Neighborhood Rules

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Decades ago when I started playing ping pong, I learned that different neighborhoods have different rules.

So in tennis, I have the concept of "Neighborhood Rules".

My Neighborhood Rules:

no warm up
singles tennis over doubles
I can play with 2 rackets.
20-20 is a draw.
6-6 is a draw.
balls must be at 15 psi.
Elo rating.

In the future, ambidextrous tennis.
 
Last edited:

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
First ball in, both sides.

Yesterday, I played doubles tennis (because I cannot commandeer 2 courts). What I thought was double fault, another person told me "First ball in, both sides". That was new. I've never heard of this "Neighborhood Rule".
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
My partner can call it.

Doubles. The opponent hit a volley, it goes out. I say "fault".
Opponent: your ball was going outside of the line.
Me: You have to let the ball drop.
Opponent: My partner called it out.
Me: What?
Opponent: My partner can call it out.

I look to my team mate. She concedes.

I've never heard of that rule. Rules should be as objective as possible. If the ball lands, we can see a mark it leaves on the ground (if it is not obviously out). I don't like this Neighborhood Rule.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
First ball in, both sides.

Yesterday, I played doubles tennis (because I cannot commandeer 2 courts). What I thought was double fault, another person told me "First ball in, both sides". That was new. I've never heard of this "Neighborhood Rule".

FBI, for those in the know.

I don't like it because my shoulder needs a lot of warmup. If I accidentally get my first serve in, I get no warmup. So when people insist on FBI, I simply deliberately miss serves.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
My partner can call it.

Doubles. The opponent hit a volley, it goes out. I say "fault".
Opponent: your ball was going outside of the line.
Me: You have to let the ball drop.
Opponent: My partner called it out.
Me: What?
Opponent: My partner can call it out.

I look to my team mate. She concedes.

I've never heard of that rule. Rules should be as objective as possible. If the ball lands, we can see a mark it leaves on the ground (if it is not obviously out). I don't like this Neighborhood Rule.

The "after-the-fact" out call? That's a new one for me. I guess that's a more extreme version of catching the ball before it lands and calling it out even though it would have been close.

It's genius [Wile E. Coyote]: if he puts the volley away, they win the point. If he makes an error, they win the point. Do they use a 2-headed coin when flipping and insist on being the one to call it?
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Decades ago when I started playing ping pong, I learned that different neighborhoods have different rules.

So in tennis, I have the concept of "Neighborhood Rules".

My Neighborhood Rules:

no warm up
singles tennis over doubles
I can play with 2 rackets.
20-20 is a draw.
6-6 is a draw.
balls must be at 15 psi.
Elo rating.

In the future, ambidextrous tennis.

Does anyone else play with 2 racquets?

What do you do when it's a draw? Start over? What about the people who are waiting?

How do you measure pressure?

How old are your group members? The older they are, the more likely they'll want to play doubles.
 

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
I played against people who want FBI on both sides. A lot of those rules you mentioned, I’ve never heard of before.

When you said play with two racquets, what did you mean by that?
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
I played against people who want FBI on both sides. A lot of those rules you mentioned, I’ve never heard of before.

When you said play with two racquets, what did you mean by that?
He holds a racquet in each hand

It's completely illegal according to the official rules of tennis
 
Last edited:

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
He holds a racquet in each hand

It's completely illegal according to official the rules of tennis


You know... I thought that and then I said there’s no way that’s what he meant. I’d find a new neighborhood to play in.
 

jm1980

Talk Tennis Guru
You know... I thought that and then I said there’s no way that’s what he meant. I’d find a new neighborhood to play in.
He posted a thread a few months ago complaining that he got kicked out of a tennis meetup because he used two racquets at the same time
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Does anyone else play with 2 racquets?

No. No one else is capable.

What do you do when it's a draw? Start over? What about the people who are waiting?

When it's a draw, we stop the game. If we have 3 people, we start the next rotation. The concept is from chess and boxing. In chess there are draws. In boxing the rounds are limited (unlike the old days when they fight until one man drops or there's no more sun light, which ever comes first).

How do you measure pressure?

With 5 tire pressure gauges. Each has its strengths and weakness. I have to use all 5 to cover each weaknesses.

How old are your group members? The older they are, the more likely they'll want to play doubles.

I have not considered that. Because I'm ambidextrous, I am balanced and I move efficiently. I exert less energy than my opponent. That is something I have to consider. The group is all ages.
 

Mongolmike

Hall of Fame
He posted a thread a few months ago complaining that he got kicked out of a tennis meetup because he used two racquets at the same time
And then he tried to take over the courts of the meet-up group that banned him, and he has threatened them with legal action. He is losing the battle.
 

MathGeek

Hall of Fame
What do you do when it's a draw? Start over? What about the people who are waiting?

I have a few common opponents who prefer to call it a draw at 6-6, particularly if on a tight schedule or if they are not wanting to completely wear themselves out. Once the draw occurs, we shake hands and go home. It's good, fun tennis. Draws make the next meeting more of a challenge.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I have a few common opponents who prefer to call it a draw at 6-6, particularly if on a tight schedule or if they are not wanting to completely wear themselves out. Once the draw occurs, we shake hands and go home. It's good, fun tennis. Draws make the next meeting more of a challenge.

Yeah, that's logical. Would you agree, though, that most people seem to want closure by having a winner declared even if it means they might be the loser?
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
I have a few common opponents who prefer to call it a draw at 6-6, particularly if on a tight schedule or if they are not wanting to completely wear themselves out. Once the draw occurs, we shake hands and go home. It's good, fun tennis. Draws make the next meeting more of a challenge.

I've seen:

Tie breaker at 7 (normal rule).
Win by 2 (ridiculous).
 

MathGeek

Hall of Fame
Yeah, that's logical. Would you agree, though, that most people seem to want closure by having a winner declared even if it means they might be the loser?

Sure. But there are situations when folks are outta time, outta gas, or saving the gas left in the tank for something they consider more important.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I bounce it off the groud, also a Neighborhood Rule.

Bounce it using what? If you have one racquet in each hand, how do you toss? Maybe you switch the 2nd racquet to your dominant hand, toss the ball with your non-dominant hand, put the 2nd racquet back in your non-dominant hand, then hit an UH serve?

If you do that, why not just hit a regular serve?
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Bounce it using what?

Gravity.

Using my right racket to hit, my left hand holds the racket with 2.5 fingers and the ball with 3 fingers. I don't "toss". I throw the ball down to the ground and let up bounce back up. Vice versa for left.

And don't ask "What's 2.5 fingers?" My thumb partially holds the racket and the ball.
 

Cloister

Rookie
Gravity.

Using my right racket to hit, my left hand holds the racket with 2.5 fingers and the ball with 3 fingers. I don't "toss". I throw the ball down to the ground and let up bounce back up. Vice versa for left.

And don't ask "What's 2.5 fingers?" My thumb partially holds the racket and the ball.

Why not just use a double handled racket?
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Why not just use a double handled racket?

Because I will have better reach and better articulation.

Look at all the different weapons, broad sword, 2 swords that came out of nowhere, spear, 2 hook swords, bludgeon, 2 handed long sword. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.

 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
I want to invent a double headed quarterstaff tennis racket, like Hit Girl's double naginata. Its strength will be its long reach so I can reach for balls far away from me. Its weakness is its lack of articulation so I'll be vulnerable to balls coming at me. But that is the reverse of tennis logic, so nobody will figure it out. But if it is easily detachable and attachable, then it will be awesome.

 
Last edited:

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
The double hook swords are Cynthia Rothrock favorite weapon. It can strike, it can grapple. It's like a knife at close quarters. It can attach itself and be used as a whip for long range. Long range, middle range, close quarters, 2 handed, striking and grappling. She likes the weapon because it showcases her versatility.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
You know... I thought that and then I said there’s no way that’s what he meant. I’d find a new neighborhood to play in.

When you come to O-Ren Ishii's neighborhood, anything goes. Look at how unique Gogo's and Johnny Mo's weapons are.

 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
Because I will have better reach and better articulation.

Why will you have better reach? What's the difference between someone hitting a left-handed FH with a double-handled racquet vs a second racquet in the left hand? That's a stretch [pun intended].

And how do you get better articulation? Have you tried the 2-handled racquet?
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Why will you have better reach? What's the difference between someone hitting a left-handed FH with a double-handled racquet vs a second racquet in the left hand? That's a stretch [pun intended].

I knew you would ask this. So I will explain it, like to a child.

The difference is in distance and time. Hold a racket in each hand. Stretch out our arms. There's a racket on the right. And there is a racket on the left, it is already there. It does not have to travel there. And I don't have to turn my body and take 1 step to reach the exact position.

And how do you get better articulation? Have you tried the 2-handled racquet?

Stand with your back against the wall. Interlace your fingers. How far can you reach left and right. Compared that to when 2 hands are apart.
 
Last edited:

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Why will you have better reach? What's the difference between someone hitting a left-handed FH with a double-handled racquet vs a second racquet in the left hand? That's a stretch [pun intended].

And how do you get better articulation? Have you tried the 2-handled racquet?

You hold 1 sword with 2 hands. I'll hold 2 swords with 2 hands. We'll fight to the death. And I will show you the difference. And it will be the last thing you learn.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
Why will you have better reach? What's the difference between someone hitting a left-handed FH with a double-handled racquet vs a second racquet in the left hand? That's a stretch [pun intended].

And how do you get better articulation? Have you tried the 2-handled racquet?

All I hear is "Blah . . . blah . . . blah" from a fiddler crab talking. Fiddler crabs are the exception in nature, symmetric crabs are the rule.

 

Cloister

Rookie
I'd think the gain from not having to serve underhand would be worth anything you lose from 2 rackets vs. 2 handled racket. Plus, you can use the 2 handled racket in sanctioned play, so you'll have more practice with something you can actually use. Also, can potentially serve left or right handed which could really cause your opponents problems.
 

Mongolmike

Hall of Fame
I'd think the gain from not having to serve underhand would be worth anything you lose from 2 rackets vs. 2 handled racket. Plus, you can use the 2 handled racket in sanctioned play, so you'll have more practice with something you can actually use. Also, can potentially serve left or right handed which could really cause your opponents problems.

Sanctioned play? You seriously think LGQ7 is going to play ANYTHING sanctioned? You need to read more of his posts.

He is not even gonna get beyond the sign-up table, let alone play in the way he wants to. He comes up with all these "rules" to compensate for his inability to compete, except in his own made up arena....where he might indeed dominate. Might.

(Cue some random movie scene or book quote he sees himself living in)
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
I knew you would ask this. So I will explain it, like to a child.

If you knew I was going to ask this, you should have pre-emptively explained it, like a good teacher would.

The difference is in distance and time. Hold a racket in each hand. Stretch out our arms. There's a racket on the right. And there is a racket on the left, it is already there. It does not have to travel there. And I don't have to turn my body and take 1 step to reach the exact position.

OK. That makes sense. How it actually translates to point play I'm not so sure. Reach matters more the further away the ball is. But the further away the ball is, the more time I have to get there which means I'll have time to turn and extend my racquet. The initial advantage will probably be lost in the noise: maybe you'll get a slight advantage?

So if you're 100% ambidextrous and can hit both FHs equally well, that's the ideal situation. But if I lost to you, the biggest difference would probably be my UEs, not your slightly longer/quicker reach.

Stand with your back against the wall. Interlace your fingers. How far can you reach left and right. Compared that to when 2 hands are apart.

You're still talking about reach. Articulation is being able to manipulate something like a racquet. I don't see how you playing with 2 racquets can articulate one of those racquets better than you playing with the 2-handled racquet. The only possible difference I can see is perhaps the heavier weight of a 2-handled racquet or the slightly different racquet face angle relative to the handle. You could argue that one or both affects articulation but I can't see it being a major factor.

So yes, there are differences. Not enough to justify taking up 2 racquets and alienating other MeetUp groups but that's your business.
 

S&V-not_dead_yet

Talk Tennis Guru
You hold 1 sword with 2 hands. I'll hold 2 swords with 2 hands. We'll fight to the death. And I will show you the difference. And it will be the last thing you learn.

Except we're talking tennis, not sword-fighting. I'll defer to your knowledge of the blade; I claim none.

I claim that your use of 2 racquets would not be a factor in the outcome; it will probably be decided by who makes more errors, as are most rec matches.
 

LGQ7

Hall of Fame
I don't see how you playing with 2 racquets can articulate one of those racquets better than you playing with the 2-handled racquet.

Which has more articulation, two hands moving independently, or 2 hands grabbing 1 racket locking 2 hands into a triangle? Essentially you are handcuffing yourself.

Which has more articulation? Two 10 lbs dumbbells or one 20 lbs kettlebell?
 
Top