Ideas to make tennis more interesting- A comprehensive list

[mahatma]

Tennis as it is - is definitely fun. But somewhere I feel it hasn’t evolved with the new generation of fans like other sports. What would be the likely changes some of the fans here like to see?

Some starting points from me would be:


1. Increasing the weightage of some points like a volley can be made 2 points worth to bring back a little bit of serve and volley or rewarding the winner of a long rally ( say 10+ shots) by a bonus point

2. Introducing new format, the short 1 set format with no second serve etc. Would be an interesting watch.

3. Relay singles like 4*100 relay races with players changing after some predefined points. Can make team tennis also a thing.

What others can be added to such a list?

 

[InsuranceMan]

Bump

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

Pushing is forbidden.

 

[StrongRule]

Sorry, but what is fun about 1 set with no second serves? And I say it as someone who really doesn't like servebotting.

 

[Ann]

All terrible ideas.

 

[ppma]

No strokes hit with two hands holding the racquet.

 

[Benf15harp3000]

Tennis is perfect. Leave it alone. Get off my lawn.

 

[tennisfan2166]

Nadal and Djokovic need to retire ASAP.

 

[topspin_forehand]

shot clock between points is based on how long the previous rally is. perhaps something like: 0-4 shot rally is 15 second shot clock, 5-8 rally is 20 seconds, 9-12 rally is 25 seconds, and 13+ rally is 30 seconds. this speeds up the pace of play a bit and makes tennis slightly more watchable for young people

 

[mahatma]

All terrible ideas.

So creative.

 

[mahatma]

shot clock between points is based on how long the previous rally is. perhaps something like: 0-4 shot rally is 15 second shot clock, 5-8 rally is 20 seconds, 9-12 rally is 25 seconds, and 13+ rally is 30 seconds. this speeds up the pace of play a bit and makes tennis slightly more watchable for young people

This one is quite interesting actually

 

[mahatma]

Sorry, but what is fun about 1 set with no second serves? And I say it as someone who really doesn't like servebotting.

It’s just one of the many ideas. What’s the fun of same format going on for decades. World has changed. Fan has changed.

 

[Ann]

So creative.

Accuracy doesn't require creativity.

Face it, you had some silly ideas.

 

[RaulRamirez]

I like the exercise of thinking outside the box, but something staying inside the box works.

But seriously, of those proposed in the OP, #1 strikes me as horrendous, and #3 is a headscratcher. I wouldn't mind seeing #2 in an exhibition or with enough experimentation...somewhere at a high level...to see how it would affect play.

(For an almost analogous example, in our men's softball, we start with an 0-1 ball/strike count. Of course, we don't play at a real high level,but it both speeds up the game a little and nobody seems to mind it.)

 

[tex123]

Tennis as it is - is definitely fun. But somewhere I feel it hasn’t evolved with the new generation of fans like other sports. What would be the likely changes some of the fans here like to see?

Some starting points from me would be:


1. Increasing the weightage of some points like a volley can be made 2 points worth to bring back a little bit of serve and volley or rewarding the winner of a long rally ( say 10+ shots) by a bonus point

2. Introducing new format, the short 1 set format with no second serve etc. Would be an interesting watch.

3. Relay singles like 4*100 relay races with players changing after some predefined points. Can make team tennis also a thing.

What others can be added to such a list?

No Thank you.

20-20 and leagues destroyed cricket. Now LIV is destroying Golf. We don't want any change in tennis.

 

[jl809]

Double points for winners would be so good, instead of pushing you’d be encouraged to actually do something because your opponent hypothetically could win a game by just winning 2 points. But you couldn’t just spray errors everywhere either, so it would favour proper point construction and clean hitting.

Plus players with great defence like super speedy Alcaraz would still prosper because it would still be so hard to hit through them compared to players who aren’t walls, which in turn would cause more UEs

Matches would go much faster too, it would be like T20 in cricket

 

[topspin_forehand]

Double points for winners would be so good, instead of pushing you’d be encouraged to actually do something because your opponent hypothetically could win a game by just winning 2 points. But you couldn’t just spray errors everywhere either, so it would favour proper point construction and clean hitting.

Plus players with great defence like super speedy Alcaraz would still prosper because it would still be so hard to hit through them compared to players who aren’t walls, which in turn would cause more UEs

Matches would go much faster too, it would be like T20 in cricket

i’ve actually played this way in a few matches against close friends. it was fun at first, but we started to realize after a while that in a defensive situation where you’re pulled off the court, it’s usually better to just miss the shot on purpose instead of playing defense and risking getting 2 points scored on you.

it’s definitely an interesting idea on paper but in reality it can create weird situations that just aren’t that fun to watch

 

[jl809]

i’ve actually played this way in a few matches against close friends. it was fun at first, but we started to realize after a while that in a defensive situation where you’re pulled off the court, it’s usually better to just miss the shot on purpose instead of playing defense and risking getting 2 points scored on you.

it’s definitely an interesting idea on paper but in reality it can create weird situations that just aren’t that fun to watch

Oooh had not considered that at all, cheers. It would be the death of passing shots possibly

 

[Julius Caesar]

Ban pusherovic

 

[Beacon Hill]

shot clock between points is based on how long the previous rally is. perhaps something like: 0-4 shot rally is 15 second shot clock, 5-8 rally is 20 seconds, 9-12 rally is 25 seconds, and 13+ rally is 30 seconds. this speeds up the pace of play a bit and makes tennis slightly more watchable for young people

Just give the players 3 60-second timeouts per set, and they can use them whenever they feel they need to. Other than that 20 seconds in between points. Carry a towel in your pocket if you need to - it never used to be necessary to walk to your corner and towel off after you miss a return of serve, and it's a ridiculous it's currently part of the game. And the point should be deemed to have started when the server contacts the ball, not when the motion starts. Also a three minute break every 5 games rather than a 90 second break every odd game would speed things up.

 

[mahatma]

I like the exercise of thinking outside the box, but something staying inside the box works.

But seriously, of those proposed in the OP, #1 strikes me as horrendous, and #3 is a headscratcher. I wouldn't mind seeing #2 in an exhibition or with enough experimentation...somewhere at a high level...to see how it would affect play.

(For an most analogous example, in our men's softball, we start with an 0-1 ball/strike count. Of course, we don't play at a real high level,but it both speeds up the game a little and nobody seems to mind it.)

Ya, probably more interesting ideas can be added. One more I feel is allowing the "let" serve. Infact it can be an added skill to "let" ace players. Badminton allows it.

 

[mahatma]

Just give the players 3 60-second timeouts per set, and they can use them whenever they feel they need to. Other than that 20 seconds in between points. Carry a towel in your pocket if you need to - it never used to be necessary to walk to your corner and towel off after you miss a return of serve, and it's a ridiculous it's currently part of the game. And the point should be deemed to have started when the server contacts the ball, not when the motion starts. Also a three minute break every 5 games rather than a 90 second break every odd game would speed things up.

Much needed speeding of action. Some of the 5 setters are slow dull watch.

 

[The Fedfather]

Limit the area from which players can return serve, like they are limited in where they can serve.

 

[mahatma]

Limit the area from which players can return serve, like they are limited in where they can serve.

Interesting. Though would it not be too harsh on players standing in stands to pick serves. Lol.

 

[The Fedfather]

Interesting. Though would it not be too harsh on players standing in stands to pick serves. Lol.

They'd have to adapt. But I really think the returning from very far behind the baseline isn't conducive to great tennis.

 

[mahatma]

They'd have to adapt. But I really think the returning from very far behind the baseline isn't conducive to great tennis.

Fair point. Moonballing, picking serve from stands are not good look.

Also slowing down during points isn't a great watch.
.

 

[Ruark]

Fair point. Moonballing, picking serve from stands are not good look.

Also slowing down during points isn't a great watch.
.

Just start a whole new kind of tennis, maybe with its own tour. Make it like table tennis: one serve, first to get X points wins.

 

[James P]

Inject meth into the players during each changeover. Short of that, leave it as it is.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

WTA - remove an article clothing for every double fault?

 

[Hitman]

Make a heavyweight title belt that the world number one takes with them to every event and every match while they are number one. They walk in with the strap around their waist, then before the match hold the title above their head and pose for the crowd before they start the warm up.

 

[norcal]

Definitely in favor of speeding up points in between serves. If both guys take max time in between (and the umps take their time starting the clock) matches take forever. Maybe 20 second clock with some discretion to allow more on long points.

Love guys like Meddy who just get down to business. You don't need to towel off after hitting/getting aced.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Definitely in favor of speeding up points in between serves. If both guys take max time in between (and the umps take their time starting the clock) matches take forever. Maybe 20 second clock with some discretion to allow more on long points.

Love guys like Meddy who just get down to business. You don't need to towel off after hitting/getting aced.

Yes. I'd rather watch Kyrgios serve than Nadal.