Getting blasted at the net when both players are at the net

[stevenymets]

It’s sport, don’t expect or ask you opponent to give you any concessions. Could this be construed as bad sportsmanship, sure, but in the middle of a competitive match that line gets blurred. Not wanting to be dismissive, but you are responsible for your shot selection and court positioning. If your opponent manipulates a point to an extent where he has you in the position you described then it is your responsibility to figure out how to avoid that from happening again in the future, don’t expect, in the middle of a point, for your opponent to be doing all of the mass calculations required to win the point and avoid hitting you. That is an extra calculation that as players we typically don’t need to make, so in the heat of “it”, it is often one that isn’t made well “I’m not thinking about you, just trying to finish off the point.” Some may, many won’t, so make sure you don’t allow yourself to be in that vulnerable position again.

Be accountable. I empathize with you, and I’ve been hit many times (once with an overhead) but that is my fault for allowing myself to get put in that position or for not realizing I am a sitting duck and conceding the point by either clearing the court or ducking below the net level.

One last thing, on fast exchanges, when one doesn’t have time to “get out of the way”, primarily in doubles, the ball isn’t coming as hard because these are volley exchanges. But in almost all other instances of “a sitter” situation I can think of, where a person is close to or at the net, and they have hit a ball that the opponent can “tee off” on, the vulnerable person typically has time to decide to bail, turn their back, duck,etc. If one chooses not to concede by getting out of the way, “all’s fair in love and war”.

 

[tennis tom]

...was playing a social singles match last night where the guy blasted the ball right by my head when we were both at a couple feet from the net.

Beware of the so called "social tennis", it can quickly turn "anti-social"! Not necessarily, but maybe it was payback for something YOU did to him earlier that irked him--like not opening a can of balls in five years of "social tennis".

I've been told that hitting right at a player when you're both at the net is not cool...

Who told you that? If he offers to sell you a bridge, do your due diligence. Tell him you'll be right behind him at the net--turned sideways.

It's only a fuzzy little ball--the most damage it can do is knock your eye out. Only one person has ever been killed by a tennis ball--it was a lines-person hit in the chest who died of a heart-attack, I don't think that is relevant here. Dodging tennis balls going 150 mph is good practice for the real world when you're being chased by someone with a gun, or jumping out of the path of a speeding rental truck driven by a terrorist while you're jaywalking and texting--tennis is great for developing your reflexes.

Like Lendl said, "I never invited you to the net." I've heard Pancho Gonzalez used to enjoy tagging his students during lessons at the net. Whenever I've been hit by a tennis ball, it was a ricochet off my own racket hitting me in the eye or the ear due to my lack of being fully focused and in not fully in the set position early in a match. When you venture onto the court be fully focused--tennis is an allegory for war. Seasons greetings.

 

[Moveforwardalways]

I have had people go at me intentionally at net maybe only once that I can think of where it was an intentional direct target and not "part of the game". It's really not that common and not something most people need to worry about. If someone is volleying or hitting to your feet or lower body, that's no big deal and I'm not counting that. If someone hits you in the ankle with a volley, they are just playing tennis.

 

[stevenymets]

@GameSetBeer I have included an instructional video to help you out, though I don't think it is necessary to drink your own pee....

 

[WYK]

Even Kygrios goes out of his way to not smash players at the net purposefully. Though I do try to hit their feet if I can.

 

[gmatheis]

I mostly play singles and was playing a social singles match last night where the guy blasted the ball right by my head when we were both at a couple feet from the net.

I realize this is completely legal, but we were both at the net and he could have taken a number of shots for a point.

I know in doubles you get a lot of balls blasted at you, but this was singles and a social match at that. I've been told that hitting right at a player when you're both at the net is not cool and I rarely see pro players in singles matches doing this (though it happens).

I've also been told it's only okay to hit near or at the player in singles if the player hitting the ball is beyond the service line. Just not cool when both singles players are at the net.

To give an example we were as close as the players in the video and I wasn't trying to distract him(check out the 7 second mark):

Any thoughts?

If you turned around to concede the point then it's uncalled for.

BUT

If you were in ready stance hoping to pick off his passing shot then why should he have to avoid you.

Grow a pair, say "nice shot", and blame the right person ... afterall YOU gave him the short ball to begin with.

 

[mucat]

It is not the responsibility of the hitting player to avoid the opponent(s). Turn away and move out of the court.

 

[J_R_B]

I mostly play singles and was playing a social singles match last night where the guy blasted the ball right by my head when we were both at a couple feet from the net.

I realize this is completely legal, but we were both at the net and he could have taken a number of shots for a point.

I know in doubles you get a lot of balls blasted at you, but this was singles and a social match at that. I've been told that hitting right at a player when you're both at the net is not cool and I rarely see pro players in singles matches doing this (though it happens).

I've also been told it's only okay to hit near or at the player in singles if the player hitting the ball is beyond the service line. Just not cool when both singles players are at the net.

To give an example we were as close as the players in the video and I wasn't trying to distract him(check out the 7 second mark):

Any thoughts?

I don't know about being "not cool" or whatever from a sportsmanship point of view, but if you hit a ball right at a guy when you have "a number of shots" available that would win the point, that is probably the dumbest strategic move you can make, as you are hitting the only shot that could possibly be returned (if he makes a nice reflex shot or whatever...). If you're both at the net and you have a choice of hitting right at a player or hitting it where he can't possibly reach it, the odds are 0% that he will return a shot that is out of his reach but something greater than 0% that he could return a shot his right at him.

Whenever people hit at me and then apologize or whatever, I always say "it's fine, just try to hit my strings next time" just to let them know I don't care because I'm trying to return it.