What is the rule, unspoken or otherwise, on how late is too late to make an out call on clay? I've played the same guy recently that will hit his return of my serve, and if it's close to the line, sometimes he stares down looking for it and calls it out after I've already hit my second shot or at least very close to it. I'm not even disputing in or out, as it is my practice not to dispute my opponents calls, I'm only asking about the time gap. To give you some perspective, we are both good 4.5 players, so the serve and returns and not patty cakes.
How late is too late to make a call?
- Thread starter deacbb
- Start date
Tennisguy3000
Semi-Pro
This is what I found... now to define prompt & immediate ;-)
http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Rules/Rulings/Calling_the_ball_out/
Q. Is there a time limit or code of etiquette for calling a ball out? I was playing doubles recently and did not hear whether the ball was called in or out and when I asked I was scolded by my opponents partner that it was improper for me to ask before she (her partner) got back to the service line.
A. All calls must be made promptly. On a point ending shot on a clay court, extra time may be necessary to examine the ball mark. In all other cases, calls must be prompt and immediate.
http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Rules/Rulings/Calling_the_ball_out/
Q. Is there a time limit or code of etiquette for calling a ball out? I was playing doubles recently and did not hear whether the ball was called in or out and when I asked I was scolded by my opponents partner that it was improper for me to ask before she (her partner) got back to the service line.
A. All calls must be made promptly. On a point ending shot on a clay court, extra time may be necessary to examine the ball mark. In all other cases, calls must be prompt and immediate.
Steady Eddy
Legend
Here's an excerpt from The Code
18. Prompt calls eliminate two chance option. A player shall make all calls promptly after the ball has hit the court. A call shall be made either before the player’s return shot has gone out of play or before the opponent has had the opportunity to play the return shot. Prompt calls will quickly eliminate the “two chances to win the point” option that some players practice. To illustrate, a player is advancing to the net for an easy put away and sees a ball from an adjoining court rolling toward the court. The player continues to advance and hits the shot, only to have the supposed easy put away fly over the baseline. The player then claims a let. The claim is not valid because the player forfeited the right to call a let by choosing instead to play the ball. The player took a chance to win or lose and is not entitled to a second chance.
The reason for prompt calls also makes sense. Back in the day, I had to order The Code by mail, now you can just look it up over the internet. Be familiar with The Code. 4.5 players shouldn't play like hayseeds, IMO.
18. Prompt calls eliminate two chance option. A player shall make all calls promptly after the ball has hit the court. A call shall be made either before the player’s return shot has gone out of play or before the opponent has had the opportunity to play the return shot. Prompt calls will quickly eliminate the “two chances to win the point” option that some players practice. To illustrate, a player is advancing to the net for an easy put away and sees a ball from an adjoining court rolling toward the court. The player continues to advance and hits the shot, only to have the supposed easy put away fly over the baseline. The player then claims a let. The claim is not valid because the player forfeited the right to call a let by choosing instead to play the ball. The player took a chance to win or lose and is not entitled to a second chance.
The reason for prompt calls also makes sense. Back in the day, I had to order The Code by mail, now you can just look it up over the internet. Be familiar with The Code. 4.5 players shouldn't play like hayseeds, IMO.
FedLIKEnot
Professional
I seem to have issues with this, I swear I cant make a call plus focus on making a good shot at the same time. But I do call it often before my shot even approaches the net.
For what it is worth more often than not my shot is going in easily. Yet still I seem to irk some and get the glares. Oh well......
For what it is worth more often than not my shot is going in easily. Yet still I seem to irk some and get the glares. Oh well......
Calls should be prompt by the rule book.
By my personal book, you should call it quickly before you hit your shot or as you hit your shot.
I once played a guy who hit is shot, looked up and saw his shot was going out, then looked back down at the court, and then call my shot out. I thought that was pretty much cheating as his shot was a passing shot. If his pass had landed in for a winner, he would not have made the call.
By my personal book, you should call it quickly before you hit your shot or as you hit your shot.
I once played a guy who hit is shot, looked up and saw his shot was going out, then looked back down at the court, and then call my shot out. I thought that was pretty much cheating as his shot was a passing shot. If his pass had landed in for a winner, he would not have made the call.
tennis_ocd
Hall of Fame
I've wondered about this on clay.... I presume once you play your shot you can't point to the mark (assuming it is quite clear and definately out and regardless of where you own ball is going) and call OUT?
goran_ace
Hall of Fame
Tell him that staring at the spot isn't going to change anything. If he wasn't sure, he wasn't sure.
Steady Eddy
Legend
The Code again
"5. A corollary of this principle is the fact that a player in attempting to be
scrupulously honest on line calls will find himself frequently keeping in play
a ball that "might have been out" and that he discovers -- too late -- was out.
Even so, the game is much better played this way."
Make sense? You don't want after a long rally for someone to say, "You know what? The 3rd shot was out."
I've played guys hitting in the 110 to 120 mph serve range. I've been able to make the call within 1/2 second or shorter after their shot even at that pace. But then my belief is that most good 4.5 to 5.0 have good vision. You have to see well to hit at the pace the game is played at now.
BMcFarlan
New User
Also at the 4.5 level and above vision barely needs to come into play for the server - they know when they hit it out. I've had many opponents caught off balance returning a serve I know felt long, and if they hesitate at all I'll stop play and hit my second. No point in being a d!ck about it.
BMcFarlan, I recognize that you are trying to be sportsmanlike by stopping play, but you might want to know that some of your opponents might not take it that way.
A server is not allowed to call a fault on a first serve that the opponent has returned. If you are stopping play to hit your second serve, that is what you are doing.
It doesn't seem that you have bad intent, but if servers could make fault calls on first serves, an unscrupulous server could see that the return was going to be a winner and call a fault to give himself a second chance to win the point.
Here's the rule:
BMcFarlan
New User
Let me clarify - as yes if I just make the call for them I'm not unsportsmanlike, I'm an @ss
What I mean are those occasions when you hit a serve and they return, but stare at the line while you're hitting your response to their return. As they are hesitating, knowing it was close, if I'm confident it was out I will quickly end the awkwardness and ask, then move on. In a point you can read those situations, harder to explain in a post here.
Personally I play to enjoy the game, and I would rather lose 0&0 honestly than walk away from anything feeling like I hooked someone. And part of that (despite the rule that returner makes the call) is that if I ace someone knowing the ball was out and I see them stare at the line as they are walking to the other side I will ask and give them another chance to be sure. I've played against and with plenty of people who have no problem profiting from what they know was a bad call in their favor, and I just don't enjoy that.
Are you calling him after the time at which the ball was out on the previous day? or before? If it is before 24 hours have not yet passed and this could chance the answer.
West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
If you can't clearly see the ball's out, you should be ruling it in and playing on. It's really that simple. And continuing to play until a clear 'out' call is made.
Carefree
Rookie
You need to call it as soon as you see it out. Sometimes it's close and you need to be prepared to hit the shot. But, by then you should know as you're hitting it.
However, would rather the call to be too late instead of too early. I hate when people call the ball out before it's landed.
However, would rather the call to be too late instead of too early. I hate when people call the ball out before it's landed.
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