Foot fault on sideline

ChimpChimp

Semi-Pro
I just notice something strange. Rule 18c is written unlike b and d.
b and d: one must not touch the line, or the imaginary line.
c: one must not touch the AREA OUTSIDE the imaginary line.

So touching the imaginary extension of the sideline when serving is legal?

18. FOOT FAULT​
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.​
 
N

Nashvegas

Guest
Makes sense if you think about it. The baseline marks an area you can’t step into. The sideline marks an area you can’t step out of.

(Pardon the preposition-ending sentences.)
 

Traffic

Hall of Fame
Just like you can be in the air when you strike the ball and land inside the baseline, can you be in the air and strike the ball and land outside the sideline?

I had an opponent that would set up in mid-way between hash and alley and then would take lunge out wide, jump and serve with a super angle out wide.

Too bad he got like 1 out of 5 attempts in...
 

ChimpChimp

Semi-Pro
Makes sense if you think about it. The baseline marks an area you can’t step into. The sideline marks an area you can’t step out of.

(Pardon the preposition-ending sentences.)

The centre mark marks an area you can't step into. You see the problem? Left and right don't mirror.
 
N

Nashvegas

Guest
The centre mark marks an area you can't step into. You see the problem? Left and right don't mirror.

The middle isn’t the same as the sides. The middle divides deuce and ad and isn’t to be shared.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
So if I straddle the center hash am I ok?
i think you mean you step not on the EXTENSION of the centre mark, but on the mark itself? Good point. The rules are so poorly written.

The rules are a bit vague in some instances but, in this case, you guys are missing an important puzzle piece. You need to consider Rule 16 & Rule 17 in addition to Rule 18.

16. THE SERVICE
Immediately before starting the service motion, the server shall stand at rest with both feet behind (i.e. further from the net than) the baseline and within the imaginary extensions of the centre mark and the sideline...

17. SERVING
When serving in a standard game, the server shall stand behind alternate halves of the court, starting from the right half of the court in every game...
.
 

SystemicAnomaly

Bionic Poster
Makes sense if you think about it. The baseline marks an area you can’t step into. The sideline marks an area you can’t step out of.

(Pardon the preposition-ending sentences.)

No apologies necessary for preposition-ending sentences. In more instances than not, it is perfectly acceptable to do so. We were lied to or, at least led astray, by misinformed English teachers. This "rule" hearkens back to grammar rules for Latin. Misguided grammar police attempted to apply these Latin rules to English. While there are instances where a preposition should not come at the end of a sentence, much (if not most) of the time, it is ok.

https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/...ons/ending-a-sentence-with-a-preposition.html
.
 

ChimpChimp

Semi-Pro
The rules are a bit vague in some instances but, in this case, you guys are missing an important puzzle piece. You need to consider Rule 16 & Rule 17 in addition to Rule 18.

16. THE SERVICE
Immediately before starting the service motion, the server shall stand at rest with both feet behind (i.e. further from the net than) the baseline and within the imaginary extensions of the centre mark and the sideline...

17. SERVING
When serving in a standard game, the server shall stand behind alternate halves of the court, starting from the right half of the court in every game...
.


No contradictions. One may start within... as rule 16 and 17 dictate, stand at rest, then serve and step onto the imaginary extension of the sideline, before hitting. Seems a fault, but actually not, accoding to the AREA OUTSIDE rule.
 

NE1for10is?

Semi-Pro
So, I suppose this means you can stand further out to the doubles sideline when serving in doubles, and only to the singles sideline when serving in singles?
 

ChimpChimp

Semi-Pro
So, I suppose this means you can stand further out to the doubles sideline when serving in doubles, and only to the singles sideline when serving in singles?
In reality, yes.
In rules, I have thought about this before. 18C says "the sideline". In doubles it is unclear. I have been wrongly believing that in doubles the valid serving position is the same as in singles. Then I saw even pros sometimes stand out of the single sideline.
 

zaph

Professional
Can an opponent cross the extension of the line made by the centre line while serving? Played a a guy who did this and it gave him an advantage, he could effectively hit the down the line serve away from me into the opposite side because he had effectively crossed into the other side of the court in the service action.
 

NE1for10is?

Semi-Pro
Can an opponent cross the extension of the line made by the centre line while serving? Played a a guy who did this and it gave him an advantage, he could effectively hit the down the line serve away from me into the opposite side because he had effectively crossed into the other side of the court in the service action.

No, it's against the rules to put your foot across the imaginary line that extends past the center hash mark. I recall a pro being called on a foot fault several times in a row for this several years ago. I don't remember who the pro was, but he always took a big step behind himself with his right foot during the preparation for the serve that always came perilously close to the hash mark. The player finally called a time out to find out why he was being called for a foot fault when his foot wasn't touching the baseline. Once it was explained to him that he was crossing the center hash mark he didn't do it again.
 
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