Public court etiquette when hitting many balls

[Taxvictim]

I've been on both sides of this issue, so would like to know what folks think.

Tonight at a public court, two guys were going through a whole hopper of balls while practicing. One guy was at the net, and he'd feed a new ball to the other guy, and they would keep a rally going as long as possible that way, then get a new ball out of the hopper. The only empty court was next to them, and there were a lot of their balls around the empty court. We walked onto the court, dumped our stuff on the bench, and started getting ready to play. They guys made no moves to clean up their balls that were on our court, so I just pushed them all to the corner behind them.

While we were playing, they kept spraying balls behind me, and leaving them there while we were playing. None actually came on the court, but I just kept walking back and pushing their balls back to their side. At one point, I seriously thought about picking up each ball and hitting it right at the players while they were in action, or hitting their balls over the fence, or pushing the balls to the opposite corner on our side.

I've been on the other side of this issue when using a ball machine on a cour that's connected to other courts. Some balls just go on the other courts. It defeats the continuity of using a hopper or a machine if you have to chase every ball.

So, what to do here?

 

[split-step]

Did you tell them to try to keep the balls on their court?
It isn't rude to do so. If you didn't tell them anything, you really can't complain.
It would be a different story if you said something and they still kept hitting many balls to your court with disregard.

 

[Cindysphinx]

When that happens (it can also happen when someone is practicing serves), I just roll the ball somewhere onto their court where they won't step on it. Along the back fence works.

I was practicing serves once where there were just two courts. I was situated such that my serves were going onto the unoccupied court. These people came on to use the unoccupied court.

Now, I'm not dumb enough to keep serving toward their court. It was my intention to change my orientation so all my balls went into the corner. Before I could move or do anything, they started flicking my balls back onto my court. That was fine. What I didn't appreciate was the "HEY! WE'RE GOING TO PLAY HERE, SO YOU NEED TO SERVE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!!"

Really, not necessary. I think it is more polite to fire off such a rebuke once it is clear the lone server has no plans to accommodate you.

 

[WBF]

If I'm not playing a match, I let them accumulate, and occasionally help push them back, but always to the persons feet, so they realize how disruptive they are being.

 

[hrstrat57]

I have been the hopper guy over the years coaching one son throughout HS, juniors and DIII ncaa tennis. Currently a lot of hitting and drills with daughter on HS team. Both made all division states so I must know what I am doing a bit I guess......I have always felt that arguing with others on a tennis court wastes time and energy and presents a bad example to my children. I am a big believer in the code. I think respectful behavior is one of the things that makes our great game so special.

Most of this practice takes place at a D1 NCAA facility.....often with varsity college players hitting nearby as well. Our hopper activity continues without stopping until it becomes apparent that a competetive match is about to begin on an nearby court. I consider a match competitive when I hear scores called out and switching takes place on odd games. When a competetive match begins the hopper gets put away and a few balls go in the pockets instead. If we are doing drills I direct my kid to hit crosscourt groundstrokes into the corner away from the adjacent match. We will then switch sides and repeat to the opposite corner. Same applies for serves or return drills or overheads, what have you. the balls are directed into the corner. Conversation stops and hand signals are used.

If it appears to me that any of these antics are still distracting an adjacent competitive match I will commence with playing points in lieu of repetetive practice.

I have done this very thing for ten years while wielding a hopper. I have never had an arguement with anyone on a court. Never.

IMHO if these fellow continued their practice without attempting to modify as I outline they were flat out wrong.

If you weren't engaged in what I define as a competitive match however then no harm was done.....

One last point. I have never opened up the hopper unless we are on an end courts(against fence on 3 sides) where balls can collect in the corners as described above.....stating the obvious I think, but just thought I'd clarify.

 

[Taxvictim]

Did you tell them to try to keep the balls on their court? It isn't rude to do so. If you didn't tell them anything, you really can't complain.

These players were obviously experienced, so I didn't think it necessary to tell them anything for fear of insulting them, as in Cindy's story, and because I knew that some of our game balls would end up on their court at some point (which they did), and I hoped they would courteously return our balls (which they did).

They had to know their balls were bugging me because, as time went on, I pushed the balls harder and faster to their corner.

hrstrat57, if they had behaved like you, there definitely would not have been a problem. We were playing a competitive match, calling out scores, etc.

My dander got up the minute we made it clear we were about to play on the court, and they took no steps to clean up their mess, leaving it for us to do.

 

[BullDogTennis]

just pick of the ball and start playin with it, when they ask for it just say "oh, im sorry i thought it was mine." and just keep doin it if they keep comin, if it was me it wouldnt take long to get the point

but more realistically just hit it back to em, and they'll do the same for you if your ball goes on there court

 

[zapvor]

i have the same issue when practicing serves. when people come on to teh court next to me, i just start serving to the T to minimize balls going off the court. so far i have had no issues.

on the other hand, when a ball comes ot my side i just hit it back to them if they want, or kick it back to their side. no big deal

 

[Bungalo Bill]

I've been on both sides of this issue, so would like to know what folks think.

Tonight at a public court, two guys were going through a whole hopper of balls while practicing. One guy was at the net, and he'd feed a new ball to the other guy, and they would keep a rally going as long as possible that way, then get a new ball out of the hopper. The only empty court was next to them, and there were a lot of their balls around the empty court. We walked onto the court, dumped our stuff on the bench, and started getting ready to play. They guys made no moves to clean up their balls that were on our court, so I just pushed them all to the corner behind them.

While we were playing, they kept spraying balls behind me, and leaving them there while we were playing. None actually came on the court, but I just kept walking back and pushing their balls back to their side. At one point, I seriously thought about picking up each ball and hitting it right at the players while they were in action, or hitting their balls over the fence, or pushing the balls to the opposite corner on our side.

I've been on the other side of this issue when using a ball machine on a cour that's connected to other courts. Some balls just go on the other courts. It defeats the continuity of using a hopper or a machine if you have to chase every ball.

So, what to do here?

Well the two guys going through the hopper should have immediately stopped, retrieved their balls, and altered their drills so the balls would go to a corner or away from the adjacent court. This is a public court with sections of the court not blocked off given you and your partner an equal chance to use the courts safely as anyone else while considering there will be reasonable distractions from players in the adjacent court.

I had to do just that on Saturday (alter my drills) helping a friend of mine with his return of serve.

To keep practicing knowing you are drilling balls to the adjacent court is extremely disrespectful and I view them as complete idiots.

I must hand it to you, you were a lot more patient then I would have been. If balls kept coming toward my court and distracting me unreasonably with no care from the people doing it, laser balls would have been flying back towards their court with no regret.

I can only put up with so much, so good job.

 

[Taxvictim]

If balls kept coming toward my court and distracting me unreasonably with no care from the people doing it, laser balls would have been flying back towards their court with no regret.

What sort of grip should I use for laser balls?

 

[keepurpowderdry]

Asking them to try is a wast of breath that you need for tennis I dont think they want to think about keeping all those balls on their side . I actually would be happy That the person or persons would never come on my side while Im playing. So I would rather have the balls on my side than people allways going behind me to get them ..

 

[Bungalo Bill]

What sort of grip should I use for laser balls?

I think it was continental or it might have been an Eastern FH.

 

[quicken]

I teach kids and I say sorry when the kids hit the balls to the other court. And the players on that court are usually nice enough to give the ball back.