Need clarification for opponent exclaiming during a point

[Benoit Kyrgios]

Been playing a local tournament, singles, during a rally the opponent shouted out "C'mon! C'mon" (to himself, the ball to drop inside the court, or who knows) after getting to a ball to the corner and hitting a defensive lob. The shout occured on the ball's way down, before the bounce, on my side of the court, when i was prePairing to hit it. I stopped the play and wanted to claim the point. The opponent was apparently oblivious to the rule and didn't want to make a hindrance. We replayed the point since i wanted to keep it friendly.

Is this an intentional or unintenional hindrance? I vote for intentional since it was the guy who shouted, and not some outside force. But you could also argue for it being unintentional, since he didn't intend to make a hindrance, and i had time left to hit the shot, since it was during the lob. But since i watched it on TV plenty of times, i just naturally stopped the rally. And of course i wanted the point, and i wasn't happy with the opponent's shouting. How would you rule it?

 

[Dartagnan64]

You are within your right to claim a hindrance. If however you were not hindered by the noise, then you should have played out the point and advised him of the rule as a true sportsman.

Some rules are automatic but a hindrance should actually affect your play before being called.

 

[sredna42]

Liked just for "prePaire"

Should have just finnished the point then told him talking during play bugs you afterward.

 

[ShaunS]

Some rules are automatic but a hindrance should actually affect your play before being called.

Wouldn't be a hindrance if it didn't

And of course i wanted the point, and i wasn't happy with the opponent's shouting. How would you rule it?

The way this is written you appear to have claimed a hindrance on something that didn't disrupt your play, just annoyed you. That's not the intent of the rule.

If you thought he had said something like "Out", and it caused you to stop going for the ball then I'd have sided with you. Just wanting the point? Finish it off, and explain the rule to him afterward.

 

[Traffic]

I received a warning from opponent when I hit a lame lob and it was going to get crushed to my partner. I shouted, "shoot, get out of there!". And then the opponent dumped the ball into the net. The opponent claimed I interfered with the play because of my outburst. Maybe. Most likely not.

How would you rule that?

 

[navigator]

How would you rule that?

I actually know the answer... because a similar situation happened to me in a tournament recently.

The rule is... IF your opponent stopped play prior to hitting the OH and called a hindrance it would be his point. If he had hit the OH for a winner, well, obviously also his point. But... if he hit the OH and missed... it's your point. You have to stop play and call the hindrance to claim the point; otherwise, play continues as if nothing occurred.

Similar thing happened to me a couple of months back. I hit a crappy lob, muttered "sh!te", but my opponent hit a clean OH. He said, "You can't talk during the point, mate." And he was right... I would've given him the point if he had missed the OH. But I did look up the rule afterward and told him (he's a guy I've known for a while) and he didn't know the rule.

Interestingly, technically, if you're playing a doubles match and yell "back" or "switch" after your own lob, your opponents can stop play and claim the point. Doesn't happen much, but... that's the rule according to hoyle.

 

[Traffic]

Interestingly, technically, if you're playing a doubles match and yell "back" or "switch" after your own lob, your opponents can stop play and claim the point. Doesn't happen much, but... that's the rule according to hoyle.

Thanks for the clarification on the rules. That's what I thought. And yeah, it occurred to me that my conversation with my opponent after we hit the ball to our opponents can contribute to hinderance.

 

[tennisisgood]

People please - post the rule instead of talking about your memory or general understanding of it.

 

[ShaunS]

People please - post the rule instead of talking about your memory or general understanding of it.

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=usta+rules+and+regulations+2019

 

[tennisisgood]

https://lmgtfy.com/?q=usta+rules+and+regulations+2019

Ha. I use that service too. I know how to use Google, aren’t you clever?
My point is that if someone answers saying the rules state XYZ they should always post that rule. It would save a lot of uncertainty.

 

[navigator]

Ha. I use that service too. I know how to use Google, aren’t you clever?
My point is that if someone answers saying the rules state XYZ they should always post that rule. It would save a lot of uncertainty.

Sorry, too lazy. Just ignore my post if it's unclear.

 

[R1FF]

I received a warning from opponent when I hit a lame lob and it was going to get crushed to my partner. I shouted, "shoot, get out of there!". And then the opponent dumped the ball into the net. The opponent claimed I interfered with the play because of my outburst. Maybe. Most likely not.

How would you rule that?

In doubles, we’re allowed to communicate with our teammates right? Totally crap to call hinderance in that situation.

As for the OP... tough call. I talk to the ball often. If it bothers the opponent, I’d respect their wishes to have me shut up. But I’d prefer they stop play before their stroke if it’s that big a deal.

I dont agree with playing the point over. It’s either a hinderance or it isnt. I dont think one should be making the decision AFTER the outcome of their return hit.

 

[DCNJ]

.

 

[R1FF]

From Friend at Court:
"34. Talking when ball is in play.

• Singles players should not talk during points.
• Talking between doubles partners when the ball is moving toward them is allowed.
• Doubles players should not talk when the ball is moving toward their opponent’s court.
• Any talking that interferes with an opponent’s ability to play a ball is a hindrance.
  For example, if a doubles player hits a weak lob and yells “get back” and the yell distracts an opponent who is about to hit the ball, then the opponent may claim the point based on a deliberate hindrance. If the opponent chooses to play the lob and misses it, the opponent loses the point because the opponent did not make a timely claim of hindrance."

I guess that’s the rule. But it’s stupid imo. If I have to wait until the ball is coming towards me to communicate, what’s that give me, less than half a second to get a word in???

Talking/communication is so important in team sports. So as a habit Im always in communication with my teammates. Constantly. I guess I’ve been playing tennis doubles “wrong”.

Just another weird quirk about this sport.

 

[undecided]

I actually know the answer... because a similar situation happened to me in a tournament recently.

The rule is... IF your opponent stopped play prior to hitting the OH and called a hindrance it would be his point. If he had hit the OH for a winner, well, obviously also his point. But... if he hit the OH and missed... it's your point. You have to stop play and call the hindrance to claim the point; otherwise, play continues as if nothing occurred.

Similar thing happened to me a couple of months back. I hit a crappy lob, muttered "sh!te", but my opponent hit a clean OH. He said, "You can't talk during the point, mate." And he was right... I would've given him the point if he had missed the OH. But I did look up the rule afterward and told him (he's a guy I've known for a while) and he didn't know the rule.

Interestingly, technically, if you're playing a doubles match and yell "back" or "switch" after your own lob, your opponents can stop play and claim the point. Doesn't happen much, but... that's the rule according to hoyle.

Sometimes, you can't stop the swing, so let's say you're in the middle of swinging, the arm is already on its way and the opponent mutters something. That may be enough of a distraction to momentarily take your eye of the ball and mishit. So now the ball is going out but the whole thing take place in a fraction of a second. I say you have the right to call hindrance even if you have already hit the ball.

 

[blablavla]

Sometimes, you can't stop the swing, so let's say you're in the middle of swinging, the arm is already on its way and the opponent mutters something. That may be enough of a distraction to momentarily take your eye of the ball and mishit. So now the ball is going out but the whole thing take place in a fraction of a second. I say you have the right to call hindrance even if you have already hit the ball.

technically yes, and the rule requires silence.
however, when I train at our club, there is plenty of noise around.
when I play some tournaments, in similar clubs, there might be even more noise.
when I watch for example highlights from big tournaments, where it if impossible to play all matches on 1 court, there is lot of noise coming from neighboring courts, including aut calls and applause. For example at Grand Slam or M1000.
Wouldn't it make more sense to remove this rule?

I can't imagine a player in basketball, or in ice hockey or in soccer to wait till there is complete silence in order to execute something, e.g. penalty

 

[tennisisgood]

I guess that’s the rule. But it’s stupid imo. If I have to wait until the ball is coming towards me to communicate, what’s that give me, less than half a second to get a word in???

Talking/communication is so important in team sports. So as a habit Im always in communication with my teammates. Constantly. I guess I’ve been playing tennis doubles “wrong”.

Just another weird quirk about this sport.

What do you mean by “I guess that’s the rule?”.

 

[SeeItHitIt]

I can’t tell you what a hinderance is, but I know it when I see it.

If it affected your prep or shot, call it. Mid it didn’t do either, chalk it up to playing in the bush leagues where ‘come on’ is thought to be Ok because it’s been heard on TV.

 

[R1FF]

What do you mean by “I guess that’s the rule?”.

Someone posted the rule. It is what it is. I dont agree with it but if someone calls it against me I’d have to respect the call.

I will continue to communicate with my teammates regardless.

 

[navigator]

Someone posted the rule. It is what it is. I dont agree with it but if someone calls it against me I’d have to respect the call.

I will continue to communicate with my teammates regardless.

A simpler rule: Always yield to your opponent. If they cheat, give them the point. If they think a ball you called out is in, just give them the point. Etc. It's rec tennis so it is, by definition, meaningless. This rule has served me well and I've had so few even minor disputes that I could probably count them on one hand.

If you're not sure whether or not the match is meaningless, just look and see if there's a chair with an umpire in it. If there's no umpire, it's meaningless.

Life is too short to argue about calls on a tennis court in a rec match.

 

[R1FF]

A simpler rule: Always yield to your opponent. If they cheat, give them the point. If they think a ball you called out is in, just give them the point. Etc. It's rec tennis so it is, by definition, meaningless. This rule has served me well and I've had so few even minor disputes that I could probably count them on one hand.

If you're not sure whether or not the match is meaningless, just look and see if there's a chair with an umpire in it. If there's no umpire, it's meaningless.

Life is too short to argue about calls on a tennis court in a rec match.

I prefer to not be a pushover.

An opponent last weekend made multiple complaints that I was calling his OUT balls IN. I was erroring on the side of caution, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

His complaint was that he wasnt ready for my return since he saw his serve clearly OUT. It wasnt out. I was a few feet away. He was on the other side of the court trying to see thru the net.

My response? You wanna call your own lines, let me call my own lines. Otherwise shutup.

And you know what? He shut up.

So even when giving them the calls, they complain. At some point calling them on their crap is the only solution.

 

[navigator]

I prefer to not be a pushover.

An opponent last weekend made multiple complaints that I was calling his OUT balls IN. I was erroring on the side of caution, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

His complaint was that he wasnt ready for my return since he saw his serve clearly OUT. It wasnt out. I was a few feet away. He was on the other side of the court trying to see thru the net.

My response? You wanna call your own lines, let me call my own lines. Otherwise shutup.

And you know what? He shut up.

So even when giving them the calls, they complain. At some point calling them on their crap is the only solution.

Sounds like you're playing with the wrong people. My method tends to end issues extremely quickly - most folks feel like petty a-holes and stop any bad behavior when you say, "It was in but that's ok, just take the point. It's not important." More importantly, it just happens so rarely that I hardly give it a thought. But if it bothers you to feel like a pushover in rec tennis, specifically - as opposed to all of the other ways you (like most folks) compromise yourself in everyday life - then, hey, by all means...

 

[R1FF]

Sounds like you're playing with the wrong people. My method tends to end issues extremely quickly - most folks feel like petty a-holes and stop any bad behavior when you say, "It was in but that's ok, just take the point. It's not important." More importantly, it just happens so rarely that I hardly give it a thought. But if it bothers you to feel like a pushover in rec tennis, specifically - as opposed to all of the other ways you (like most folks) compromise yourself in everyday life - then, hey, by all means...

Meh, Im pretty consistent on my rigidity of my willingness to stand up for myself in everyday life. Much to the annoyance of my wife. She’s the likeable easy going one.

But if we’re keeping score, it’s competitive, and Im not going overboard in holding my ground. Especially when their complaint is that im calling their balls IN!

I could surmise that Im playing with the wrong people. But I gotta play with someone, and it’s hard enough to find hitting partners. Tennis is just a weird group as a whole. Im coming to terms with it. Or it’s back to the basketball gyms.

 

[navigator]

Meh, Im pretty consistent on my rigidity of my willingness to stand up for myself in everyday life. Much to the annoyance of my wife. She’s the likeable easy going one.

You have a wife. In the United States. Likely kids. The daily compromises you make - hopefully offset by intangible benefits - are innumerable. The rigidity of your willingness to stand up for yourself went bye-bye a long time ago. You're picking your battles like pretty much everyone else.

I could surmise that Im playing with the wrong people. But I gotta play with someone, and it’s hard enough to find hitting partners. Tennis is just a weird group as a whole. Im coming to terms with it. Or it’s back to the basketball gyms.

Eh, if you play enough you'll weed out the wackos with time and end up with a stable group. I think that happens with a lot of folks.

 

[TennisLBC]

I've called hindrance on myself playing against a long time tennis buddy when making noise when the ball is clear in his court. Making noise when you opponent is about to hit the ball is not cool.

 

[tennisisgood]

Someone posted the rule. It is what it is. I dont agree with it but if someone calls it against me I’d have to respect the call.

I will continue to communicate with my teammates regardless.

I guess it is what it is.

 

[sovertennis]

Liked just for "prePaire"

This was the era immediately preceding Benoit's birth.

 

[sredna42]

I've called hindrance on myself playing against a long time tennis buddy when making noise when the ball is clear in his court. Making noise when you opponent is about to hit the ball is not cool.

LOL how does that work? Do you have tourettes?

 

[TennisLBC]

LOL how does that work? Do you have tourettes?

I groaned loudly thinking a ball was sailing out; it drop in as the opponent was about to hit it. It was a distraction which was a hindrance.

 

[kevrol]

Can you call a hindrance on yourself?

 

[Matthew ATX]

Played a guy today that would yell out instructions to his partner just as I was about to hit a volley. Like if he thought I was going for a drop volley, he would yell "SHORT" just before the ball hit my racquet.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Played a guy today that would yell out instructions to his partner just as I was about to hit a volley. Like if he thought I was going for a drop volley, he would yell "SHORT" just before the ball hit my racquet.

In just about every other sport, such yelling is not only legal but expected. In volleyball, for example, just as the hitter is about to spike, the defense is sometimes screams where they think he's hitting. Sometimes it's reverse psychology. You learn to filter that out or you never make it past the beginner level.

In this one respect, tennis players have it easy. Regardless, what your opponent did was an obvious hindrance [although I'm betting he was oblivious; he was probably just trying to be helpful].

 

[R1FF]

In just about every other sport, such yelling is not only legal but expected. In volleyball, for example, just as the hitter is about to spike, the defense is sometimes screams where they think he's hitting. Sometimes it's reverse psychology. You learn to filter that out or you never make it past the beginner level.

In this one respect, tennis players have it easy. Regardless, what your opponent did was an obvious hindrance [although I'm betting he was oblivious; he was probably just trying to be helpful].

I agree with you. I wish the rules of tennis didnt discourage communication.

It’s easy enough to get conditioned for if it is expected. LeBron James hits 3 pointers while fans call him the N word from the bleachers and he’s managed to tune it out. If he can, we can, within reason.

 

[blablavla]

Can you call a hindrance on yourself?

I should have called hindrance on my partners this Saturday, he called out a few times while the ball was still in the air.
luckily our partners where there for fun first of all, otherwise, they could have claimed every point, as by the rules (at least by the old version), you are not allowed to shout "out" before the bounce

 

[blablavla]

I agree with you. I wish the rules of tennis didnt discourage communication.

It’s easy enough to get conditioned for if it is expected. LeBron James hits 3 pointers while fans call him the N word from the bleachers and he’s managed to tune it out. If he can, we can, within reason.

no need to go after LeBron.
At most clubs, courts are close enough to always have unwanted and uncontrolled noise. Yet everyone is fine.
Junior tournaments, Future, Challengers, all have far from "ideal" conditions.

Also the combined ATP + WTA tournamets, all M1000 and Grand Slams don't have enough isolated courts.
So whenever you watch highlights from outer courts, there is lots of noise coming from outside, including "out" calls from neighboring courts, etc. and it doesn't bother anyone.
It only starts bothering when happens right on the playing court and thus could be managed / tackled by the umpire or players directly.

 

[kevrol]

I should have called hindrance on my partners this Saturday, he called out a few times while the ball was still in the air.
luckily our partners where there for fun first of all, otherwise, they could have claimed every point, as by the rules (at least by the old version), you are not allowed to shout "out" before the bounce

Know I'm opening a can of worms but that's actually not true. If the ball was still in the air, saying out is not actually a line call but just communication between partners. Still better to not use the word 'out' in such cases though.