Is a quick second serve legal?

[grimmbomb21]

My friend and I played a tournament last weekend, and we both played two kids from the same high school team. Both of them had week second serves. You could just step in and crush it. But every time they hit a first that didn't clear the net, the second ball was out and on its way before the other ball was done bouncing. Literally. So this second serve that barely clears the net that I was saying you could tee off on, we are both now racing to it to scoop it up before it bounces again. Is this legal? I started holding my hand up to move forward, but the kid was looking at me like I was cheating. I was thinking the same thing about him, but I just wanted to know the actual rule on this.

Thanks.

 

[Gaab]

I think you are supposed to wait for your opponent to be ready before serving.

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/pdf/original/IO_46465_original.PDF

p.9, rule 20:

20. SECOND SERVICE
If the first service is a fault, the server shall serve again without delay from behind the same half of the court from which that fault was served, unless the service was from the wrong half.

"Without delay", but the next rule reads:

21. WHEN TO SERVE & RECEIVE
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server and shall be ready to receive within a reasonable time of the server being ready.

A receiver who attempts to return the service shall be considered as being ready. If it is demonstrated that the receiver is not ready, the service cannot be called a fault.

 

[anantak2k]

He definitely should wait a couple of seconds for you to be ready before serving.

During the changeover or something, you should just politely ask the kid to wait until you are ready before hitting their second serves. Maybe they are just used to playing their service games at a ridiculously fast pace against each other.

I normally hit my second serves pretty quickly after my first one but its not intentional. I am just used to playing at a really fast pace against my friends. I remember someone asking me to slow down on my second serve and wait for them to be ready before serving. They asked me nicely and I was cool with that. I made sure that he was ready before I hit my second serves.

Different people seem to play at different pace. I remember this one guy I played who took so much time between 1st and 2nd serves that I was going crazy. Well not just between the two serves but also before hitting the 1st serve. I literally had time to take a quick nap, wake up and still hit the ball. I didn't say anything to him though because he was old and I figured old people just play at a really slow pace and need a lot of time in between points.

 

[West Coast Ace]

During the changeover or something, you should just politely ask the kid to wait until you are ready before hitting their second serves.

I wouldn't suggest waiting. The first time it happens go to the net and straighten them out. Tell them they have to wait - or risk having to replay their 2nd when you're ready.

 

[spot]

Don't attempt to hit the ball- just tell them that you weren't ready and he will have to serve again. In future points start with your hand up until you are ready.

 

[beernutz]

Don't attempt to hit the ball- just tell them that you weren't ready and he will have to serve again. In future points start with your hand up until you are ready.

This IMO is the correct answer. They CAN'T legally serve until you are ready while at the same time you, the receiver, can't unduly delay their serve. Clearly a balance must be struck between the two but ultimately it is the receiver who controls. See the first sentence of Rule 21 quoted by gaab.

 

[JavierLW]

Besides the being ready part which I agree with everyone else on. (the server has to wait until you are ready...)

Another aspect of this is that you do not have to let them serve while a ball is still rolling around on the court or even if it's just on the playing surface.

You can actually ask them to remove the ball for you. There is a rule to that effect somewhere.

Whenever I play kids for whatever reason they get all sorts of upset when I make them do that, but when adults play they usually clear stray balls without question. (unless they are just newbies)

You dont have to play with a ball rolling around, that's distracting.

 

[x5150]

what the heck? doubles, and you can't even pick up the ball first or move it out of the way?

 

[Big_Dangerous]

what the heck? doubles, and you can't even pick up the ball first or move it out of the way?

Yeah you see that a lot with club tennis. When I played in a few friendly tournies people left balls in the court during play all the time. I always made sure to pick up any balls on my side so they wouldn't affect the point, like when my partner hit his first serve into the net I usually always picked up the ball.