Foot faults

[Gut4Tennis]

all you hater trolls just looking for something negative to say about someone or something

to each their own

you're wasting time in your life arguing things you dont like, when you should instead be talking positive about things you do like.

shift your negative vibrations to positive and you might be a happier person

just a thought

 

[unforced error]

That would be totally correct except you overlooked the fact that I stated that the vast majority of higher level serves are missed by missing long and not dump into the net. This fact alone takes the net out of the picture for what is being discussed in this thread.

Also contrary to belief, very few high level servers hit flat serves. They are too inconsistent. Most serves have spin on them at this level.

I didn't overlook your point about what 'higher level' players do, you are just wrong about why they do it and the role of the net therein.

I also do not think you read or understood my post adequately. The point about 'flat' serves is merely to illustrate the geometry and calculations with a limit on the total variables involved.

Service faults that are long do not really mean what you think -- that the net does not matter. They mean that you have simply decided to err on that side of the total calculation problem for the serve. If you move closer, the calculation still gets easier, regardless of your particular, conscious approach.

Ask yourself this: would a terrible tennis player change his/her service approach if the service box stretched back infinitely (the analogy to you saying that the net does not mean anything)? Of course they would. They would hit harder. Similarly, if you move closer, it is just that much easier to pound the ball down and in.

Again, I am not really inclined to call people on this ever -- I never have -- but as an issue of self assessment and following the standards of fair play, yeah, stay behind the line.

Obviously, going from 8 degrees (at the baseline) to 8.7 degrees on your strike point by virtue of moving 10 inches in means next to nothing vs. actually having adequate form, but someone who is always inching in is a scoundrel.

 

[Startzel]

You are arguing with a 3.0 who believes there are players with 4.5 level skills in his league.

I admire your dedication to your reading comprehension failures.

 

[kylebarendrick]

I think that we can all agree that it would be best if nobody foot faulted. With that in mind...

Do your best not to FF yourself. If someone mentions that you are foot faulting, then thank them and move back a little.

Don't pay any attention to your opponent's feet when they serve. It is better for your blood pressure that way. If you notice them egregiously foot faulting, then you can look for a nice way to mention it as a heads-up after the match. Or not...

All the moralizing and posturing is somewhat silly. From a strict standpoint, someone that calls a FF is in a morally stronger position than someone that commits one. Still doesn't make for a nice match though.

 

[Gut4Tennis]

I think that we can all agree that it would be best if nobody foot faulted. With that in mind...

Do your best not to FF yourself. If someone mentions that you are foot faulting, then thank them and move back a little.

Don't pay any attention to your opponent's feet when they serve. It is better for your blood pressure that way. If you notice them egregiously foot faulting, then you can look for a nice way to mention it as a heads-up after the match. Or not...

All the moralizing and posturing is somewhat silly. From a strict standpoint, someone that calls a FF is in a morally stranger position than someone that commits one. Still doesn't make for a nice match though.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

From a strict standpoint, someone that calls a FF is in a morally stranger position than someone that commits one.

Umm... what?

 

[LeeD]

That pattycake lefty start of the point, who cares?
If the footfaulter serves then volleys, moving to net, it matters some.
If the server's name is Tim Cannon, at 6'4", HUGE serve, and comes to net, it matters a lot.
But that lefty dink serve? Who cares, I feel sorry for him.

 

[Tennisguy3000]

Its easy to see when playing doubles... I called it on a guy who had a great serve yesterday. The next two serves were double faults ;-)

If the guy has a poofy serve then whatever but if the guys serve is a weapon & it is being assisted by allowing him to get a few inches to a foot inside the line I'm calling you on it (especially league play).

If you play league & tournaments its better to know that your foot faulting during casual matches so that you can adjust for the bigger games FYI.

P.S. We laughed about it & had a beer after the match ;-)

 

[Deleted member 23235]

lol, like others have said, unless they are getting a 2ft head start to serve and volley, it's not a big deal to me. sure it's against the rules, but I'd rather my (eg baseliner) partner cheat with a foot fault and get the ball in just so we can get on with playing the game.

I find foot faulted callers against baseliner a, are either playing a mental game, or have already conceded they have don't have the confidence to win without throwing the rule book at their opponent.

 

[tennis tom]

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals. The official will win the argument even if you're Serena. I've seen it, it wasn't pretty, and the perps teammates weren't happy that it cost them the match.

SO, if you have any aspirations of playing competitively, individually or on a team don't do it! Point it out to your teammates that they should STOP doing it or it will bite him and the whole team some day and you won't be going to Tuscon, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, on that team junket some day.

If you are satisfied hanging around the club deck, drinking a Michelob Lite and dipping your ripple chips into California dip from Safeway, by all means continue with your bad habits, I'll send you a postcard from Naples or wherever while your arguing on a message board about it.

 

[coloskier]

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals. The official will win the argument even if you're Serena. I've seen it, it wasn't pretty, and the perps teammates weren't happy that it cost them the match.

SO, if you have any aspirations of playing competitively, individually or on a team don't do it! Point it out to your teammates that they should STOP doing it or it will bite him and the whole team some day and you won't be going to Tuscon, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, on that team junket some day.

If you are satisfied hanging around the club deck, drinking a Michelob Lite and dipping your ripple chips into California dip from Safeway, by all means continue with your bad habits, I'll send you a postcard from Naples or wherever while your arguing on a message board about it.

Best post on this subject!!!!

 

[Mongolmike]

ripple chips into California dip .

Hmmm... ripple chips and Cali dip.... Lunch time.... what was the rest of your post about?

 

[J_R_B]

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals. The official will win the argument even if you're Serena. I've seen it, it wasn't pretty, and the perps teammates weren't happy that it cost them the match.

SO, if you have any aspirations of playing competitively, individually or on a team don't do it! Point it out to your teammates that they should STOP doing it or it will bite him and the whole team some day and you won't be going to Tuscon, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, on that team junket some day.

If you are satisfied hanging around the club deck, drinking a Michelob Lite and dipping your ripple chips into California dip from Safeway, by all means continue with your bad habits, I'll send you a postcard from Naples or wherever while your arguing on a message board about it.

We were playing a match at sectionals 2 years ago, and I saw the roving official come to watch our court as we were down a set and in a 2nd set tb. My partner was serving. I have no idea if he regularly foot faults or not (not egregiously anyway), but I went back to mention that she's looking to call foot faults. He got the message and got his serve in. Right on cue, our opponents got called on the next serve. He doubled both points to give us a lead in the tb. We won and then won the match tb to steal a point thanks to the ff judge.

You gotta be careful about that, and it's definitely best to get in the habit of not doing it even if 95% of your matches are unofficiated and you'll never get called because the ones that are officiated are the most important ones.

 

[illzoni]

I think that we can all agree that it would be best if nobody foot faulted. With that in mind...

Do your best not to FF yourself. If someone mentions that you are foot faulting, then thank them and move back a little.

Don't pay any attention to your opponent's feet when they serve. It is better for your blood pressure that way. If you notice them egregiously foot faulting, then you can look for a nice way to mention it as a heads-up after the match. Or not...

All the moralizing and posturing is somewhat silly. From a strict standpoint, someone that calls a FF is in a morally stronger position than someone that commits one. Still doesn't make for a nice match though.

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals. The official will win the argument even if you're Serena. I've seen it, it wasn't pretty, and the perps teammates weren't happy that it cost them the match.

SO, if you have any aspirations of playing competitively, individually or on a team don't do it! Point it out to your teammates that they should STOP doing it or it will bite him and the whole team some day and you won't be going to Tuscon, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, on that team junket some day.

If you are satisfied hanging around the club deck, drinking a Michelob Lite and dipping your ripple chips into California dip from Safeway, by all means continue with your bad habits, I'll send you a postcard from Naples or wherever while your arguing on a message board about it.

These posts sum it up nicely. If it's an opponent with whom you're only casually acquainted, the first post applies. If it's you or someone you give a hoot about, the second applies.

 

[beernutz]

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals. The official will win the argument even if you're Serena. I've seen it, it wasn't pretty, and the perps teammates weren't happy that it cost them the match.

SO, if you have any aspirations of playing competitively, individually or on a team don't do it! Point it out to your teammates that they should STOP doing it or it will bite him and the whole team some day and you won't be going to Tuscon, Scottsdale or Palm Springs, on that team junket some day.

If you are satisfied hanging around the club deck, drinking a Michelob Lite and dipping your ripple chips into California dip from Safeway, by all means continue with your bad habits, I'll send you a postcard from Naples or wherever while your arguing on a message board about it.

I have been to 5 state tournaments and once to sectionals for various USTA leagues at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels over the last 5 or 6 years and I have never once seen or even heard of a roving umpire calling a foot fault. I know no one on any of my teams or any of our opponents have been called for one because I would have heard about that. In those tournaments rarely were roving umpires even watching matches.

I agree that if someone knows they are a habitual foot faulter they should work toward getting better at that if only by just moving back away from the baseline before starting their motion. However, I think you may be overstating the danger of getting a foot fault called by a roving ump which is going to haunt your dreams.

 

[schmke]

I have been to 5 state tournaments and once to sectionals for various USTA leagues at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels over the last 5 or 6 years and I have never once seen or even heard of a roving umpire calling a foot fault. I know no one on any of my teams or any of our opponents have been called for one because I would have heard about that. In those tournaments rarely were roving umpires even watching matches.

I agree that if someone knows they are a habitual foot faulter they should work toward getting better at that if only by just moving back away from the baseline before starting their motion. However, I think you may be overstating the danger of getting a foot fault called by a roving ump which is going to haunt your dreams.

It must vary somewhat by section/district then, as I've seen roving officials call foot faults at local playoffs, Sectionals (PNW), and Nationals. In my sections, a standard part of what the players are told when they head out to court is that there are roving officials and they will call foot faults.

And I agree with the two recent summaries, that in recreational matches, I'm not going to even mention it. If I'm having a team practice, I'm going to mention it to my players so they can work to correct it so they don't get called for it at an inopportune time. In a league match, I won't say anything unless it is egregious, and I've only done this once when the foot faulter had both feet well inside the baseline on every serve, but even then was just a mention to watch it in between sets.

 

[Mongolmike]

I have been to 5 state tournaments and once to sectionals for various USTA leagues at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels over the last 5 or 6 years and I have never once seen or even heard of a roving umpire calling a foot fault. I know no one on any of my teams or any of our opponents have been called for one because I would have heard about that. In those tournaments rarely were roving umpires even watching matches.

I agree that if someone knows they are a habitual foot faulter they should work toward getting better at that if only by just moving back away from the baseline before starting their motion. However, I think you may be overstating the danger of getting a foot fault called by a roving ump which is going to haunt your dreams.

I've seen it called against opponents in tournaments and at state... and neither time had I notified the official. Both times the opponent acknowledged it, and adjusted fine.

At the same state match the official stopped our play because one of the opponents fans was rythmically clinking bottles together during my serve. She was on top of things for sure.

 

[r2473]

If you foot-fault or have someone on your team who does, you/they have a bad habit that will eventually come back to bite you if you ever compete in an officiated tournament. A roving umpire will call it at the most inopportune time, you will fall apart, not be able to fix it, or start arguing with the official that "It's just a technical violation!", and it will cost you/your team going to nationals.

I was playing in the finals of a local USTA tournament a few years ago. Roving official calls me for a foot fault on a beautiful ace down the T. I give no reaction and just line up to hit my second serve.

My opponent is a bit thrown off, so I have to wait for him to get back into receiving position.

The official really expected me to "lose it" I guess because she kept trying to talk to me and assure me that I did foot fault. On the changeover, she came over and kept talking to me. After a bit, she seemed to notice that I really didn't care and she was surprised.

Funny thing is, she came back over later and called my opponent for a foot fault, to even things up I guess. I never got called again.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I was playing in the finals of a local USTA tournament a few years ago. Roving official calls me for a foot fault on a beautiful ace down the T. I give no reaction and just line up to hit my second serve.

My opponent is a bit thrown off, so I have to wait for him to get back into receiving position.

The official really expected me to "lose it" I guess because she kept trying to talk to me and assure me that I did foot fault. On the changeover, she came over and kept talking to me. After a bit, she seemed to notice that I really didn't care and she was surprised.

Funny thing is, she came back over later and called my opponent for a foot fault, to even things up I guess. I never got called again.

well done! i'd like to think I'd maintain my composure as well.
I think the "defensive talking after" would annoy me more than the actual call.

 

[Gemini]

I was playing in the finals of a local USTA tournament a few years ago. Roving official calls me for a foot fault on a beautiful ace down the T. I give no reaction and just line up to hit my second serve.

My opponent is a bit thrown off, so I have to wait for him to get back into receiving position.

The official really expected me to "lose it" I guess because she kept trying to talk to me and assure me that I did foot fault. On the changeover, she came over and kept talking to me. After a bit, she seemed to notice that I really didn't care and she was surprised.

Funny thing is, she came back over later and called my opponent for a foot fault, to even things up I guess. I never got called again.

Exactly!! Acknowledge the foot fault however you'd like and then move on quickly. There's no sense in getting bent out of shape over it. The official made the call and that's that. The only time it gets suspicious is when all the official's calls seem to be coming on your side of the court..and not in your favor.

 

[tennis tom]

... I have never once seen or even heard of a roving umpire calling a foot fault. I know no one on any of my teams or any of our opponents have been called for one because I would have heard about that. In those tournaments rarely were roving umpires even watching matches.

...I agree that if someone knows they are a habitual foot faulter...

...However, I think you may be overstating the danger of getting a foot fault called by a roving ump which is going to haunt your dreams.

I'm on the left coast, which has a tradition of great tennis and real players, maybe you're in some back-woods area where they don't know any better. If you don't have any USTA officials at your matches, you're not getting the service you pay your dues for.

Habitual foot-faulters don't care, no one has the balls to call 'em on it so they keep cheating. When they get to an officiated match and get called they go berserk, especially the 4.0 internet tough-guys who aren't used to their keyboards talking back to them.

For the record, I've played hundreds of tournament matches and never been called for a foot-fault so I sleep very well. I took the trouble to post what I did for you'se guys benefit, not mine, let no good deed go unpunished. I won't be ever facing you since I no longer play leagues, where I have been on wining teams. I now only play Age Groups where I don't have to rely on some numb-nut team mate who can't be at the sectionals because he had a wedding to go to or had to default because he couldn't find the venue.

 

[tennis tom]

I was playing in the finals of a local USTA tournament a few years ago. Roving official calls me for a foot fault on a beautiful ace down the T. I give no reaction and just line up to hit my second serve.

My opponent is a bit thrown off, so I have to wait for him to get back into receiving position.

The official really expected me to "lose it" I guess because she kept trying to talk to me and assure me that I did foot fault. On the changeover, she came over and kept talking to me. After a bit, she seemed to notice that I really didn't care and she was surprised.

Funny thing is, she came back over later and called my opponent for a foot fault, to even things up I guess. I never got called again.

Fiction!!! Do you write for the NY Times? If you foot-faulted then it wasn't a "beautiful ace down the T".

"Your opponent was thrown off by this..", MALARKEY! It makes no sense that the ump would keep talking to you, they don't do that, now I know you're making this up. Don't quit your day job, you're not going to retire from your science fiction writing.

 

[jhick]

I have been to 5 state tournaments and once to sectionals for various USTA leagues at the 3.5 and 4.0 levels over the last 5 or 6 years and I have never once seen or even heard of a roving umpire calling a foot fault. I know no one on any of my teams or any of our opponents have been called for one because I would have heard about that. In those tournaments rarely were roving umpires even watching matches.

One year at sectionals, one of our doubles teams had a roving line judge call a foot fault on one of our players at a pretty inopportune time. It was at 7-8 in the super tiebreak, giving the other team a mini-break which they ended up capitalizing on to win their match and the team match 3-2 to go to nationals.

Our team was devastated. We had already beaten the favorite in our flight and on paper we should have beaten the team we were playing.

 

[J_R_B]

I'm on the left coast, which has a tradition of great tennis and real players, maybe you're in some back-woods area where they don't know any better. If you don't have any USTA officials at your matches, you're not getting the service you pay your dues for.

Habitual foot-faulters don't care, no one has the balls to call 'em on it so they keep cheating. When they get to an officiated match and get called they go berserk, especially the 4.0 internet tough-guys who aren't used to their keyboards talking back to them.

For the record, I've played hundreds of tournament matches and never been called for a foot-fault so I sleep very well. I took the trouble to post what I did for you'se guys benefit, not mine, let no good deed go unpunished. I won't be ever facing you since I no longer play leagues, where I have been on wining teams. I now only play Age Groups where I don't have to rely on some numb-nut team mate who can't be at the sectionals because he had a wedding to go to or had to default because he couldn't find the venue.

I actually saw someone on my team doing it in a league match, so I recorded a game of his serves and showed it to him at the end of the match and told him he was doing it on every serve and if he plays in the playoffs, he'll get called. He watched the video and was unaware he was doing it. I'm not sure if he tried to correct it or not, though.

 

[elkwood]

I come to the conclusion that most rec players foot fault. Its just not something that is called that often.

Like the one poster said. Most folks don't even know they are doing it.

I don't see the big deal

 

[schmke]

One year at sectionals, one of our doubles teams had a roving line judge call a foot fault on one of our players at a pretty inopportune time. It was at 7-8 in the super tiebreak, giving the other team a mini-break which they ended up capitalizing on to win their match and the team match 3-2 to go to nationals.

Our team was devastated. We had already beaten the favorite in our flight and on paper we should have beaten the team we were playing.

This is sort of the bad part of roving officials. There are usually only one or two, and they tend to gravitate towards the matches that are in a match tie-break (if there is one). This means suddenly the foot fault rule is being enforced when it wasn't for the prior two sets when the official wasn't there.

Is this an argument for all of us to enforce the from the start of the match just so the same rules are applied the whole match? :???: Or more reason to not call it but just make sure the official shows up at the critical time in the match? :shock:

 

[tennis tom]

I come to the conclusion that most rec players foot fault. Its just not something that is called that often.

Like the one poster said. Most folks don't even know they are doing it.

I don't see the big deal

You're right it's not a big deal unless you compete for a ranking or money. At the social level your opponent may be silently judging your character to see if they ever want to play with you again, buy you a drink after the match, invite you to their house, let you marry their daughter, give you a stock tip, a corner office, a partnership in the firm or buy your used car. You can judge a person's character better by playing tennis with them for an hour then by anything else.

 

[penguin]

One year at sectionals, one of our doubles teams had a roving line judge call a foot fault on one of our players at a pretty inopportune time. It was at 7-8 in the super tiebreak, giving the other team a mini-break which they ended up capitalizing on to win their match and the team match 3-2 to go to nationals.

Our team was devastated. We had already beaten the favorite in our flight and on paper we should have beaten the team we were playing.

well, if you were a team shouldn't it have been picked up in practise?

it would be nice if it was more traditional for players to pick themselves up on a FF if they lose their balance on a bad toss-up or something. But everyone has to do this for it not to be weird, and at the moment nobody does.

 

[tennis_ocd]

One year at sectionals, one of our doubles teams had a roving line judge call a foot fault on one of our players at a pretty inopportune time. It was at 7-8 in the super tiebreak,

Assuming this was the first call, it is horrendous. Simply an individual who wants the spotlight. No way a *roving* judge should be inserting themselves for such trivial matters deep into a tiebreak.

 

[tennis tom]

Assuming this was the first call, it is horrendous. Simply an individual who wants the spotlight. No way a *roving* judge should be inserting themselves for such trivial matters deep into a tiebreak.

You obviously haven't played real tournaments, that's exactly how it happens: See Serena meltdown/ 2009 USO Finals vs Clijsters / $92,000 fine.

 

[Gut4Tennis]

This is sort of the bad part of roving officials. There are usually only one or two, and they tend to gravitate towards the matches that are in a match tie-break (if there is one). This means suddenly the foot fault rule is being enforced when it wasn't for the prior two sets when the official wasn't there.

Is this an argument for all of us to enforce the from the start of the match just so the same rules are applied the whole match? :???: Or more reason to not call it but just make sure the official shows up at the critical time in the match? :shock:

awesome point made

 

[SoCalJay]

I don't agree with those who say foot faults should be ignored and 6 inches or less isn't a big deal. What if you hit a shot 6 inches in and it was called out? What if your racquet clips the net on a putaway? What else should we ignore?

It's such a simple rule... I really don't understand why people have a problem with it. If you're stepping/sliding/turning your toes on to or over the line too early then it's your problem and you have no right to act like a petulant child if someone calls you on it. Work on it and fix it just like you would with any other problem area of your game.

 

[dnj30]

If it's a flagrant foot fault you can always bring it up in a friendly way. Just mention it to him in between sets. Say something like: "I'm not going to actually call you on it, but you foot fault badly on every serve. You know that, don't you?" You'll probably get inside his head a little. But unless his serve is very good there probably isn't any advantage to calling it. Most people would consider it a bush league thing to do.

 

[Gut4Tennis]

The best way is to say "foot fault" very quickly when they miss a serve

Usually it rattles them and they double fault

Sometimes it might take someone a few service games to get over you telling them they foot faulted

If you want to legally rattle someone and get them to lose concentration, now you know.

you can paypal me 20 bucks for that tip

 

[tennis_ocd]

You obviously haven't played real tournaments, that's exactly how it happens: See Serena meltdown/ 2009 USO Finals vs Clijsters / $92,000 fine.

USO Finals used roving usta officials?! Tell us exactly how that happened.

 

[tennis tom]

See Serena meltdown/ 2009 USO Finals vs Clijsters / $92,000 fine.

Assuming this was the first call, it is horrendous. Simply an individual who wants the spotlight.

I can take quotes out of context too.

 

[cneblett]

I stopped playing tennis in 1989 for 20 years due to injury, frustration with game, get marries etc. when i came back i saw people foot faulting with no one carring. When i stopped playing, if you footfaulted peopleavoided you. When did it become acceptable to foot fault with no one caring?

 

[tennis_ocd]

See Serena meltdown/ 2009 USO Finals vs Clijsters / $92,000 fine.



I can take quotes out of context too.

Many (myself included) thought the Serena call horrendous but that's not the point. There was a dedicated line judge present throughout the entire match who, at best, saw and called for the first time a second serve ff to send to match point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yXRkRnR9ts

As bad as this was (and it's apparently the singular, heroic moment for those with tennis foot fetishes) a roving official who inserts themselves for the first time at the tail end of a close match is atrocious.

Play the game and quit looking for excuses.

 

[tennis tom]

Many (myself included) thought the Serena call horrendous but that's not the point.

Play the game and quit looking for excuses.

Many including YOU are usually WRONG, that's why we have (had) rules to prevent anarchy from breaking out. The governing powers didn't agree with you and the many others, and fined her magesty $92,000, (which Nike spun to make a joke out of in their commercials). Maybe that was the first time her magesty foot-faulted in the match.

So, when you get a speeding ticket you, tell the "Ocifer, but everyone else was doing it," and he lets you off--NOT--you were just the lucky ducky who got caught in his lidar. He can't stop everyone who's speeding. You are the fine example, by the side of the road for the others to take heed.

USTA could make a lot of money if they sent out officials to league matches and issued $9.20 citations to foot-faulters. Until they do the ff'ers will continue to cheat with impunity because their bretheren don't have the balls to call them on it--wouldn't be kool. Just another example of the rapid decaying of the kulture.

 

[tennis tom]

I stopped playing tennis in 1989 for 20 years due to injury, frustration with game, get marries etc. when i came back i saw people foot faulting with no one carring. When i stopped playing, if you footfaulted peopleavoided you. When did it become acceptable to foot fault with no one caring?

You're right, it's part of that change thing.

 

[edathompson2]

I've never watched for foot faults. When I'm returning I'm watching the ball. When I'm at the net, I'm watching the other net player for movement.

I've been called on foot faulting before and I move back.

To my knowledge no one I've played with or against did it on purpose.

I think it's fair to call it, because it's a rule and should not be looked down upon if you do.

In that same vein, don't get self righteous when you see it happening. Call it and move on. Don't be THAT GUY.

 

[tennis_ocd]

Many including YOU are usually WRONG, that's why we have (had) rules to prevent anarchy from breaking out. The governing powers didn't agree with you and the many others, and fined her magesty $92,000, (which Nike spun to make a joke out of in their commercials). Maybe that was the first time her magesty foot-faulted in the match.

USTA could make a lot of money if they sent out officials to league matches and issued $9.20 citations to foot-faulters. Until they do the ff'ers will continue to cheat with impunity because their bretheren don't have the balls to call them on it--wouldn't be kool. Just another example of the rapid decaying of the kulture.

She didn't -- and no one does, get fined for ffing; that's ridiculous. The vid is an excellent visual metaphor for the thread -- not only was alleged "ff" meaningless but likely didn't even happen. She had every right to be annoyed at phantom call.

I wish the USTA could magically banish ffing; it would be interesting to see what new excuses players would come up with.... "I lost because Joe took an average 93.2 seconds on change overs."

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I've never watched for foot faults. When I'm returning I'm watching the ball. When I'm at the net, I'm watching the other net player for movement.

I've been called on foot faulting before and I move back.

To my knowledge no one I've played with or against did it on purpose.

I think it's fair to call it, because it's a rule and should not be looked down upon if you do.

In that same vein, don't get self righteous when you see it happening. Call it and move on. Don't be THAT GUY.

Generally agree. Problem is that even mentioning/warning about FF, you do become "that guy".

If you're not getting paid to play tennis, and presuming your order in the universal tennis pecking order (eg. because you lost to someone who footfaults) does not affect your ability to provide for your family... then just get over the fact that:
1. people foot fault...
2. and for that matter people call balls on the line out (another easy solution, don't hit lines).

People stressing over foot faulting really need to take up bigger causes (save the whales? feed the hungry? play with your kids? etc...) in their lives to worry about.

 

[tennis tom]

...I wish the USTA could magically banish ffing;

You're last post is SO ridiculous it's not worthy of wasting brain cells to reply to. The stock answer is, if ff'ing doesn't matter then you walk up to the net and serve from there and angle it off for a winner.

Your replies are a sure sign you have too much time on your hands, my excuse is I'm semi-retired.

 

[edathompson2]

Generally agree. Problem is that even mentioning/warning about FF, you do become "that guy".

That's their problem. It's rule and if I'm called for it, I'm O.K. with it.

IMO, people that react poorly are THAT GUY.

Now, I wouldn't stand up on my foot fault pedestal if I did call it and give my opponents "the what for". I think trying to defend foot faulting as a rule during a match is a lose/lose situation. Call it, let them vent, and move on.

After the match if they try to take you task simply say, "I'm not going to waste my time arguing a rule I didn't create. Sorry". If they continue "No seriously. I'm done. That's what you have a significant other for. Go home and complain to them".

If they want to argue the rule itself is dumb, fine. Have a conversation. They can attack the rule, just not the person utilizing it.

If they don't want to play tennis with you because you follow the rules, it's their problem.

I do want to reiterate. I don't call them. I'm never watching for them. It's a disadvantage to do so as I would have to watch their feet instead of the ball or my opponent at the net.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

You're last post is SO ridiculous it's not worthy of wasting brain cells to reply to. The stock answer is, if ff'ing doesn't matter then you walk up to the net and serve from there and angle it off for a winner.

Your replies are a sure sign you have too much time on your hands, my excuse is I'm semi-retired.

yeah, if i was going to be "that guy" that enforced FF (and thus alienate myself from every tennis group I currently play in), I probably would do this (walk up to the net and serve), to make a point...

So obviously that's not acceptable... but if you generally have one foot behind the line as you jump up (or into the court) to make contact, that 12in (most I've seen anyone do) is not that big a deal (to me).

 

[Gut4Tennis]

yeah, if i was going to be "that guy" that enforced FF (and thus alienate myself from every tennis group I currently play in), I probably would do this (walk up to the net and serve), to make a point...

So obviously that's not acceptable... but if you generally have one foot behind the line as you jump up (or into the court) to make contact, that 12in (most I've seen anyone do) is not that big a deal (to me).

dont pay any attention to tennistom. he's always grumpy and angry. nothing to bother wasting energy to play his negative macho game.

stay positive and let the trolls be negative

 

[tennytive]

As a former linesman who roved challenger tournaments I saw ff on a regular basis until I approached the court. Suddenly the ff stopped and I was even asked more than once if that's why I was there, to call ff. So while rec players may not be aware that they do it, the wannabe "pros" are all too aware and push the envelope until called on it, then magically have no trouble from then on.

True story. Playing against a tall opponent who stepped a foot into the court on every serve in doubles gave me nightmares just trying to get the serve back. When my partner received and I was at net I was almost always dodging the volley because he was already at the net waiting for the ball.
When my turn came to serve, I stood inside the court exactly 1 foot and blasted four serves and won the game at love. Everyone got the point, but to this day he still ff as much or more as ever. BTW He loves to boast how awesome his serve and volley game is to anyone that will listen.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

As a former linesman who roved challenger tournaments I saw ff on a regular basis until I approached the court. Suddenly the ff stopped and I was even asked more than once if that's why I was there, to call ff. So while rec players may not be aware that they do it, the wannabe "pros" are all too aware and push the envelope until called on it, then magically have no trouble from then on.

True story. Playing against a tall opponent who stepped a foot into the court on every serve in doubles gave me nightmares just trying to get the serve back. When my partner received and I was at net I was almost always dodging the volley because he was already at the net waiting for the ball.
When my turn came to serve, I stood inside the court exactly 1 foot and blasted four serves and won the game at love. Everyone got the point, but to this day he still ff as much or more as ever. BTW He loves to boast how awesome his serve and volley game is to anyone that will listen.

Damn, now I'm gonna have to try this (step 1ft+) inside the court to see if it really does increase my serving % and effectiveness... if it does, and i run into someone that does it, I'll change my tactics

 

[kylebarendrick]

Roving officials do call foot faults. We were getting ready for Districts one year and my partner was a habitual foot faulter. One of the guys on the team called him out in practice and warned him that he'd get called if he didn't fix it.

Match day came around and I was playing with the faulter. A roving official wandered by, called him for foot faults on successive serves, and then wandered away. On the one hand I'd have preferred that the official had at least stayed around for our opponent's serve. On the other hand, my partner knew it was coming...