were distracted by the off-court players that you had to run around?

 

[JLyon]

But if you do manage to chase a good a ball onto the neighboring court, dodge the people playing there, and hit the ball back to into your opponents court without it striking anyone or anything on the way, that's a good shot, right? Could your opponents claim a let because they were distracted by the off-court players that you had to run around?

shot would count, opponent can not claim a let for something occurring on a neighboring court, especially if the ball land in and they were not ready or expected it.

 

[NoChance]

Correct!

 

[antony]

But if you do manage to chase a good a ball onto the neighboring court, dodge the people playing there, and hit the ball back to into your opponents court without it striking anyone or anything on the way, that's a good shot, right? Could your opponents claim a let because they were distracted by the off-court players that you had to run around?

Nah, it’s a good shot back