Etiquette question -- would you find this annoying or no?

[BillyBee]

This guy I play regularly does something that annoys me and I wonder if this is my problem, or if he's breaching etiquette . . .

This guy will call out the score RIGHT AFTER the point is played, before we have walked back to our respective baselines. And he'll do this even if he's not serving.

In other words, if he just crushed an overhead at the net, he'll say, "30-love!" in a loud voice before even one second have passed. It's like saying the score loudly is his way of punctuating the point.

Is it just me, or is it tough to hear the score IMMEDIATELY after you have been crushed by a point? It feels like an "In your face" maneuver, although I have noticed that he does this whether he has just won the point or lost the point, so I honestly don't think he's deliberately trying to get under my skin. I think he's just an etiquette dork. Or am I being off-base?

Like I said, he is constantly playing "score announcer" whether it's his serve or not. Isn't it proper etiquette for the server to announce the score just before serving?

I find myself just shutting up and never saying the score with this guy because he's always doing it himself, whether he's serving or receiving serve.

One other thing he does that annoys me is that when he's NOT announcing the score, he never seems to know the score, and he'll ASK me, such as, "It's 30-all, right??"

Also, this isn't just sour grapes because I do beat him about 60 percent of the time anyway.

Would be interested in your thoughts on this dumb little complaint of mine!

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I find myself just shutting up and never saying the score with this guy because he's always doing it himself, whether he's serving or receiving serve.

no big deal. think about your game and next point.
in principle, yes, you should alternate, but I don't care if it's called just by one of us.

 

[Return_Ace]

well, it'd be good for me, i'm constantly forgetting the score and end up having to ask the opponent........

 

[Ash Doyle]

We've been told that in USTA matches the server should call the score directly after a point and also before a point in an attempt to avoid any confusion over the score. It's also recommended that the receiver repeat the score. I agree it's a little much, but that's what we've been told.

 

[Happyneige]

I'd be annoyed too. According to USTA's 'The code', the SERVER shall announce the score PRIOR to the first point and subsequent points. (see http://dps.altdc3.va.twimm.net/usta_master/usta/doc/content/doc_13_4199.pdf)

You should talk to your opponent and ask him NOT to make the call unless he is about to serve. Quote the USTA rule above and he should agree.

 

[joe28601]

This guy I play regularly does something that annoys me and I wonder if this is my problem, or if he's breaching etiquette . . .

This guy will call out the score RIGHT AFTER the point is played, before we have walked back to our respective baselines. And he'll do this even if he's not serving.

In other words, if he just crushed an overhead at the net, he'll say, "30-love!" in a loud voice before even one second have passed. It's like saying the score loudly is his way of punctuating the point.

Is it just me, or is it tough to hear the score IMMEDIATELY after you have been crushed by a point? It feels like an "In your face" maneuver, although I have noticed that he does this whether he has just won the point or lost the point, so I honestly don't think he's deliberately trying to get under my skin. I think he's just an etiquette dork. Or am I being off-base?

Like I said, he is constantly playing "score announcer" whether it's his serve or not. Isn't it proper etiquette for the server to announce the score just before serving?

I find myself just shutting up and never saying the score with this guy because he's always doing it himself, whether he's serving or receiving serve.

One other thing he does that annoys me is that when he's NOT announcing the score, he never seems to know the score, and he'll ASK me, such as, "It's 30-all, right??"

Also, this isn't just sour grapes because I do beat him about 60 percent of the time anyway.

Would be interested in your thoughts on this dumb little complaint of mine!

to annoy him do exactly what he does. And if he hits the ball out you scream, " THAT TENNIS BALL IS OUT OF BOUNDS!!!!".... I annoy people alot saying that. or tell him to stfu its my job

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I'd be annoyed too. According to USTA's 'The code', the SERVER shall announce the score PRIOR to the first point and subsequent points. (see http://dps.altdc3.va.twimm.net/usta_master/usta/doc/content/doc_13_4199.pdf)

You should talk to your opponent and ask him NOT to make the call unless he is about to serve. Quote the USTA rule above and he should agree.

Happy you are right about that. But that would be annoying to me if someone did that.

The word PRIOR could be misleading as that could be anytime right after the previous point was over and before he served. Normally the umpire calls the score soon after a point ends.

 

[cervelo]

First of all, don't get rattled by it. It sounds to me like he's doing it somewhat purposely. Does he call the score emphatically just after you hit a clean pass/winner? I doubt it.

Either way, it's his insecurity/issue; leave it at that. If anything, use it to empower you knowing that he has some weakness in his game that calls for head games. It's as if he's saying, "my strokes aren't gonna be enough against this guy, let's see if I can rattle him." Whether true or not, allow this perspective to give you some confidence, knowing that he's under a bit of pressure.

Personally, I'm a bit of a gamer - so, depending on the personality of my opponent, I might try and pull his chain a little, making sure to keep my attitude light and remaining confident.

Also, if the facts allow it, I might suggest a violation if the point hasn't finished prior to his exclamation.

 

[mucat]

Hey, it would be great my opponent announce the score for me, I have very limited memory...I also do not mind if he wants to be ball boy.

BillyBee, you can concentrate on the game more since you don't have to memorize the points when playing him.

 

[TommyM]

Whenever you know or feel that your opponent is doing something to you - like distraction, provoking, trying to upset you, ... it means that they are trying to use other tactics besides tennis to win the match.

WHY would they do that?

Because they feel they can't beat you with just tennis! They need to use additional ways of getting that win.

So they obviously think that in tennis terms you are better!

Use this as the ultimate confidence booster and everytime they try to do something provoking or annoying, know that they are afraid and that you are better in your tennis game. This will enable you to ENJOY their stuff, whatever it is.

 

[supersmash]

If he's "in your face", I say you draw him up to net, and put one in HIS face.

 

[TennsDog]

I would be annoyed with that guy and would ask him to stop calling out the score. It is the job of the server to keep track of score, and I use the calling of score as part of my service rhythm to let my opponent know that I am about to serve. If I were you and didn't say anything, I would try to ignore it and continue playing and calling score as though he never opened his mouth.

 

[TENNIS2]

I don't think this guy is trying to annoy you since you stated that he does this whether or not he lost the point. Also not sure how old he is, he may have a bit of a memory problem and just want to announce it so he can remember the score for himself and avoid any confusion regarding scoring.

 

[Geezer Guy]

Billy - Don't let it bother you. From what you've described, I don't think he's doing anything illegal or unethical. He's just calling out the score. And, as you say, he does it after EVERY point, win or lose. All I would suggest it that YOU are supposed to call the score before YOU serve the ball, and you should continue to do that. EVEN though he may have just called out the score immediately when the point ended. So, after you gather up the balls and go to the service line, you need to call out the score before you serve. Once he knows that you will call out the score, he MAY stop doing so (or not, we all have our little quirks).

 

[jaskey]

^^;; i do exactly that guy does, but i don't do it to annoy anyone or anything. i exclaim the point for two reasons, and i suspect it's for similiar reason for him as well. one, i got used to counting points for myself and my opponent because my opponent is usually my brother and he can never remember the point, so i counted the points for him and now it's a habit. two, if i don't say the point out loud i forget what the points are. call me stupid, but i can't remember the points mentally... i'm guessing that guy has a similiar problem from what you described.

 

[AAAA]

If you don't keep the records someone else will, and who is to say they will keep them accurately or rule in your favor if there is a dispute.