Opponent talks to them self while the ball is coming my way. - Mixed doubles.

[aank]

So here is the thing, I am badminton player turned Tennis player. My game is screwed up already. I like to play on net and hit as hard as possible on volleys, specially over head.

But here is something which bothers me. Many a time when opponent team trys to hit a lob and I end up getting it on overhead - this happens.

• Player who hits the ball, start saying "oh Sh*t" or "oh Fuc*" when the ball is coming towards me.
• Player who hits the ball starts apolozing to their partner. Saying oh Sorry, my bad.
• Player who is on net starts saying "sh*t shi* shi*" while they run to base lin.

Though they are not shouting anything to me or trying to distract, some time I end up just directing the ball instead of hitting it hard assuming the net player is already scare and I should be careful and not be hitting her/him. Or I get over confident and makes a mistake.


Do you think talking to them self or apologising is allowed, or should I stop and claim the point? I think its just general reaction people have.

 

[J011yroger]

Sounds like you are just too good for tennis.

J

 

[ShaunS]

My understanding is that any talking while the ball is headed to your court can technically be called a hindrance. This is because a player doesn't have to be intentionally trying to hinder you. However, you'll have to call it when the ball is in the air, and not after you miss it. And you'll have to realize that you probably won't get to play with those people in the future. It's a pretty exceptional call to suggest a verbal hindrance, and I think I've only seen it happen once. Note: It was his partner (and son) who called the hindrance because it sounded like his dad had called the ball out, so everyone stopped play. His dad helpfully added afterward that he was saying "oh good" to compliment the serve. Always entertaining with that father/son team.

I'd simply try to work on putting overheads and volleys away with an appropriate amount of force. Swinging as hard as possible is almost always unnecessary and just introduces more chance of error.

 

[gmatheis]

It depends on the situation.

In a league match or a tournament you can stop the point and claim a hindrance. People may think less of you for doing so but it's in the rules, and your opponents shouldn't be talking after they hit the ball.

In a social setting (pick up games, club social etc) almost no one calls this.

Just hit the overhead the same way you would have if they didn't say anything.

 

[Traffic]

Most MXD partners will warn the net person to "get out of there" when they hit a weak lob.

So does the ball have to cross the net before it becomes a hinderance? Most of the ball flight on a short lob is on the side of the player that hit the lob.

 

[J011yroger]

Most MXD partners will warn the net person to "get out of there" when they hit a weak lob.

So does the ball have to cross the net before it becomes a hinderance? Most of the ball flight on a short lob is on the side of the player that hit the lob.

Technically you aren't supposed to say anything when the ball is on the way to your opponent.

That never stopped me though.

As long as you are not a jerk about it nobody will call you on it.

J

 

[aank]

Sounds like you are just too good for tennis.

J

I thought 100 times before I posted this question, I thought I might be picturing my self egoistic. But as I said I am badminton player started playing tennis a year back and playing league in 3.5. Only thing I am good in - is hitting overhead shots with all my power. Thanks for you comment.

 

[aank]

That totally makes sense. I get my answer, now I know that I can call it hindrance. But I will not if it is not bothering me a lot. Also, I am working on to direct the ball instead of hitting it too hard.

 

[Traffic]

That totally makes sense. I get my answer, now I know that I can call it hindrance. But I will not if it is not bothering me a lot. Also, I am working on to direct the ball instead of hitting it too hard.

My son played really smart at Nationals over the weekend. He knows that his OH is not the best. So rather than risking losing an "easy point" by over hitting the OH, he just directed the ball to the net person's feet. Worked just as well as the opponent's smashes that went over the fence.

 

[Matthew ATX]

I sometimes hear people call out "short" to their partner if they hit a short lob. Never bothered me. If I had a weaker player at the net, I might do the same for them since they're probably watching me and not the other net person.

 

[J011yroger]

I thought 100 times before I posted this question, I thought I might be picturing my self egoistic. But as I said I am badminton player started playing tennis a year back and playing league in 3.5. Only thing I am good in - is hitting overhead shots with all my power. Thanks for you comment.

Most badminton players I know are very good at snapping overheads short angle sideways. Maybe that's a good answer.

J

 

[am1899]

Aim the overhead at the person’s neck whose talking. Next time maybe they’ll keep their mouth shut. Problem solved.

 

[travlerajm]

My son played really smart at Nationals over the weekend. He knows that his OH is not the best. So rather than risking losing an "easy point" by over hitting the OH, he just directed the ball to the net person's feet. Worked just as well as the opponent's smashes that went over the fence.

I used to do that when my overhead confidence would get shaky, but then I realized that backing off can sometimes create a bad feedback loop.
I find that overheads are are actually more likely to be mistimed when I back off on racquethead speed. Consider that the overhead is unique compared to all other types of shots in that the ball is accelerating rapidly in the direction perpendicular to your swingpath. The faster you swing, the lower the risk that timing error will affect the shot by resulting in a framed shot. In fact, for a rapidly descending high lob, there is exists a minimum swingspeed threshold below which it becomes physically impossible to hit the overhead without framing it. Setting up early in order to step forward into the overhead further reduces risk of framing by increasing racquet speed in the court frame of reference.

Stepping forward with last step and hammering the ball can create a favorable self-reinforcing feedback loop, with more confident swings yielding better results and in turn more confidence.

 

[Dartagnan64]

I am one of those people that mutters "****" when I put up a sitter. It's said early enough that you'd have to be a real dick to call a hindrance on it but I know its technically wrong and could get called on it. No one has ever done that and I'm not sure most people I play with are even aware of it being a hindrance.

To the OP: If it doesn't really impact you, then don't call a hindrance. If it does impact you, I'd finish the point and tell them not to do it anymore. If they persist in protracted conversations while the ball is in the air, take the point.

 

[OnTheLine]

There are differences in types of chatter from the opposing side.

If it is "oh damn" or "short" the second they hit a short lob .... meh no biggie.
If it is a primal scream right as you are about to hit your overhead .... that is a problem. (yeah, had that happen)

 

[sureshs]

But as I said I am badminton player started playing tennis a year back and playing league in 3.5. Only thing I am good in - is hitting overhead shots with all my power. Thanks for you comment.

Be careful. It is easy to injure others in tennis with overhead smashes if you lack control. The pros, especially doubles players, carefully hit down as much as possible to get the maximum bounce and to keep it away from their opponents. Unless you have complete control, do not smash in tennis with all your power. If you are in the US, clever lawyers can give you lot of trouble if an opponent gets hit in the eye or somewhere critical. Even though every player takes responsibility for injury, cases for reckless harm have been made. Besides, it is completely unethical to do so in a recreational tennis setting.

 

[Deleted member 23235]

So here is the thing, I am badminton player turned Tennis player. My game is screwed up already. I like to play on net and hit as hard as possible on volleys, specially over head.

But here is something which bothers me. Many a time when opponent team trys to hit a lob and I end up getting it on overhead - this happens.

• Player who hits the ball, start saying "oh Sh*t" or "oh Fuc*" when the ball is coming towards me.
• Player who hits the ball starts apolozing to their partner. Saying oh Sorry, my bad.
• Player who is on net starts saying "sh*t shi* shi*" while they run to base lin.

Though they are not shouting anything to me or trying to distract, some time I end up just directing the ball instead of hitting it hard assuming the net player is already scare and I should be careful and not be hitting her/him. Or I get over confident and makes a mistake.


Do you think talking to them self or apologising is allowed, or should I stop and claim the point? I think its just general reaction people have.

i think that if all it takes is an "oh ****" comment to make you lose focus... you should work on your focus.
but technically if they say something while ball is coming to you i think that could be considered a distraction... but typically only if it remotely sounds like "out"

 

[winchestervatennis]

i think that if all it takes is an "oh ****" comment to make you lose focus... you should work on your focus.
but technically if they say something while ball is coming to you i think that could be considered a distraction... but typically only if it remotely sounds like "out"

I dont think the rules say it has to remotely sound like out

 

[Deleted member 23235]

I dont think the rules say it has to remotely sound like out

can i say “lob” or “it’s up” or “get back”?
been a while since I read the ruling, or said something... normally we “know” if the shot is gonna be defensive or not (at worse my opponents tell me where the ball is going since you should be watching the net person for poaches anyway - any decent lob i’ll have time to get back... if it’s a sitter, doesn’t matter if my partner told me or not, I won’t have time to get back anyway)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[winchestervatennis]

can i say “lob” or “it’s up” or “get back”?
been a while since I read the ruling, or said something... normally we “know” if the shot is gonna be defensive or not (at worse my opponents tell me where the ball is going since you should be watching the net person for poaches anyway - any decent lob i’ll have time to get back... if it’s a sitter, doesn’t matter if my partner told me or not, I won’t have time to get back anyway)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not according to the rules.

 

[ShaunS]

Not according to the rules.

Correct.

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.
• When talking interferes with an opponent’s ability to play a ball, it 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. For example, if a player yells after an injury or getting stung by a bee, this is an unintentional hindrance that would entitle the opponent to claim a let.

 

[Dartagnan64]

Note the use of Should in the rules. It’s not an absolute. Because not all talking is a hindrance. And it should only be called before you take your shot, not after, assuming it bothers you.

 

[OnTheLine]

I played a really fun league match a few days ago ....

I chased down a deep lob over my partners head .. got it nearly at the back and side fences with my backhand ... but didn't hit ball deep enough ... ball comes back, my partner calls "yours" as I am trying to get even back on the court ... I said "are you kidding me" as I raced to get it ... astoundingly got to it and returned a decent angled shot that didn't come back ... Thought of this thread and the fact that I think I may talk when ball is approaching me a little more than I probably "should" ... but I don't speak when ball is going toward opponent

 

[dizzlmcwizzl]

My approach has always been to ignore the hindrance until I miss… And then blame my failures on my opponents

Win win ... I save my ego and they get the point

 

[tennytive]

I play occasionally with an older guy who shouts the "Oh ****" call whenever he hits a set up to the net man. If the opponents miss, I give them the point on a self called hindrance to make the point to my partner about cleaning up his act. I don't care as much about losing the point as I do about how it looks and sounds to the players on the other 9 courts that hear his cursing loud enough to disrupt their games as well. So far it hasn't made any difference. Did I mention he's hard of hearing?