DOES TENNIS NEED BIG RULE CHANGES?

[Markus Kaila]

Tennis and new rules

The best idea is this: Services would be allowed from a level with the shoulder at the highest. That was in use in the very beginning of tennis. The overhead serve was unknown. Back to the roots. Players are much taller nowadays!

My 2nd best proposal is smaller service courts like this:

New court

My 3rd best idea "to slow down the game" is to paint service boxes of hard courts with rougher sand paint than the rest of the court. Then slowing would concern only a little while when serving (exactly before returning!). Nothing eise would change but the returner could get hold of the fast serve more easily.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

No

 

[Username_]

all hail the underarm serve

 

[TheIntrovert]

I mean the taller the player, the taller the shoulder... so your idea still wouldn’t nullify taller players

 

[beard]

Some rule changes I would suggest:

- ohbh players should start each game with 15:0 advantage... Beautiful ohbh starts with 30:0 advantage...

- Laver cup to be 5th slam, retroactively

- Dirt is not a surface, ban it from calendar, erase all results retroactively

- frame touch which launches ball on upper part of stadium should be considered winner

- 40:15, with two match point, is auto win... No need for another point...

 

[Shaolin]

Yes, get rid of lets.

 

[Greatgatsby]

I think the rackets and strings need to be pushed back to the 1980 rules. Wilson should resurrect the original Pro Staff racket that Andrea Jaeger used back in 1980 to reach the semifinals of the US Open. That way one can take advantage of the graphite but not oversized head size/sweet spot. The strings should limited to gut.

 

[Sir Weed]

/thread

 

[ChaelAZ]

Changes needed :

More money down into lower players for ITF tourneys.

Get rid of human line calling.

 

[BGod]

2 simple rules put in place.

Only gut strings. Max 95sq in head size.

 

[Raphael Nadal]

Tennis is the only perfect sport in the world.
The last thing it needs is a rule change.
Actually I would make one change - get rid of 5th Set tie-breakers

 

[TimHenmanATG]

Anything to stop these ridiculously tall players forging a career on the basis of their serve, despite having a ground game which would barely scrape a top 200 place.

John Isner shamefully ruined one of the greatest sporting tournaments in the world.

 

[shadow01]

Changes needed :

More money down into lower players for ITF tourneys.

Get rid of human line calling.

Agree. Only change should be how lower level players get compensated. Juniors, challengers, itf, pro payout structures. Will make it more equitable and also entice more competition. I don’t know what the right answer is but I do believe it needs to change.

 

[The Blond Blur]

DOES TENNIS NEED BIG RULE CHANGES?

 

[TagUrIt]

The game of tennis is just fine the way it is. Yeah every now and again you get a few Isners or Opelkas, but look at who the top ten are. Big servers need more than just a serve to be successful at this sport.

 

[ollinger]

People have advocated for eliminating the second serve entirely, my proposal is a compromise that would to some extent preserve the second serve but add a new level of strategy to the game: in each service game, the server gets one (maybe two) chances to hit a second serve, at his choice when missing a first serve. Do you use it if you're at 0-15, do you save it for deuce, do you use it at your-ad or save it if needed when down a break point. Would add some thinking to this monotonous game.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Nooooooooooooooooo.

Those are dumb rule changes. Altering the size of courts and balls are too drastic, you're basically saying let's create a new racket sport that RESEMBLES tennis.

No.

Eliminate second serves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By far the dumbest rule in tennis is giving ATP pros an additional chance to whack a 500 mph winner.

 

[Markus Kaila]

People have advocated for eliminating the second serve entirely, my proposal is a compromise that would to some extent preserve the second serve but add a new level of strategy to the game: in each service game, the server gets one (maybe two) chances to hit a second serve, at his choice when missing a first serve. Do you use it if you're at 0-15, do you save it for deuce, do you use it at your-ad or save it if needed when down a break point. Would add some thinking to this monotonous game.

When you are playing tennis you cannot think mathematics all the time!

 

[UnderratedSlam]

When you are playing tennis you cannot think mathematics all the time!

Yes. This 2nd serve-choose-it-yerself is way too complicated. We don't want tennis to be like cricket.

 

[sredna42]

Anything to stop these ridiculously tall players forging a career on the basis of their serve, despite having a ground game which would barely scrape a top 200 place.

John Isner shamefully ruined one of the greatest sporting tournaments in the world.

Manlets. When will they learn.

 

[PrinceMoron]

Thread titles need big letters.

Capital idea


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

People here advocating for banning second serves are talking as if the big servers Isner, Karlovic etc. were ruling the tennis world and winning slam after slam. None of them has ever won a slam nor was one of them ever ranked in the top five. Please let’s not get carried away and pretend that there are some drastic rule changes needed to save tennis from the dominance of big servers.

 

[junior74]

Winners should not be allowed. Tennis should be about hitting back and forth until one guy is more exhausted than the other. Errors should be disciplined, not only with point loss but electrocution, so we can see more gruelling rallies in the centre of the court. The serve should be hit inside a circle on the middle of the court, to secure an easy return.

Fitter, happier, a patient better driver.

 

[tennis_pro]

Yes, get rid of lets.

and nadal

 

[dr325i]

Tennis and new rules

The best idea is this: Services would be allowed from a level with the shoulder at the highest. That was in use in the very beginning of tennis. The overhead serve was unknown. Back to the roots. Players are much taller nowadays!

My 2nd best proposal is smaller service courts like this:

New court

1) Yes, you can pull money from your 401k at the age of 37
2) If your touch your behind or/and your front, you must wash your hands (all within 25 sec current rule).

 

[Markus Kaila]

all hail the underarm serve

I meant the shoulder(-level) serve. It is not much more difficult than hitting a high bouncing ball from the backcourt. Of course the service line compared to the baseline is a problem when serving. Marginals to get a ball over the net but into the service court are smaller.

 

[BH40love]

Tennis and new rules

The best idea is this: Services would be allowed from a level with the shoulder at the highest. That was in use in the very beginning of tennis. The overhead serve was unknown. Back to the roots. Players are much taller nowadays!

My 2nd best proposal is smaller service courts like this:

New court

No

 

[StANDAA]

tennis needs so many changes

besides the NextGen problem (they suck, everyone plays the same brand of tennis, too much social media, etc.), what they can actually change: tennis needs to go back to when it was 15 years ago, fast courts where fast courts should be, more variety in court speed in general, Masters finals and WTF final Bo5, Wimby and AO should go back to the old fifth set rule, and ffs don’t make any new rules. If there are people dumb enough to actually compare eras and throw around the GOAT term, tennis needs to be played under the same conditions and rules.

 

[BH40love]

tennis needs so many changes

besides the NextGen problem (they suck, everyone plays the same brand of tennis, too much social media, etc.), what they can actually change: tennis needs to go back to when it was 15 years ago, fast courts where fast courts should be, more variety in court speed in general, Masters finals and WTF final Bo5, Wimby and AO should go back to the old fifth set rule, and ffs don’t make any new rules. If there are people dumb enough to actually compare eras and throw around the GOAT term, tennis needs to be played under the same conditions and rules.

I love this all of what you said I agree with. Fast courts are needed the baseline bashing is one dimensional

 

[Markus Kaila]

I love this all of what you said I agree with. Fast courts are needed the baseline bashing is one dimensional

I agree, fast courts are OK but returning could still be easier. My 3rd best idea "to slow down the game" is to paint service boxes of hard courts with rougher sand paint than the rest of the court. Then slowing would concern only a little while when serving (exactly before returning!). Nothing eise would change but the returner could get hold of the fast serve more easily.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

and nadal

They should ban doping.

i also agree.

 

[Dartagnan64]

People here advocating for banning second serves are talking as if the big servers Isner, Karlovic etc. were ruling the tennis world and winning slam after slam. None of them has ever won a slam nor was one of them ever ranked in the top five. Please let’s not get carried away and pretend that there are some drastic rule changes needed to save tennis from the dominance of big servers.

Big servers aren't dominating because they slowed down the ball and the courts to clay levels to compensate. If you eliminate the effect of big serves you could bring back faster courts, lower bounces and maybe, just maybe, the serve and volley game.

My personal opinion is that tennis would be more interesting with one serve only, max racket frame size of 90 sq inches (110 allowed for senior 55+ events), and all lets are played. Just those three things would change the game to reduce the impact of the first serve and allow us to speed the courts up again.

 

[BHud]

Tennis and new rules

The best idea is this: Services would be allowed from a level with the shoulder at the highest. That was in use in the very beginning of tennis. The overhead serve was unknown. Back to the roots. Players are much taller nowadays!

My 2nd best proposal is smaller service courts like this:

New court

You must be a pusher without a threatening serve...improve it, don’t cry about your lack of firepower!

 

[SaintPetros]

Graphite & Gut only & no more bazookas or phoenix feather strings - no exceptions. Get rid of molasses courts while you're at it.

 

[kramer woodie]

Yes, it is definitely necessary to change the rules of tennis for people who can not play tennis, worth a d.. under the current rules!!!!

Shalom

 

[blablavla]

I mean the taller the player, the taller the shoulder... so your idea still wouldn’t nullify taller players

if you want to nullify, then consider as well:
players with height below average shall probably have some weights attached to their legs. we need to nullify their advantage in speed and stamina vs taller players, isn't it?
everyone must play FH with right hand for example, it is not fair when someone plays with left hand and has a different spin, isn't it?
everyone must play same BH, e.g. one handed backhand
everyone must play with same frame
everyone must play with same strings
everyone must wear same shoes and clothes
everyone must have same nutrition

or how and where do we draw the nullifying line?

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

How about they enforce the ones they already have.

 

[megamind]

clay court should be the only court

assert Nagal as the Supreme GOAT!

 

[Subway Tennis]

Tennis definitely doesn't need rule changes in terms of what the players do.

Changes are definitely required at the operational and administrative level, though.

Tennis has always had significant conflict of interest issues, but the game is big enough now that we can work on removing them.

@ChaelAZ suggestion to remove human line calling is a good one. I think lines judges will be gone once the costs and technology get to the point where it is feasible for the ATP/WTA to compel professional tournaments of all tiers to use a Hawkeye style infrastructure.

 

[TheIntrovert]

if you want to nullify, then consider as well:
players with height below average shall probably have some weights attached to their legs. we need to nullify their advantage in speed and stamina vs taller players, isn't it?
everyone must play FH with right hand for example, it is not fair when someone plays with left hand and has a different spin, isn't it?
everyone must play same BH, e.g. one handed backhand
everyone must play with same frame
everyone must play with same strings
everyone must wear same shoes and clothes
everyone must have same nutrition

or how and where do we draw the nullifying line?

Agree fully. Why should a whole range of players be disadvantaged on their livelihood just because a few people don’t like the way they play.

 

[Gazelle]

Receivers should not be allowed to interrupt service rythm of opponent by holding up hand and saying 'I wasn't ready' for whatever reason (usually there's none, except purposeful interruption).

They should simply be ready. If they aren't and opponent gets his serve in, bad luck, they lose the point.

Only umpire should be allowed to stop play.

 

[Gazelle]

Big servers aren't dominating because they slowed down the ball and the courts to clay levels to compensate. If you eliminate the effect of big serves you could bring back faster courts, lower bounces and maybe, just maybe, the serve and volley game.

My personal opinion is that tennis would be more interesting with one serve only, max racket frame size of 90 sq inches (110 allowed for senior 55+ events), and all lets are played. Just those three things would change the game to reduce the impact of the first serve and allow us to speed the courts up again.

Reduce the impact? There would be no first serve.

 

[speedysteve]

Changes needed :

More money down into lower players for ITF tourneys.

Get rid of human line calling.

This, this and only this

 

[Arvid]

People have advocated for eliminating the second serve entirely, my proposal is a compromise that would to some extent preserve the second serve but add a new level of strategy to the game: in each service game, the server gets one (maybe two) chances to hit a second serve, at his choice when missing a first serve. Do you use it if you're at 0-15, do you save it for deuce, do you use it at your-ad or save it if needed when down a break point. Would add some thinking to this monotonous game.

Yes something like this is definately a good idea and would make it intriguing with how you chose to serve, and big serves would be even more spectacular...

 

[Terenigma]

- Make all tournaments best of 3 sets. I know i know tradition ect ect but tradition is the enemy of progression. Barring 1-2 matches epic matches (Wimbledon final for EG) best of 5 set matches drag on too long and are almost always boring when it's obvious there is one winner. Compare that with the many great B03 matches we've had this year alone from new and old players it just makes sense to me. I also think time-wise it's just better for the game and for the viewer.
- Allow lets
- Remove linesmen and lineswomen. Hawk-eye is a well tested and accurate replacement and removes all debate and delay
- Stop allowing players to talk back to umpire and break rules because they are popular. Punish them quickly and get on with the game
- Make all tournaments have normal tiebreak deciders
- Upgrade Halle and Queens to masters.

 

[ChaelAZ]

@ChaelAZ suggestion to remove human line calling is a good one. I think lines judges will be gone once the costs and technology get to the point where it is feasible for the ATP/WTA to compel professional tournaments of all tiers to use a Hawkeye style infrastructure.

From what I understand the issue has been in the accuracy and questions about reliability, which is kind of ironic since the system was created because of human accuracy and issues with their reliability. We are talking a pretty mature technology that has accuracy around +/- 5mm last I checked. I like whatever that newest one is that actually has the high speed cameras too that show how much the ball can roll during impact, and removes any questions of if it really touched the line or not.

On a related side note, I am amazed that baseball hasn't put this in, though the pace of the game is already soooooo slow you prbably only see like 15 minutes of action in a hour of watching, so any challenge system would make that worse. They could just remove the plate umps with high speed cameras too. And TV laready uses the technology to show which pitches are in and out.

But I digress.

 

[degrease]

If I said it once I said it a 100 times... Why have we not switched to an alternating hand strike method i.e play a right handed shot followed by a left hand. so for example a cross court rally could go right handed forehand then left handed backhand. It is not madness as my former tennis club told me as I was banned for my so called spastic style !

 

[Markus Kaila]

My personal opinion is that tennis would be more interesting with one serve only, max racket frame size of 90 sq inches (110 allowed for senior 55+ events), and all lets are played. Just those three things would change the game to reduce the impact of the first serve and allow us to speed the courts up again.

There has been two serves from the beginning of tennis. Its greatest disadvantage is that at least on club level it would make the game too stressing and you should try to avoid a solution where top players and amateurs have different rules.

But I don't understand your lets at all. Do you really want to see how the match ball is creeping over the net in Grand Slam finals? "Ace, game, set and match to Mr Fortuna!"

 

[Crisstti]

No.

This thread needs a poll.

 

[Sudacafan]

Tennis and new rules

The best idea is this: Services would be allowed from a level with the shoulder at the highest. That was in use in the very beginning of tennis. The overhead serve was unknown. Back to the roots. Players are much taller nowadays!

My 2nd best proposal is smaller service courts like this:

New court

No