Getting balls etiquette

pico

pico

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What is the proper etiquette for getting your balls from neighboring court? There were these older guys playing doubles on the court next to me today. Their balls came our way a few times. My friend and I were just rallying. The first time their ball came to our net, one guy said PLAY ON and took his ball. I was ok with that. A few minutes later, their ball went across our court to the back corner. The same guy decides to walk behind our court and says PLAY ON PLAY ON. I stopped and told him YOU CANT BE DOING THAT. He replied JUST PLAY ON WHATEVER. He seemed arrogant. I told him he was being disrespectful and not following court etiquette. His friend said YOU SHOULD STOP PLAY WHEN OUR BALLS GO TO YOUR COURT. I just laughed and told them ITS ALL GOOD. Help me process this.
 
This is a timely post because I was going to ask a similar question shortly.
Very similar circumstances. In my case there are three courts side by side playing doubles as a group.

I would like to know the rules/etiquette for how to proceed when a ball makes its way onto a neighboring court?

Here's how we usually deal with it.
Court (A) whose ball wandered to the next court (B) does not interfere with the play that is going on
on court (B) until the point is finished. Once the point is finished the ball is recovered.

Generally, the court where the stray ball has moved to, continues playing until either the point is over
or someone calls a let because the ball is interfering with play.

A very unfortunate situation developed last week when a player from Court (A) grew impatient
after their ball crept onto our court (B). All four players on Court (B) continued play as the ball crept onto our court
slowly near the net (in about 8 feet) before it came to rest.
We hit the ball at least four times after the ball had come to rest.
Just as we were finishing the point the player from Court (A) shouted out "Let!" at the top of their lungs.

So my question is, if a let is to be called, who calls it, the court where the stray ball has entered,
or the court who lost their ball?
 
If a point is played and score kept, any ball coming from adjacent court is a distraction, hence let, replay the point. That’s how we handle it (unless it’s a clear putaway situation). So get the ball back to them immediately and replay the point.

It can be annoying if they spray them too frequently but alas…

If we are just rallying, whatever works. You are not expected to just rally 5 more minutes and him stay and wait for you to finish, so you either stop and help him retrieve the ball, or you play on as he suggested, while he gets the ball.

Of course you may also be mutually courteous (what a suitable word!), and wait like 10-20 seconds to not disturb the rally, but longer wait is just not good. Separate case — you are using a basket. Then I absolutely go for my ball immediately dude!
 
If you were rallying, you should return the ball as soon as that rally finishes.

I suspect he grew impatient with what he perceived as your own lack of etiquette and took matters into his own hands.
 
Mark-Touch said:
This is a timely post because I was going to ask a similar question shortly.
Very similar circumstances. In my case there are three courts side by side playing doubles as a group.

I would like to know the rules/etiquette for how to proceed when a ball makes its way onto a neighboring court?

Here's how we usually deal with it.
Court (A) whose ball wandered to the next court (B) does not interfere with the play that is going on
on court (B) until the point is finished. Once the point is finished the ball is recovered.

Generally, the court where the stray ball has moved to, continues playing until either the point is over
or someone calls a let because the ball is interfering with play.

A very unfortunate situation developed last week when a player from Court (A) grew impatient
after their ball crept onto our court (B). All four players on Court (B) continued play as the ball crept onto our court
slowly near the net (in about 8 feet) before it came to rest.
We hit the ball at least four times after the ball had come to rest.
Just as we were finishing the point the player from Court (A) shouted out "Let!" at the top of their lungs.

So my question is, if a let is to be called, who calls it, the court where the stray ball has entered,
or the court who lost their ball?
Click to expand...
Somebody not on your court cannot call let. That's just common sense.

To me it's pretty simple.
Rally = you retrieve the ball and pass it back if it interferes. If it doesn't, you either do it when rally ends or allow the owner of the ball to retrieve it if they want to.
Point play = Call let when/if you feel like the ball bothers you in a friendly hit or call let every time on an "official" match (whatever official means to you).

I'm absolutely against anyone coming onto my court at any time without my acknowledgement.
I only had that happen when some real beginners were playing that had zero clue as to why I might get upset to see someone running onto my court when I'm very excited to hit that sitter (into the back fence) at 30-30.
 
pico said:
What is the proper etiquette for getting your balls from neighboring court? There were these older guys playing doubles on the court next to me today. Their balls came our way a few times. My friend and I were just rallying. The first time their ball came to our net, one guy said PLAY ON and took his ball. I was ok with that. A few minutes later, their ball went across our court to the back corner. The same guy decides to walk behind our court and says PLAY ON PLAY ON. I stopped and told him YOU CANT BE DOING THAT. He replied JUST PLAY ON WHATEVER. He seemed arrogant. I told him he was being disrespectful and not following court etiquette. His friend said YOU SHOULD STOP PLAY WHEN OUR BALLS GO TO YOUR COURT. I just laughed and told them ITS ALL GOOD. Help me process this.
Click to expand...
can be situation dependent but if you asked him not to come on your court to get the balls then seems like he's being a d*** to not respect that. now if the ball comes on the court and you're just rallying then I generally wouldn't hit like 20 balls if he's waiting to get his ball. Generally I would maybe hit a handful of shots or just get it depending on the rally/circumstances/where the ball came onto the court/how often the ball was coming over. And obv. if you were playing competitively answer would be different.
 
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Simple. Stop hitting whether it’s just rally or point play. Give the ball back to them if it’s closer to you or let them get it if not. It’s not your private court!
 
Curious said:
Just stop playing. There’s a much more annoying scenario: coach is doing a group lesson with a bunch of beginners on the adjacent court!
Click to expand...
I have been in this situation - there is a time slot where little kids have a lesson and yes a lot of their balls come to my court. None of them try to retrieve the ball as the coach tells them not to. We give the balls back after our point is done.
 
It doesn't matter whether you're rallying or playing a match, if you see the ball, stop and either retrieve it or depending on location and motivation, come onto the other court and get it. However, if it is not seen by those playing, do not just come onto the court to get it.
 
LuckyR said:
It doesn't matter whether you're rallying or playing a match, if you see the ball, stop and either retrieve it or depending on location and motivation, come onto the other court and get it. However, if it is not seen by those playing, do not just come onto the court to get it.
Click to expand...
wrong, if it's competitive play it's up to someone to call a let; and if rallying i'm not automatically immediately stopping hitting every time, it's case by case dependent on many factors, a decent amount of time i'll prob stop right away but not always.
 
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The guys have or should have more than one ball and can wait until you find the time to give the ball back. They should not be allowed to enter the court you paid for.
It doesnt matter if you play points or not.

That said if they are nice, I sometimes stop or let them get the ball, if it is easy to reach.

Thats the normal etiquette in this case. You were right.
 
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PKorda said:
wrong, if it's competitive play it's up to someone to call a let; and if rallying i'm not automatically immediately stopping hitting every time, it's case by case dependent on many factors, a decent amount of time i'll prob stop right away but not always.
Click to expand...
Not "wrong", you just said you'd probably do exactly what I said. If it's happening repeatedly and (most importantly) there is zero chance of you or your hitting partner stepping on it, and you're in a particularly "important" part of your rally (do rallies even have important parts?) not getting the ball directly sounds reasonable.

Basically, you're going to have to spend a moment or two to get the ball regardless, what difference does it make if you do that when you see the ball or a minute later?
 
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Maybe you guys hit so slowly that oldies are not afraid to walk into your court. If they saw my serves and shots, they would never dare come near.
 
Generally most people stop their point if the ball from the next court rolls onto their court - they would retrieve the ball right away in that case and return it. If the ball rolls close to the fence and doesn’t bother them, they might finish out their point and then retrieve their ball. I’ve never seen a case where players kept playing multiple points after a ball rolls on so that the players from the next court had to run onto the court with play occurring to retrieve their ball. This happens only when the players at the next court are on a break sitting on their bench.

If our ball rolls onto another court when they are playing and it might be a safety hazard, we will yell ’Ball on’ and typically the next court will stop play when they hear that.
 
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Hit a high lob, and then pick up the guy's ball while your lob is in the air and put it in your pocket.

Return the ball after your point is over.
 
If I see the ball going on the next court and there’s play going on, regardless of practice or official, I’ll say, “court 4, ball incoming.” If it’s a dangerous situation I’ll say, “court 4, watch your feet, ball on court.” Sometimes the players will scoot the ball and continue or they’ll call a let, their decision.
If they’re between points I’ll just ask for ball help.
I’m not sure what the etiquette is because I’m not sure if it’s taught. This is why we need posted rules.
Either way, I do think it’s rude to fetch while play is going on, rally or match.
 
ErrorMachine said:
If I see the ball going on the next court and there’s play going on, regardless of practice or official, I’ll say, “court 4, ball incoming.” If it’s a dangerous situation I’ll say, “court 4, watch your feet, ball on court.” Sometimes the players will scoot the ball and continue or they’ll call a let, their decision.
Click to expand...
Takes too long to be effective.

Here, we turn towards the court and shout "Ball on."
 
Mark-Touch said:
This is a timely post because I was going to ask a similar question shortly.
Very similar circumstances. In my case there are three courts side by side playing doubles as a group.

I would like to know the rules/etiquette for how to proceed when a ball makes its way onto a neighboring court?

Here's how we usually deal with it.
Court (A) whose ball wandered to the next court (B) does not interfere with the play that is going on
on court (B) until the point is finished. Once the point is finished the ball is recovered.

Generally, the court where the stray ball has moved to, continues playing until either the point is over
or someone calls a let because the ball is interfering with play.

A very unfortunate situation developed last week when a player from Court (A) grew impatient
after their ball crept onto our court (B). All four players on Court (B) continued play as the ball crept onto our court
slowly near the net (in about 8 feet) before it came to rest.
We hit the ball at least four times after the ball had come to rest.
Just as we were finishing the point the player from Court (A) shouted out "Let!" at the top of their lungs.

So my question is, if a let is to be called, who calls it, the court where the stray ball has entered,
or the court who lost their ball?
Click to expand...

He can’t call a let on your court.

Everything else you posted about what to do when with a stray ball from another court seems fine.

Too bad that one guy was such a fool. Sorry, they are everywhere
 
Mark-Touch said:
So my question is, if a let is to be called, who calls it, the court where the stray ball has entered,
or the court who lost their ball?
Click to expand...
The court that lost the ball might call out ‘Ball On’ or something similar to signal that their ball has entered your court in case there is a safety hazard. The players on the court into which the ball entered should call ‘Let’ if they wish to end their point. Usually they will stop immediately if the errant ball is distracting or a hazard. If not and it is lying outside the lines or near the net, it is their prerogative on whether they want to finish out their point or not - the court that lost the ball should not interfere with this.
 
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socallefty said:
The court that lost the ball might call out ‘Ball On’ or something similar to signal that their ball has entered your court in case there is a safety hazard. The players on the court into which the ball entered should call ‘Let’ if they wish to end their point. Usually they will stop immediately if the errant ball is distracting or a hazard. If not and it is lying outside the lines or near the net, it is their prerogative on whether they want to finish out their point or not - the court that lost the ball should not interfere with this.
Click to expand...
This is exactly how I see it too.
There happens to be a particular player in our group of doubles players (12) who routinely will shout out "Let!"
at the top of their lungs, as soon as their ball enters the neighboring court. Whether the ball creeps slowly towards the
net and snugs to it, creeps slowly to the back of the court or bounces in the middle of the court.
It matters not. They feel it is their duty to call a let. Unfortunately this same player knows very little
about basic tennis rules on top of this (line calls in particular) :(
 
pico said:
What is the proper etiquette for getting your balls from neighboring court? There were these older guys playing doubles on the court next to me today. Their balls came our way a few times. My friend and I were just rallying. The first time their ball came to our net, one guy said PLAY ON and took his ball. I was ok with that. A few minutes later, their ball went across our court to the back corner. The same guy decides to walk behind our court and says PLAY ON PLAY ON. I stopped and told him YOU CANT BE DOING THAT. He replied JUST PLAY ON WHATEVER. He seemed arrogant. I told him he was being disrespectful and not following court etiquette. His friend said YOU SHOULD STOP PLAY WHEN OUR BALLS GO TO YOUR COURT. I just laughed and told them ITS ALL GOOD. Help me process this.
Click to expand...
public court? anything goes. call lets often. i presume everyone will run across my court to get their ball despite being in the middle of the 50 ball point rally... usually because of ignorance, but also many times because it's the only ball the adjacent court of beginners is playing with... (i might even stop and donate a handful of balls if i was losing the rally and need rest :p). old guys on public courts, lol, they are probably regulars/retired and think they own the courts, maybe even go around "fixing" the courts, or bring their own chairs/brooms/etc... @LeeD would advise to just avoid all violence at his tough oakland public courts.

private club? usually everyone is aware and follow proper etiquette.
 
Put up a net that covers all 4 sides of your court. Then put up another net that is a roof.

Or buy a court that is all by itself.

Or pay everyone else to leave.

If you can't afford to do this, work more.
 
pico said:
Technically it is for the course of the hour we played. This is in an indoor club with paid memberships.
Click to expand...
no netting between? what kinda crappy indoor club is this... how you gonna contain all the red balls from the kid lesson next to you :P
or are they that bad, they are shanking the ball over the net every time... well damn, you're just unlucky, but i'd probably ask them to wait for my point to finish (presuming i'm not just practicing, then i don't care)... but if they keep interrupting my point, i like this idea:

Getting balls etiquette

What is the proper etiquette for getting your balls from neighboring court? There were these older guys playing doubles on the court next to me today. Their balls came our way a few times. My friend and I were just rallying. The first time their ball came to our net, one guy said PLAY ON and...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
 
pico said:
Technically it is for the course of the hour we played. This is in an indoor club with paid memberships.
Click to expand...
I think many younger people now have such issues because of the it is my "right" attitude. Irrespecitve of whether you payed for court time or not, it is still just a "privilege" to be on court, and not a "right".

pico said:
told him YOU CANT BE DOING THAT
Click to expand...

In the above example from OP the specific "quote" I stated can possibly make the receipient of the message defensive, irrespective what the etique is. If you have a "privileged"/blessed to be on court mentality, the proper response would be. "Sir, please don't run across the court, it could be dangerous". Or even better, don't really hit another 20 ball rally after the ball rolled across...... one or two shots to finish the point maybe reasonable.... but when you are rallying... you are not really going for much, which means the rally can be extended for uncertain period of time.

In general..... be considerative and send your messages in a proper way, and you will be treated back the same way.

The direct answer to your question is " Yes. The court etique is to wait for the play or rally to be done. And let the players on the court to push the ball back to you. Infact you don't even ever enter the others court, if everyone behaves"

But like I said, in the above case, it mostly has to do with a "court attitude" than "court etique".

The good court behavior from your side when a ball enters your court could be:
1. If you are in a co-operative rally, just stop the rally, right away, by catching the rally ball with your racket, and push the opponents ball back to the other court (assuming they are stopped and looking at you.. dont ever push the ball back to them when they are playing).
2. If you are in a practice match, just force an action to finish the damn point quickly (like if you break the string)... by for example moving in for an approach shot and volley.. or by going for a bit more aggressive shot.
3. If you are in competitive match, just call the Let right away, and avoid any confusion or distraction, if you are not in a situation to finish the point right away.
 
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Morch Us said:
I think many younger people now have such issues because of the it is my "right" attitude. Irrespecitve of whether you payed for court time or not, it is still just a "privilege" to be on court, and not a "right".



In the above example from OP the specific "quote" I stated can possibly make the receipient of the message defensive, irrespective what the etique is. If you have a "privileged"/blessed to be on court mentality, the proper response would be. "Sir, please don't run across the court, it could be dangerous". Or even better, don't really hit another 20 ball rally after the ball rolled across...... one or two shots to finish the point maybe reasonable.... but when you are rallying... you are not really going for much, which means the rally can be extended for uncertain period of time.

In general..... be considerative and send your messages in a proper way, and you will be treated back the same way.

The direct answer to your question is " Yes. The court etique is to wait for the play or rally to be done. And let the players on the court to push the ball back to you. Infact you don't even ever enter the others court, if everyone behaves"

But like I said, in the above case, it mostly has to do with a "court attitude" than "court etique".

The good court behavior from your side when a ball enters your court could be:
1. If you are in a co-operative rally, just stop the rally, right away, by catching the rally ball with your racket, and push the opponents ball back to the other court (assuming they are looking at you).
2. If you are in a practice match, just force an action to finish the damn point quickly (like if you break the string)... by for example moving in for an approach shot and volley.. or by going for a bit more aggressive shot.
3. If you are in competitive match, just call the Let right away, and avoid any confusion or distraction, if you are not in a situation to finish the point right away.
Click to expand...
This is non-sensical, why if I'm in a practice match do I need to force the action to finish the point? Or in a competitive match do I need to always call a let right away? (that is up to either me or my opponent to call). I'll politely get their ball when the point's over but what you're suggesting is not the right approach.
 
PKorda said:
This is non-sensical, why if I'm in a practice match do I need to force the action to finish the point? Or in a competitive match do I need to always call a let right away? (that is up to either me or my opponent to call). I'll politely get their ball when the point's over but what you're suggesting is not the right approach.
Click to expand...

Thanks for proving my point.
 
Morch Us said:
Thanks for proving my point.
Click to expand...
You seem to have an issue with young ppl ? How abt older ppl like those guys feeling entitled since they have been at the club for so long? As an update, I found another member at the club who has had similar experience with these ppl. He also reported that they cussed at him when he declined their request to pull the court net divider one time. Also, I saw them yesterday and the one guy behaved better. He understood that he could not just be walking onto other courts to get his balls.
 
pico said:
one guy behaved better.
Click to expand...
I bet the guys on the next court to this old guy, behaved better (did not purposely extend the rally to another 20+ balls to make him wait, since it is their "right"), and that possibly lead to a better overall experience for both teams. Good manners / courtesy is different than "rules" and "rights"
 
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