Calling a let on neighboring tennis court in USTA match.

Is it legal to call a "ball on" for your neighboring court during official USTA match

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 4.3%

  • No

    Votes: 22 95.7%
  • Total voters
    23
B

Bedrock

Semi-Pro
Calling a let on neighboring tennis court in USTA match.

I see a lot people are calling "ball on" once their ball crosses to the neighboring court.
I can see many reasons why people do that.
My question is about unofficial USTA match.
Are you allowed to call a let "ball on" for your neighbors while they are playing the point.
 
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You can, of course, notify anyone at anytime that a ball that is not their own is rolling onto their court. You may not, however, call a let on any court other than your own.


How I handle this is if I mishit a ball that goes into another occupied court I will say something only if someone is in danger of stepping on the ball and getting hurt. Otherwise I shut my mouth until 1) their point is over or B) they notice the ball and call their own let. At which point I apologize, get my ball back, and we all move on.
 
No, you can call a let only on your court. USTA rules are clear about this, but I don't have time to look up the specific rule.

Saying "ball on" is an attempt to warn players to avoid a potential injury. It is not the same as calling a let.
 
Douggo said:
What is it with polls on rules today? Is it April 1?
Click to expand...

This is the real situation. (People yelling "ball on" from one court to another with no respect that the point is in progress.)
Please answer seriously.
I may share details later.
 
Mauvaise said:
You can, of course, notify anyone at anytime that a ball that is not their own is rolling onto their court. You may not, however, call a let on any court other than your own.


How I handle this is if I mishit a ball that goes into another occupied court I will say something only if someone is in danger of stepping on the ball and getting hurt. Otherwise I shut my mouth until 1) their point is over or B) they notice the ball and call their own let. At which point I apologize, get my ball back, and we all move on.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the way it should be handled.

Safety first, if there is a ball that is in a clearly dangerous position. Then, if it's not a danger, let the players on that court deal with it.
 
Bedrock said:
This is the real situation. (People yelling "ball on" from one court to another with no respect that the point is in progress.)
Please answer seriously.
I may share details later.
Click to expand...

You don't need a poll to find the answer to your question, it is not a popularity contest. It doesn't matter what people's opinions are on the issue since this is addressed within the rules of tennis. Just look up the rule at the USTA site.
 
Orange said:
No, you can call a let only on your court. USTA rules are clear about this, but I don't have time to look up the specific rule.

Saying "ball on" is an attempt to warn players to avoid a potential injury. It is not the same as calling a let.
Click to expand...
Could you please be a little bit more specific about "It is not the same as calling a let" for this particular case.
Let's say if I yell repeatedly "ball on" to guys playing on the court next to me, would it be considered as hindrance and as result will lead to a let?
 
Bedrock said:
Could you please be a little bit more specific about "It is not the same as calling a let" for this particular case.
Let's say if I yell repeatedly "ball on" to guys playing on the court next to me, would it be considered as hindrance and as result will lead to a let?
Click to expand...

The other court can choose to call a let in response to your "ball on", but they aren't obligated to. So no, it isn't the same, although in practice your calling "ball on" will usually result in the players on that court playing a let.
 
beernutz said:
You don't need a poll to find the answer to your question, it is not a popularity contest. It doesn't matter what people's opinions are on the issue since this is addressed within the rules of tennis. Just look up the rule at the USTA site.
Click to expand...
I know the rules. I need to know your opinion.
 
schmke said:
The other court can choose to call a let in response to your "ball on", but they aren't obligated to. So no, it isn't the same, although in practice your calling "ball on" will usually result in the players on that court playing a let.
Click to expand...
Which means it forces them to call a let or in the other words someone else from outside of the court calls a let for them.
Why do you say " they aren't obligated to"?
 
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Bedrock said:
Which mean it forces them to call a let or the other words someone else from outside of the court calls a let for them.
Why do you say " they aren't obligated to"?
Click to expand...

Because they aren't obligated to at all. Even if someone is jumping up and down screaming "ball on, ball on!" in the most distracting manner possible, if the players just continue playing, there is no let.
 
The following question related to the match with no
umpire:
Does anybody know a rule which requires to stop the game when ball from outside rolling(flying) into your court?
 
I've seen a ball from another court hit a player while he was swinging. But he didn't call a let (nor did anyone else on the court), and they won the point.
 
J_R_B said:
Because they aren't obligated to at all. Even if someone is jumping up and down screaming "ball on, ball on!" in the most distracting manner possible, if the players just continue playing, there is no let.
Click to expand...

Could you please provide a reference to this, I would appreciate it. I am not sure which rule exactly should be used.
 
This is as close as I can find in the rulebook:

42. Retrieving stray balls. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls
and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play,
a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from
an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the lines. A player shall not go
behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to
return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent
court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being
returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.
 
woodrow1029 said:
This is as close as I can find in the rulebook:

42. Retrieving stray balls. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls
and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play,
a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from
an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the lines. A player shall not go
behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to
return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent
court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being
returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. This is beautiful. I have to print it out.
 
woodrow1029 said:
This is as close as I can find in the rulebook:

42. Retrieving stray balls. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls
and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play,
a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from
an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the lines. A player shall not go
behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to
return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent
court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being
returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.
Click to expand...

This from USTA's The Code: Player's Guide for Unofficial matches.
What does Unofficial match mean? (is it just with no umpire)
 
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Bedrock said:
Thanks a lot. This is beautiful. I have to print it out.
Click to expand...

Are you aware there is already a book that includes this as well as answers to most all your other rules questions? I dont know where to get it, but I'm certain the rumors if its existence are true.
 
Sumo said:
Are you aware there is already a book that includes this as well as answers to most all your other rules questions? I dont know where to get it, but I'm certain the rumors if its existence are true.
Click to expand...


Yes, believe it or not the rumors are true. In fact, I was on the cover of the 2007 edition. :-)
 
Okay, okay. I didn't have time, but I think it is important for people to know this.

Code Section 18:

18. Let called when ball rolls on court. When a ball from another court enters the playing area, any player on the court affected may call a let as soon as the player becomes aware of the ball.
Click to expand...

The operative word here is "may." There is no requirement that the let be called in all cases; otherwise the Code would say "must." Also note that the let call can be made by "any player on the court affected." The court from which the ball came is not affected.
 
Sorry I named the Poll incorrectly.
It has to say unofficial (not official), since umpire must call a let in this case.
But I have no option to modify the subject.
 
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woodrow1029 said:
Yes, believe it or not the rumors are true. In fact, I was on the cover of the 2007 edition. :-)
Click to expand...

Hey, I have the 2007 Friend at Court. There are 5 photos on the front cover. One is a lineman and one is a lineswoman, so I'm guessing that neither of those is you. One is a chair umpire in a hat and one is a chair umpire without a hat, so one of them may be you. One is an umpire measuring the net height with a "wide" stance. Fess up -- which one is you?

Cheers,

T.
 
TNT34 said:
Hey, I have the 2007 Friend at Court. There are 5 photos on the front cover. One is a lineman and one is a lineswoman, so I'm guessing that neither of those is you. One is a chair umpire in a hat and one is a chair umpire without a hat, so one of them may be you. One is an umpire measuring the net height with a "wide" stance. Fess up -- which one is you?

Cheers,

T.
Click to expand...

Top right in the chair. :-)
 
woodrow1029 said:
Top right in the chair. :-)
Click to expand...
Immortalized:
2007friendatcourtwoodro.jpg
 
Bedrock said:
Could you please be a little bit more specific about "It is not the same as calling a let" for this particular case.
Let's say if I yell repeatedly "ball on" to guys playing on the court next to me, would it be considered as hindrance and as result will lead to a let?
Click to expand...

Don't call lets on someone else's court ! Period .

Why ?

"Ball on your court" is a courtesy call for your neighbors safety.

Tell your courts to stop interrupting you match if you don't want to know about a ball on your court behind you.

If your neighboring court hits a ball into your net, do they really think you don't know it is there. If it is there and no bothering you or your opponent, neither of you are required to call a let. It's your choice to stop play and call a let or keep playing and not call the let.

This happened to me in March:

My friend serving a second serve to me, as his teammate (another friend of mine) on the next court yells "let" to our court after my opponent as already hit his second serve.

The second serve is airborne off my opponents racquet and his teammate yells "let" for a ball behind my opponent.

The second serve lands one foot deep. I say "out"

Then my opponent says "but he called a let."

I tell him the rules (only he or I can call a let on our court) and worse, your serve was airborne off your racquet when he yelled "Let"

I continue that he needs to call a let, but to do so against anyone else would be gamesmanship.

it isn't a hinderance- the serve was a double fault whether anyone yelled "let"-

There is a rule about things happening on a court beyond a players control - e.g., bird getting hit by a serve comes to mine

My opponent admitted it was a cheesy move after I beat him. I told him not to be cheesy especially to opponents who didn't know him. Very uncool.

Bottom line : call your own lets and tell people calling lets on your courts to stop calling lets on any court other than their own.

P.S. I gave my friend two serves- he won the point - I won match. It motivated me to beat him for being a tool on the court. And yes, he is really a nice guy. He was just being dumb that night . ;)
 
Please, if a ball on my court is a threat to any of the players, *say something.* "Ball on court" is best, of course. Still, I would rather have you blurt out "Let" than stand there silently and let someone get hurt.

My question is this: Say my partner and I are busy playing a point and your ball rolls onto our court. We don't see it, so you shout, "Let!" We are distracted and stop playing, looking around to figure out who called a let. Meanwhile, our opponents keep on playing and hit a winner.

What should happen? Do we lose the point? Or do we have to play a let due to outside interference?
 
Old version
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.

Current version
18.
Let called when ball rolls on court.
When a ball from another court enters
the playing area, any player on the court affected may 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.

// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17.
Prompt calls eliminate two chance option.
A player shall make all calls
promptly after a ball has hit the court. A call shall be made either before the player’s
return shot has gone out of play or before an opponent has had an 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.

18.
Let called when ball rolls on court.
When a ball from another court enters
the playing area, any player on the court affected may 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.

THE CODE 47
 
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Bedrock said:
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.

18.

Let called when ball rolls on court.

When a ball from another court enters

the playing area, any player on the court affected may 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.
Click to expand...

Congratulations, you found the rule, though I'm wondering why you felt the need to copy and paste a previous version as well as the current one #18. I know the #18 version has been in The Code since at least 2009.
 
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beernutz said:
Congratulations, you found the rule, though I'm wondering why you felt the need to copy and paste a previous version as well as the current one #18. I know the #18 version has been in The Code since at least 2009.
Click to expand...

I what to understand why people believe that there is a "MUST STOP GAME" rule with respect to #18(or #19).

I want to make sure that I am right when asking not to yell "ball on" players on the adjacent court.
 
Bedrock said:
I what to understand why people believe that there is a "MUST STOP GAME" rule with respect to #18(or #19).

I want to make sure that I am right when asking not to yell "ball on" players on the adjacent court.
Click to expand...

You're saying you object if neighboring players or spectators yell "Watch your feet!" or "Ball on Court!" or similar?

I don't object. I welcome it.
 
It is awfully "fun" to be in the middle of putting away a sitter only to hear "ball on" from the adjacent court - then seeing that the ball is sitting peacefully up against the back fence. It is the rare opponent that will concede the point. Most are too happy to say, "gee lucky us, I guess that's a let".

Please keep your mouth shut unless someone is actually at risk of stepping on the ball.
 
Cindysphinx said:
You're saying you object if neighboring players or spectators yell "Watch your feet!" or "Ball on Court!" or similar?

I don't object. I welcome it.
Click to expand...

I welcome it every time but not at tournament.

42. Retrieving stray balls. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls
and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play,
a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from
an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the lines. A player shall not go
behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to
return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent
court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being
returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.
 
Bedrock said:
I welcome it every time but not at tournament.

42. Retrieving stray balls. Each player is responsible for removing stray balls
and other objects from the player’s end of the court. Whenever a ball is not in play,
a player must honor an opponent’s request to remove a ball from the court or from
an area outside the court that is reasonably close to the lines. A player shall not go
behind an adjacent court to retrieve a ball or ask a player on an adjacent court to
return a ball while a point is in play. When a player returns a ball from an adjacent
court, the player shall wait until the point is over on the court where the ball is being
returned and then return it directly to one of the players, preferably the server.
Click to expand...

What Cindy said and the part of the Code you bolded above are not at all referring to the same thing.
 
I'm all about nobody getting hurt but a ball rolling into the court & resting near the net or back of the fence where we all see it isn't a reason to keep yelling "Ball On" continuously forcing us to have to stop ... Once is enough & if everyone on the court sees/aware of it & decides to keep playing so be it ;-)

Curious as to what percentage of players stop right away regardless of placement/where the ball ended up.
 
gmatheis said:
I object. I know what's happening on my court, please don't interrupt my game.
Click to expand...

Couple of things.

Me, I don't read minds. I cannot know whether you "know what is happening on your court." All I can know is that a ball is on your court and is a threat to you. So I will stand there watching you and the ball and I will say something once I can see there is a problem. And then I will say something.

If I yell "Ball on" for a ball that is actually near you or your opponent, you have options. You can keep right on playing. So if you are aware of the ball or feel that continuing to contest a single point is worth the risk of injury, play on.
 
Tennisguy3000 said:
I'm all about nobody getting hurt but a ball rolling into the court & resting near the net or back of the fence where we all see it isn't a reason to keep yelling "Ball On" continuously forcing us to have to stop ... Once is enough & if everyone on the court sees/aware of it & decides to keep playing so be it ;-)

Curious as to what percentage of players stop right away regardless of placement/where the ball ended up.
Click to expand...

It drives me nuts when I am playing in a 3.5 tournament and my opponent stops because of a ball back at the fence rolling in from another court. I understand in a pro tournament, but at the 3.5 level, seriously? They do it because that's what they see on TV.

That being said, if it's close to someone's feet, and they don't see it, I have no problem whatsoever with someone from the adjacent court stopping play on my court. I have rolled my ankle before on a ball, and it's not fun.
 
Tommy Haas. If only someone had spoken up for him, his career would have headed into another direction.

Though you can't call a let and force them to stop the point, if a rolling or stray ball has potential to cause harm, better to take the safety first approach and make the players aware of the danger and some people will be mad with your interference. They're selfish idiots and haven't seen someone fall and break both wrists or hobble around in moonboots for months.
 
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