How does everyone handle bad calls?

harleywilson

harleywilson

Rookie
Just got finished playing singles league playoffs. I wasn't really warmed up in the first set and lost 6-4 (my fault totally). In the second I started slowly again but finally got warmed up. The score was 4-5 on my opponent's serve. The score was 30-40 and we had a mammoth exchange from the baseline which ended with me hitting a backhand passing shot down the line. I watched the ball get past my opponent and hit the line. I had a clear line to the ball and it was good. I ended up near the net and I walked over to get a drink and prepare for the 3rd set. Anyway my opponent told me it was wide. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. I told him I saw the ball hit the line but he disagreed. I went back on the court and he held to go to 5-5. I was angry but solderied on. Anyway I served at love and he held after several deuce points. We went to a tiebreak and he insisted that I started to serve in the ad court. I told him no and we got into it a little. I finally told him I was going to serve into the deuce side and I didn't care where he stood. He moved and the tiebreak ensued. To make a long story short, he made two bad calls against me at two different set points for me. I ended up losing the tiebreak 14-12. I kept my cool mostly. I questioned both calls but continued to play. I even shook his hand afterward. I figured without a third person it wouldn't matter anyway (he said, me said) if I protested. I've never played a match against someone who made such bad line calls at crucial moments. What would have anyone else done? Sorry for the long post
 
harleywilson said:
Just got finished playing singles league playoffs. I wasn't really warmed up in the first set and lost 6-4 (my fault totally). In the second I started slowly again but finally got warmed up. The score was 4-5 on my opponent's serve. The score was 30-40 and we had a mammoth exchange from the baseline which ended with me hitting a backhand passing shot down the line. I watched the ball get past my opponent and hit the line. I had a clear line to the ball and it was good. I ended up near the net and I walked over to get a drink and prepare for the 3rd set. Anyway my opponent told me it was wide. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. I told him I saw the ball hit the line but he disagreed. I went back on the court and he held to go to 5-5. I was angry but solderied on. Anyway I served at love and he held after several deuce points. We went to a tiebreak and he insisted that I started to serve in the ad court. I told him no and we got into it a little. I finally told him I was going to serve into the deuce side and I didn't care where he stood. He moved and the tiebreak ensued. To make a long story short, he made two bad calls against me at two different set points for me. I ended up losing the tiebreak 14-12. I kept my cool mostly. I questioned both calls but continued to play. I even shook his hand afterward. I figured without a third person it wouldn't matter anyway (he said, me said) if I protested. I've never played a match against someone who made such bad line calls at crucial moments. What would have anyone else done? Sorry for the long post
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Stop right there and call for Tournament Refree. or call the club tournament manager and compain. Don't worry that it may take 30-40 minutes to do this. Or if you threaten to call the tournament director, he may just change his call or say lets play a let. Do NOT play a let, go for the manager unless he changes the call. Do not get into exchanging bad call play, it never works. I know you are worried about he said me said thing but if you call and talk to the manager, he will think twice before he does it again. and if he keeps repeating the bad call, just quit right there and tell the tournament director that you refuse to continue with a cheater.:sad:
 
That's the tough thing about unofficiated matches against a cheat. Happily, it doesn't happen often. I've only been in that situation once, and it was pretty similar to your situation. The only thing I regret out of that match is that I shook the SOB's hand at the conclusion.

I don't mind losing fair and square. I don't mind getting my butt kicked by a superior player. But to me a post-game handshake means 'good job, well done' - and to give that to a Cheat is more than I'm willing to do from here on out.
 
In your situation I would've called a referee over if they were available, if not then I'd get a coach or captain or something.

What I do is I'll let one or two bad calls go, but after that I consider it to be a pattern and I'll say something. If it continues, well, I don't know what I'd do b/c honestly I've never dealt with that. If a referee is available I'd probably call him over and tell him what's going on. I've been pretty lucky and haven't got a lot of calls that were obviously bad, but it did happen once. In high school a kid I was playing called a ball out that was good by about a foot in every direction, and I immediately corrected him and let him know how I felt about his call. Fortunately his partner had a lot more sense than he did and corrected the call.
 
Geezer Guy said:
That's the tough thing about unofficiated matches against a cheat. Happily, it doesn't happen often. I've only been in that situation once, and it was pretty similar to your situation. The only thing I regret out of that match is that I shook the SOB's hand at the conclusion.

I don't mind losing fair and square. I don't mind getting my butt kicked by a superior player. But to me a post-game handshake means 'good job, well done' - and to give that to a Cheat is more than I'm willing to do from here on out.
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I go across the net and give him a right hook
 
From what I can tell is it is not so much the number of questionable calls as much as the time of the calls. Personally, I've been BADLY hooked at 6-7 in a 3rd set tiebreak and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. I was mad for weeks.
 
The league in question will not send people out. Until you get to the final four of each level they matches are held at each at either a home or away location. The timing of the calls is what bothers me. I felt very confident that I was going to win the third set and I knew my opponent felt the same way. I don't accuse anyone of deliberately cheating, but I was very close. I felt powerless to do anything at the time even though I was fuming.
 
harleywilson said:
... I don't accuse anyone of deliberately cheating ...
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Sorry then, my response to you was based on my understanding that you DID think he was deliberately cheating.

If you think he just made an honest mistake - well, that's gonna happen to all of us. Heck - you've probably made an honest mistake or two along the way, eh?

If you think he made a bad call with good intentions, then just play on. Nothing to get worked up about. He'll probably make some incorrect calls that go in your favor also.
 
Geezer Guy said:
Sorry then, my response to you was based on my understanding that you DID think he was deliberately cheating.

If you think he just made an honest mistake - well, that's gonna happen to all of us. Heck - you've probably made an honest mistake or two along the way, eh?

If you think he made a bad call with good intentions, then just play on. Nothing to get worked up about. He'll probably make some incorrect calls that go in your favor also.
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Ummm, What I meant was I would not accuse someone directly. I found the situation very curious as the bad calls seemed to only happen when he was facing a set point. Pure coincidence, Honest Mistake? I doubt it! I guess I'm really just venting because I knew I had no recourse other than to refuse to play the match out and protest. It wouldn't have done me any good. On another note, Geezer Guy, I see your from KC. I went to Mizzou I've got some buddies from KC. Since it's about dinner time here got me thinking about Bryant's:grin:
 
Boy - I haven't been to Bryant's in a loooong time. This town sure has great BBQ, and plenty of good Italian and Mexican as well.
 
my serve isnt that fast, it is in the 80's but i hit the lines pretty often, either on the side or the service line. At any rate i was playing in a clay court tournament and had been hitting close to the lines or on them to where the bounce wasnt that altered and my opponent was fine. Well, i hit a serve down the T right on it touching all the lines that converge at the T. My opponent called it out. I walked up to the net, remained calm and explained to him that there was no way the ball was out because of the obvious terrible bounce. After about 5 minutes of talking about it he agreed that i was right (mainly to shut me up). Basically when someone is making bad calls i give them two chances. After 2 clearly bad calls i call for someone to monitor. On clay it is easier to argue but on a hardcourt people think they can get away with anything. My favorite part about it is the way they tell you the ball hit a foot from where you saw it hit. As long as you are firm and down storm to the net like mcenroe you might be able to sway someone. I have found that if you make good calls for people that they will give usually do the same for you.
 
Fedace said:
Stop right there and call for Tournament Refree. or call the club tournament manager and compain. Don't worry that it may take 30-40 minutes to do this. Or if you threaten to call the tournament director, he may just change his call or say lets play a let. Do NOT play a let, go for the manager unless he changes the call. Do not get into exchanging bad call play, it never works. I know you are worried about he said me said thing but if you call and talk to the manager, he will think twice before he does it again. and if he keeps repeating the bad call, just quit right there and tell the tournament director that you refuse to continue with a cheater.:sad:
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yeah, I usually call a line judge or "ask are you sure??"
 
i usually just ask are you sure? or something like that, but i was playing this kid and he wasn't making me very pleased with his calls or behavior(come on on double faults of mine, etc.) and on a changeover, decided i would scare him...told him i was being a jerk like he was doing, and that i got shot for it...he didnt do any more of that stuff the rest of the match...so thats what i do to people who cheat...
ps. he asked me if i got shot by a gun...i mean seriously no dude, i got shot with a pizza...fun times
 
IanRichardson said:
my serve isnt that fast, it is in the 80's but i hit the lines pretty often, either on the side or the service line. At any rate i was playing in a clay court tournament and had been hitting close to the lines or on them to where the bounce wasnt that altered and my opponent was fine. Well, i hit a serve down the T right on it touching all the lines that converge at the T. My opponent called it out. I walked up to the net, remained calm and explained to him that there was no way the ball was out because of the obvious terrible bounce. After about 5 minutes of talking about it he agreed that i was right (mainly to shut me up). Basically when someone is making bad calls i give them two chances. After 2 clearly bad calls i call for someone to monitor. On clay it is easier to argue but on a hardcourt people think they can get away with anything. My favorite part about it is the way they tell you the ball hit a foot from where you saw it hit. As long as you are firm and down storm to the net like mcenroe you might be able to sway someone. I have found that if you make good calls for people that they will give usually do the same for you.
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I just had a league match (doubles) on Saturday where my partner's serve hit half of the service line. The receiver's partner called it out. I pointed out the mark, but the opponent said "I already called it out." I said, but the mark is right there--the ball was clearly in. The guy said--"I don't have hawkeye, I can't tell a ball that close at full speed." But, the mark is right there! The guy conceded that the mark was in, but persisted that "I already called it out." As if to say that he was not able to correct the call even though he admitted it was wrong. Now that's frustrating.
 
REPORT THEM. If you complain enough to the tournament director, he will tell USTA a put it on a record. If ou get caught twice, you get disqualified from USTA. One player who has a bad rep where I play wasn't allowed to play in any tournaments in Dayton, Ohio, a medium sized city.
 
what is really fun when you are up and they are frustrated and making bad calls to try to get back in it is to mess with them. If you hit a serve that is clearly in and they call it out provided you have a lead (40-0 or 40-15) throw another hard first serve in and then ask "was that good" make sure it doesnt touch the lines but has a lot of pace on it. Not the most gentleman like thing to do but it lets them know you arent gonna stand for any of their crap.
 
If you know that he knows he is giving you BS calls then just give him one back. Even if the ball is a foot in, call it out and take the point. He has no right to make bad calls and he'll get understand that your not gonna take any more crap
 
I've had this happen to me a couple times at tournaments. Most recently at a National event. Same kind of situation, I hit a passing shot down the line, I hit it around the service line, doubles alley, I watch it go down the line for a winner and he calls it out. Unbelievable! And it all started earlier in the match, when I was up on him. And check this out, he tries to hit a drop shot from the baseline, which ends up bouncing on his side of the net first and then on my side. My point right?? Nope, when he goes to serve the next point, he calls the score like he won that point. I tell him, that he can't even see the ball bounce on his side of the net first and he is making these line calls? I came unglued on him, which really didn't make a difference, and probably is what he wanted. And, you know what... it worked. I was so rattled that I lost the match. The big problem in this situation, was that because of the size of the tournament, our match was farmed out to another club, where there were NO referee's, which to me is also unbelievable since this was a National event.

Anyway, if I had it to do all over again, I would have just hooked back, the very next point, which would have hopefully gotten the message across to him.
 
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Another interesting story I heard is that a player was getting hooked, told the one player that he was going to get a line judge and when he brought the line judge back, the line judge asked what the score was and the non-hooking player (who got the line judge) said that he won the first set 6-2 and they were tied in the second set, which of course wasn't even close to true because they were still in the first set. The hooking player becomes unglued and then the other player says, what was that last call again?
Don't know if it is true, but it sure would put the point across and if they couldn't agree on the score, they would have had to go back to the last score that they agreed on.
 
harleywilson said:
Just got finished playing singles league playoffs. I wasn't really warmed up in the first set and lost 6-4 (my fault totally). In the second I started slowly again but finally got warmed up. The score was 4-5 on my opponent's serve. The score was 30-40 and we had a mammoth exchange from the baseline which ended with me hitting a backhand passing shot down the line. I watched the ball get past my opponent and hit the line. I had a clear line to the ball and it was good. I ended up near the net and I walked over to get a drink and prepare for the 3rd set. Anyway my opponent told me it was wide. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. I told him I saw the ball hit the line but he disagreed. I went back on the court and he held to go to 5-5. I was angry but solderied on. Anyway I served at love and he held after several deuce points. We went to a tiebreak and he insisted that I started to serve in the ad court. I told him no and we got into it a little. I finally told him I was going to serve into the deuce side and I didn't care where he stood. He moved and the tiebreak ensued. To make a long story short, he made two bad calls against me at two different set points for me. I ended up losing the tiebreak 14-12. I kept my cool mostly. I questioned both calls but continued to play. I even shook his hand afterward. I figured without a third person it wouldn't matter anyway (he said, me said) if I protested. I've never played a match against someone who made such bad line calls at crucial moments. What would have anyone else done? Sorry for the long post
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That is tough. Line calls are a tough thing. I know the code talks about it some...but to me, most of it just makes sense. (having played volleyball for many years, I have definitely seen my share of line calls.)

No line call should be more important than another. The ball is in unless you are certain it was out. You do not use "make-up" calls to even the score. You did the right thing by keeping cool. It is definitely not easy to do.

I just finished playing this weekend in playoffs. They had one roving official. I think people were afraid to call him over for lines b/c if you did, he was obligated to call anything he saw...foot faults, etc. I found out (from others watching) after our match (we lost) that some of our opponents line calls were awfully close. Don't know if it was intentional or not. I have to believe they weren't, otherwise it would drive me nuts!
 
Yeah I don't make up for a bad line call by making one myself. Always like to keep the moral high ground. I've just never been in a match where it directly affected the outcome like it did. If I ever have a question I always call it good. It's supposed to be fun but I can get pretty hard core during the heat of battle.
 
harleywilson said:
Just got finished playing singles league playoffs. I wasn't really warmed up in the first set and lost 6-4 (my fault totally). In the second I started slowly again but finally got warmed up. The score was 4-5 on my opponent's serve. The score was 30-40 and we had a mammoth exchange from the baseline which ended with me hitting a backhand passing shot down the line. I watched the ball get past my opponent and hit the line. I had a clear line to the ball and it was good. I ended up near the net and I walked over to get a drink and prepare for the 3rd set. Anyway my opponent told me it was wide. I asked him if he was sure and he said he was. I told him I saw the ball hit the line but he disagreed. I went back on the court and he held to go to 5-5. I was angry but solderied on. Anyway I served at love and he held after several deuce points. We went to a tiebreak and he insisted that I started to serve in the ad court. I told him no and we got into it a little. I finally told him I was going to serve into the deuce side and I didn't care where he stood. He moved and the tiebreak ensued. To make a long story short, he made two bad calls against me at two different set points for me. I ended up losing the tiebreak 14-12. I kept my cool mostly. I questioned both calls but continued to play. I even shook his hand afterward. I figured without a third person it wouldn't matter anyway (he said, me said) if I protested. I've never played a match against someone who made such bad line calls at crucial moments. What would have anyone else done? Sorry for the long post
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Hi, are you playing KSwiss? Just asking cause hubby just lost his playoff as well. But as far as bad calls, he got hooked during his match as well - and he also played a pusher so between the bad calls and the pushing he was completely enraged. I told hubby that if he wasn't sure about a call, then he needs to question it more because a lot of calls were wrong. I also told him to report him. He didn't know that if they can't agree then they replay the point. He was so angry I thought he was going to beat dude down with his racquet.
 
QuietDaze said:
Hi, are you playing KSwiss? Just asking cause hubby just lost his playoff as well. But as far as bad calls, he got hooked during his match as well - and he also played a pusher so between the bad calls and the pushing he was completely enraged. I told hubby that if he wasn't sure about a call, then he needs to question it more because a lot of calls were wrong. I also told him to report him. He didn't know that if they can't agree then they replay the point. He was so angry I thought he was going to beat dude down with his racquet.
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Is this my wife?!? Just kidding Quiet Daze would not be a screen name that she would choose.;) Yep, it is KSwiss. At least I didn't play your husband because we both lost.:( Oh well
 
harleywilson said:
Is this my wife?!? Just kidding Quiet Daze would not be a screen name that she would choose.;) Yep, it is KSwiss. At least I didn't play your husband because we both lost.:( Oh well
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LOL - nope, not your wife. I play KSwiss as well but my season is over. They claim I was overrated so I wasn't allowed in the play offs. What level are you? He's 2.5 but hopefully will be moving up as he's actually gotten much better. I was stunned at his loss and stunned at the number of bad calls. It's unfortunate that I couldn't intervene but I was trying to use my Jedi Mind Trick on him to dispute some of his opponents calls and to calm down. He's never played a pusher so he had a complete melt down. So now, two broken racquets later, he's thinking about putting in a letter regarding the line calls. If you think your opponent cheated you should write in on them. Hubby doesn't want to look like a sore loser but he shouldn't let him cheat freely.
 
I just stay calm. If I am pretty sure I say just "OK, whatever" and raise my hands in the air. That's getting on their nerves for sure!!!
 
The fact that the other player made these calls on set/match points is a good indicator of cheating. Honest bad calls generally happen at random throughout the match. I would've found someone to call to confirm line calls after the second bogus line call from my opponent.
 
3.5- There are plenty of pushers at that level also (God, I hope I'm not one of them. Maybe) It's tough to move up. I got lucky enough to move up this time. I had to totally destroy my last opponent in order to move up and I did 6-0, 6-1. I felt bad because I was drilling him with my first serve while up 4-1. The point system is tough. If he plays lower than 3.0 there are plenty of pushers there. Alot of older guys who are hanging on by dinking and dunking. They drive me crazy too. I admire your husband if he decides to report it. To be honest, I'm over it already and I'm done with it.
 
Gemini said:
The fact that the other player made these calls on set/match points is a good indicator of cheating. Honest bad calls generally happen at random throughout the match. I would've found someone to call to confirm line calls after the second bogus line call from my opponent.
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The problem with KSwiss is that there isn't anyone to call from the league. You pretty much set up your own match and location. When I watch those games every once in a while it kills me not to be able to say anything.
 
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