How do you stop opponents from ripping returns

Nostradamus

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
Well, before the league match started, it came time to warm up serves. and apparently our opponents have warmed up their serves before we got there. and they were just ripping or teeing off on our practice serves. This is bad manners. but how do you stop them from doing it ? We asked them not to do this since we need to practice. but it fell on deaf ears.
 
newpball said:
So I am trying to understand you are serving and they return your serve, is that correct?

So how does that interfere with your warming up? :confused:
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if your opponents are practicing returns to get an edge and get used to your spins, it is called BAD manners. You don't do that in the warmup
 
Nostradamus said:
if your opponents are practicing returns to get an edge and get used to your spins, it is called BAD manners. You don't do that in the warmup
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So by returning a few warmup serves people get used to your spins?
OK..... :confused:

Well if that bothers you then next time do the same thing as them, warmup earlier so you keep your spins super secret.

I mean what do you expect: someone to walk up and shout: "Rule, rule, rule! Can't do this, code violation: taking advantage of secret spin serve used while warming up"?
 
newpball said:
So by returning a few warmup serves people get used to your spins?
OK..... :confused:

Well if that bothers you then next time do the same thing as them, warmup earlier so you keep your spins super secret.

I mean what do you expect: someone to walk up and shout: "Rule, rule, rule! Can't do this, code violation: taking advantage of secret spin serve used while warming up"?
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I would not practice serve so the secret spin serve would get those guys by surprise when the match begins :)
 
Nostradamus said:
if your opponents are practicing returns to get an edge and get used to your spins, it is called BAD manners. You don't do that in the warmup
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It is bad manners to hit returns during warm up. Next time you play doubles just warm up with your partner. It isn't against the rules to do it. Send your partner on the other side of the net and go for it. That also might get into the heads of your opponents too.
 
asusundevils1971 said:
It is bad manners to hit returns during warm up. Next time you play doubles just warm up with your partner. It isn't against the rules to do it. Send your partner on the other side of the net and go for it. That also might get into the heads of your opponents too.
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Wow, we found another genius in this forum. Amazing intelligent poster. Why can't more people on this forum be like you. I can only wish.

One more question, how do you stop opponents from doing shadow swings like crazy person, right before I serve to them. it bothers me. now this is during the match.
 
On what basis is practicing service returns bad manners? How is it different than practicing your forehand while rallying?

Are you somehow depending on your serve being so surprising when the match starts that you'll derive a big advantage? And if it is such a big advantage to you, how do opponents returning your serve 3 or 4 times allow them to groove themselves? In fact, if your serve is so special, how are they ripping them back anyway?
 
Nostradamus said:
Wow, we found another genius in this forum. Amazing intelligent poster. Why can't more people on this forum be like you. I can only wish.

One more question, how do you stop opponents from doing shadow swings like crazy person, right before I serve to them. it bothers me. now this is during the match.
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Thank you for the compliment Nos.. As for the crazy shadow swings... Look up before you do the service routine. Then do your routine and serve, take the crap out of the game and keep your mind of what needs to be done. If they say they were not ready... Say " I looked up before my routine and you looked ready ".
 
Nostradamus, my advice is to ignore it, focus on the warmup, play your game.

Frankly if people returning your practice serve upsets you I consider it possible you get upset easily by other things as well and unfortunately some opponents will use that to their advantage.

Nostradamus said:
One more question, how do you stop opponents from doing shadow swings like crazy person, right before I serve to them. it bothers me. now this is during the match.
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Just saw this comment, it seems to confirm you are bothered by all kind of things.

Seriously you need to focus on your game otherwise you become a "toy ball" for those who take advantage of this situation.
 
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Nostradamus said:
if your opponents are practicing returns to get an edge and get used to your spins, it is called BAD manners. You don't do that in the warmup
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It's really only bad manners if they are not finished warming up their own serve.

If it bothers you get there early and warm up your serve in advance.
 
sam_p said:
On what basis is practicing service returns bad manners? How is it different than practicing your forehand while rallying?

Are you somehow depending on your serve being so surprising when the match starts that you'll derive a big advantage? And if it is such a big advantage to you, how do opponents returning your serve 3 or 4 times allow them to groove themselves? In fact, if your serve is so special, how are they ripping them back anyway?
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You just don't do that during warm up. You can see the other person serve and see the motion and how it comes off the racquet. You just don't return the serve. It is very very bad etiquette...
 
asusundevils1971 said:
It is bad manners to hit returns during warm up. Next time you play doubles just warm up with your partner. It isn't against the rules to do it. Send your partner on the other side of the net and go for it. That also might get into the heads of your opponents too.
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Agreed. Ask them to stop and if they won't, simply refuse to warm up against them, and warm up against your own partner. You may not be able to make them be courteous, but you don't have to be a party to their rude behavior.
 
sam_p said:
Not where I play my 4.5 tennis...
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Yeah agreed. How do you practice returns in warm-ups otherwise, than when your opponents are practicing their serves? Almost everyone I know practices their returns during warm-ups. Are you just supposed to start the match returning cold turkey?
 
Yeah... I get the "etiquette thing", but maybe your opponents are on to something. Maybe practicing the "return of serve" is just as important as practicing the serve itself. Besides, I don't assume you gave them "your best" during practice. Right?
 
jhick said:
Yeah agreed. How do you practice returns in warm-ups otherwise, than when your opponents are practicing their serves? Almost everyone I know practices their returns during warm-ups. Are you just supposed to start the match returning cold turkey?
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Personally, I love when people return serve during warmup...more serving for me and I can see whether they can handle the three or four serves I'm warming up.
 
sam_p said:
On what basis is practicing service returns bad manners? How is it different than practicing your forehand while rallying?

Are you somehow depending on your serve being so surprising when the match starts that you'll derive a big advantage? And if it is such a big advantage to you, how do opponents returning your serve 3 or 4 times allow them to groove themselves? In fact, if your serve is so special, how are they ripping them back anyway?
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I'd say its like the unwritten code in baseball where the on-deck hitter is too obviously trying to gauge the pitchers speed and rhythm -- said hitter is likely to hear a little "chin music" when he steps into the box. It just strikes me as bad form.
 
Chip 'n Charge said:
I'd say its like the unwritten code in baseball where the on-deck hitter is too obviously trying to gauge the pitchers speed and rhythm -- said hitter is likely to hear a little "chin music" when he steps into the box. It just strikes me as bad form.
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Except it isn't, because the entire premise of the warmup is to warm each other up...

And, I've been playing tennis for quite a while and this isn't part of any unwritten code.
 
AlfaAce said:
Yeah... I get the "etiquette thing", but maybe your opponents are on to something. Maybe practicing the "return of serve" is just as important as practicing the serve itself. Besides, I don't assume you gave them "your best" during practice. Right?
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In a warm up I don't hit my usual ball. I use the warm up to warm up my muscles.. My ground strokes are only at 60% and my serve is around the same. Ground strokes are down the middle and my serve is middle of the service box. That is why you look at where the toss is and how the body enters the court.
 
asusundevils1971 said:
In a warm up I don't hit my usual ball. I use the warm up to warm up my muscles.. My ground strokes are only at 60% and my serve is around the same. Ground strokes are down the middle and my serve is middle of the service box. That is why you look at where the toss is and how the body enters the court.
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Eggzactly...
 
sam_p said:
What does that have to do with the price of tea in china?
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You mentioned 4.5 players... It don't matter what level you play at. It is about respect for the player on the other side of the net. You have five minutes to warm up and three balls to do so. Let the player on the other side of the net warm up in the five minutes.
 
sam_p said:
Except it isn't, because the entire premise of the warmup is to warm each other up...

And, I've been playing tennis for quite a while and this isn't part of any unwritten code.
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Um, that's why they call it a warm-up and not PRACTICE. If one wants to practice return of serve prior to the match, they can get a practice court with their partner prior to warm-up.
 
asusundevils1971 said:
You mentioned 4.5 players... It don't matter what level you play at. It is about respect for the player on the other side of the net. You have five minutes to warm up and three balls to do so. Let the player on the other side of the net warm up in the five minutes.
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Well, we have more than 5 minutes to warm up so maybe it's just a regional thing. Usually our warm-ups are more like 10-15 minutes. It's more regulated at areas and sectionals. Stricter 10 minute warm-ups there.
 
Chip 'n Charge said:
Um, that's why they call it a warm-up and not PRACTICE. If one wants to practice return of serve prior to the match, they can get a practice court with their partner prior to warm-up.
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Service returns are a shot in tennis, why are they not something to be warmed up?
 
jhick said:
Well, we have more than 5 minutes to warm up so maybe it's just a regional thing. Usually our warm-ups are more like 10-15 minutes. It's more regulated at areas and sectionals. Stricter 10 minute warm-ups there.
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Five minute warm up for tournaments and ten minutes for league play. It don't change the OP statement about warm up.
 
asusundevils1971 said:
You mentioned 4.5 players... It don't matter what level you play at. It is about respect for the player on the other side of the net. You have five minutes to warm up and three balls to do so. Let the player on the other side of the net warm up in the five minutes.
Click to expand...

But, there is nothing about returning serves that is a sign of disrespect...

And how does this impact anybody's ability to warm up?

Is the OP talking about people returning serves to another court? Over the fence? Sure, that's crazy, but that doesn't happen at my level.
 
sam_p said:
Service returns are a shot in tennis, why are they not something to be warmed up?
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't remember ever seeing pros warm-up thier returns prior to a match. The OP referenced his opponents "teein off or ripping" their returns. Per the code, "a player who returns serve should return them at a moderate pace in a manner that does not disrupt the server"
 
sam_p said:
But, there is nothing about returning serves that is a sign of disrespect...

And how does this impact anybody's ability to warm up?

Is the OP talking about people returning serves to another court? Over the fence? Sure, that's crazy, but that doesn't happen at my level.
Click to expand...

You are correct about no rule for returning a serve in warm up. It is a practice that isn't done from junior to pro tennis. It is about respect for the player on the other side of the net. The OP is talking about serve getting smashed back at them during warm up.
 
Nostradamus said:
Well, before the league match started, it came time to warm up serves. and apparently our opponents have warmed up their serves before we got there. and they were just ripping or teeing off on our practice serves. This is bad manners. but how do you stop them from doing it ? We asked them not to do this since we need to practice. but it fell on deaf ears.
Click to expand...
Warm up for 30 min before you start warming up with your opponent, the 5min warmup with your opponent is short and pointless anyway. That way, you can forgo the serve practice altogether, or if you want, you can practice returns instead. In general, you should never rely on your opponent for a good warmup.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with opponents practicing returns, because I don't give them more than a few serves anyway.
 
Nostradamus said:
Well, before the league match started, it came time to warm up serves. and apparently our opponents have warmed up their serves before we got there. and they were just ripping or teeing off on our practice serves. This is bad manners. but how do you stop them from doing it ? We asked them not to do this since we need to practice. but it fell on deaf ears.
Click to expand...

this is easy

you have to kick one or slide one extra wide, then fast serve one up the middle

then switch sides and keep them off balance

serve into the body with different spin then you usually do

try not to show them the exact serve you use

just use the time to loosen up the arm, not to show your best stuff
 
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Gut4Tennis said:
this is easy

you have to kick one or slide one extra wide, then fast serve one up the middle

then switch sides and keep them off balance

serve into the body with different spin then you usually do

try not to show them the exact serve you use

just use the time to loosen up the arm, not to show your best stuff
Click to expand...
Oh dear, I would love to see a video of this. :grin:
 
Nostradamus said:
Well, before the league match started, it came time to warm up serves. and apparently our opponents have warmed up their serves before we got there. and they were just ripping or teeing off on our practice serves. This is bad manners. but how do you stop them from doing it ? We asked them not to do this since we need to practice. but it fell on deaf ears.
Click to expand...

Not sure how to stop your opponents from returning, but for me this doesn't matter since I don't serve anywhere close to 100% in warm up anyway. Really warm up is for getting loose, not for practicing your serve. If you feel like you need to practice your real serves before a match, you should do this before warming up with your opponent. With your opponent, it's about getting the blood pumping and the arm and shoulder warmed up. I just serve mostly second serves right to my opponent, and then at the end will throw in one first serve just to see how it feels.
 
Not that the Code is considered a valid resource by some, but here is what it says on the subject (emphasis mine):
3. Warm-up is not practice. A player should provide the opponent a
warm-up of five to ten minutes. If a player declines to warm up the opponent, the
player forfeits the right to a warm-up, and the opponent may warm up with another
person. Some players confuse warm-up and practice. Each player should try to hit
shots directly to the opponent. (If partners want to warm each other up while their
opponents are warming up, they may do so.)
4. Warm-up serves are taken before first serve of match. A player should take
all warm-up serves before the first serve of a match. A player who returns serves
should return them at a moderate pace in a manner that does not disrupt the server.
Click to expand...
 
You can ask them to hold the ball and serve and then you do the same. I always ask before hand if they want me to return the serve our hold and then serve and then they do the same. most people ask me to return it.
 
The answer is easy: You can warm up vs your partner.

As written in The Code:
3. Warm-up is not practice. A player should provide the opponent a warm-up of five to ten minutes. If a player declines to warm up the opponent, the player forfeits the right to a warm-up, and the opponent may warm up with another person. Some players confuse warm-up and practice. Each player should try to hit shots directly to the opponent. (If partners want to warm each other up while their opponents are warming up, they may do so.)​
 
This thread got silly for a while - but ignoring that and returning to the original question (a good one) I'd answer as follows:

Where I play it goes like this.
In warm up, you warm up your groundies and volleys first. Then, the person who is ready first says, "Few serves?"
Other guy either says, "yep" or " just a couple more (forehands, volleys, whatever) please."
When it's serve time, you serve two balls (we have two balls for the match) and the other guy catches them and serves back.
If it's dubs you have one ball each and both serve together cross court.

NOTE HERE
Hitting the serve back is not rude. The first time you return it rather than catch and serve it back says, "I've finished my serve warm-up. I''ll hit it back - I'm practising my returns now but you can keep serving; it's your choice to have all the serve warm ups you want until you're ready, but now I'm happy I'll do something a bit more useful to me than over-warm my serve." Once you hit a serve back it means you don't get any more warm-up serves. Who's to say we all want the same number? Some want a million, some none.

To me this makes sense and it works well were I live.
 
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