Public Courts - when stray balls become excessive

[Taxvictim]

The public courts were packed last night. During an hour's play, about a dozen of our balls rolled behind the players on the next court. Only one of our balls rolled onto their court. Some of their balls came on our court, too, but it was clear after awhile that they were very fed up with us. They had a very competitive game going.

When does interference from other courts become excessive? These are public courts, after all, so I thought their attitude was unwarranted.

 

[SrGuapo]

I don't mind a stray ball or two, but it really pisses me off when they just run onto your court to grab them or assume you are stealing their balls when you watch them launch 6 of them over the fence.

 

[Bottle Rocket]

If there are changes you can make to prevent excessive interference now, you should make them regardless. What's a number going to be good for? Do what you can to avoid the situation. If you've got a noticable amount going to their side versus very few from them, I would expect them to be a little annoyed.

At the same time, these are public courts. No mater how annoying, it is somsething you have to deal with. I will never let it bother me and sometimes giving balls back can help you meet new players if you're nice to them.

 

[Taxvictim]

We made a concerted effort not to take wild stabs at the ball that could result in balls flying off in uncontrolled directions. Sometimes the ball would just hit the back fence and bounce in their direction. The other guys had a few balls that flew right across our court during play.

Once a court on the end opened up, we moved. My opponent has just started playing again and is trying to get her game back, so she did have a few wild shots.

 

[dommod]

Seems like one could have same problems with private courts that belong to a club. Not a question of public courts having much to do with it. I like places that have dividing nets. How come we don't see more of those on outside courts, only inside ones?

I don't like when balls come on to my court and I don't like when I hit balls onto other courts. It's lose-lose for everyone.

 

[cak]

I like places that have dividing nets. How come we don't see more of those on outside courts, only inside ones?

In general, the dividing nets are dangerous. People, especially playing doubles, can get caught in the nets. Nets are useful for lesson courts as it keeps the huge amount of balls off other courts, and since it's a lesson they are hoping folks won't run into the nets for the wide ball. (And yet I've still gotten tangled in the nets in a lesson.)

 

[penpal]

For me, my irritation or lack thereof at ball interferences is directly related to the attitude and actions of the people playing on the adjacent court.

- If they are playing a competitive match and waiting for our point to finish before requesting their ball, no problem.

- If they are only fooling around, but are making an attempt not to interfere and are waiting for our point to finish before requesting their ball, again, no problem.

- If they attempt to retrieve a ball during our point - problem (if they're obviously unfamiliar with this etiquette, I will, of course, gently ask them to refrain from retrieving their ball until we've finished our point the first time it happens ... more often than not, this prevents any potential problems).

- If they are only fooling around and are making no attempt to minimize the interference - problem.

 

[kevhen]

Do some touch volley drills or mini tennis to minimize stray balls especially if your partner is just getting back into playing again and is rusty. Hit on the side of the court farthest from your opponents. Be polite and apologize and then just have fun. Stray balls are annoying but it's a part of the game, some nights are just worse than others.

 

[dommod]

In general, the dividing nets are dangerous. People, especially playing doubles, can get caught in the nets. Nets are useful for lesson courts as it keeps the huge amount of balls off other courts, and since it's a lesson they are hoping folks won't run into the nets for the wide ball. (And yet I've still gotten tangled in the nets in a lesson.)

Really? Caught in nets dangerous? Maybe. I don't know. Seems many other aspects of the game more dangerous than that -- plus maybe it's better to run into netting in doubles than run into another player on adjacent court, or step on one their drifters that roll onto your court? All told, maybe nets safer?

Also with netting: is it moral to try and aim slice serves and angle shot purposely toward the netting to trouble your opponent?

 

[HellBunni]

Also with netting: is it moral to try and aim slice serves and angle shot purposely toward the netting to trouble your opponent?

I HATE that!!!!! I know that it's valid and all, but just feel robbed. Because they aren't balls that I have no chance under normal conditions. But with netting, it's pretty much a guaranteed ace if you can angle it.

 

[cak]

Really? Caught in nets dangerous? Maybe. I don't know. Seems many other aspects of the game more dangerous than that -- plus maybe it's better to run into netting in doubles than run into another player on adjacent court, or step on one their drifters that roll onto your court? All told, maybe nets safer?

Also with netting: is it moral to try and aim slice serves and angle shot purposely toward the netting to trouble your opponent?

The thing about running into other players or drifting balls (assuming they are only playing with three on the court) is its a occasional thing, usually stopped by a "ball on" call. Running into the net happens every time you go wide. Heck, our pro took a spill the other day just walking along the net.

The thing about fences is you can hit the fence and bounce off, but the net, once you are in the net you stay in the net. I like the short fences, and have actually swung over the fence to hit a ball already outside the court.

 

[drgnpride]

what i have started doing when balls roll on my court during a point is discharging pepper spray at any offending intruders into my court. i find it discourages inappropriate transgressions.

 

[Mahboob Khan]

If there is no divider/barrier between the courts, this problem becomes acute. If I am going to use a basket of balls for coaching on one of the courts with no dividing barrier it becomes pain in the neck. If the builder of a tennis facility will consult an expert and build the courts players/coaches friendly, this problem will be solved. But alas, no one consults the experts now a days!

 

[SFtennisGG]

The way I figure it is if its a public court, then they have much as a right to be there regardless of their level of play or anything else. As long as they arent recklessly breaking court etiquette I grin and bear it.

 

[Hot Sauce]

You can't blame them for being mad. Stray balls are interruptive, dangerous, and very annoying. But it's not like you're doing it on purpose or anything, so just keep playing your game.

 

[Cindysphinx]

The thing about running into other players or drifting balls (assuming they are only playing with three on the court) is its a occasional thing, usually stopped by a "ball on" call. Running into the net happens every time you go wide. Heck, our pro took a spill the other day just walking along the net.

The thing about fences is you can hit the fence and bounce off, but the net, once you are in the net you stay in the net. I like the short fences, and have actually swung over the fence to hit a ball already outside the court.

Nets and curtains are a real ******. I tend to run for wide balls and lobs, so I go into the side curtains/nets a lot. If it were a solid object like a fence or wall, you could use your hand to stop yourself or push off. But because the net gives, you just fall right into them. And as CAK says, they are a tripping hazard too.

It's nice not to have other players' balls coming onto your court, but there is insufficient side clearance at the facilities where I play.

What I don't get is how come these curtains don't go all the way to the ceiling. If there's a kids' lesson going on in the next court, we well get bombarded with their framed balls. And heaven help us find our ball if we frame a ball over the net and it lands in the 100 lesson balls on the court.

[edit: The hideous curse word that was censored above is "men@ce." Methinks the censor function needs a tweek]

 

[J011yroger]

Cindy, I think the M word is a competing retailer, not a naughty word. If they think it is a naughty word, then how lame.

As far as balls rolling onto my court when I am playing, I am cool with it, we were all beginners once. What I do though, is when the first ball rolls onto my court, and the person comes to get it, in an authoritiative voice with my hand up, I tell them "Stop, just stay on your court, and I will send them back to you."

It is a bigger problem with kids and beginners, most real players know better.

J

 

[dommod]

Why people suggest stray balls is only a beginner problem? I watch Federer on TV and and he often frames balls that fly every which way. So even if you were playing next to the great Roger, stray balls coming onto your court would be a problem. No?

I also still don't understand how netting is so dangerous. I respect the two posters above who illustrated the issue with nice vivid example, but I never see people fall into nets or fall myself. Maybe its just a doubles matter?

 

[Cindysphinx]

You probably have more space between the edge of the court and the net. It seems to vary considerably by facility.

I just finished playing singles, and I fell into the net twice.

 

[dommod]

You probably have more space between the edge of the court and the net. It seems to vary considerably by facility.

I just finished playing singles, and I fell into the net twice.

You literally fell to the ground twice? I respect your personal experience, but I have never fallen even when nets are close to courts. I have run into the nets, yes, and felt briefly tangled up a bit maybe, but I have never fallen down or gotten caught in other way that seemed dangerous.

 

[Cindysphinx]

When I say "fell", I don't mean crashed to the ground. I mean that I had to grab at the netting to keep from falling. Had there been a wall or a fence, pushing off of it would have been a simple matter.

That I didn't crash to the ground was a matter of luck that the net didn't rip. The sensation of trying to use a thin piece of porous fabric to stop you from crashing after running full speed is not a good feeling.

 

[calvinchang]

Just be courteous!
That's A LOT of stray balls

 

[J011yroger]

Why people suggest stray balls is only a beginner problem? I watch Federer on TV and and he often frames balls that fly every which way. So even if you were playing next to the great Roger, stray balls coming onto your court would be a problem. No?

What I was saying is that the people comming onto my court to get their balls is a beginner problem. Roger would stay on his own court, and wait for me to return his ball after I was done playing my point.

J

 

[dommod]

That I didn't crash to the ground was a matter of luck that the net didn't rip. The sensation of trying to use a thin piece of porous fabric to stop you from crashing after running full speed is not a good feeling.

I respect your experience of this sensation, Miss Cindysphinx, but maybe running into a hard wall or metal fence is also not so good feeling sometimes, no?

 

[Roger Sampras]

I had a bad experience the other night whereby an absolutely rediculaous amount of balls were coming onto our court and the culprit was a coach and his student, yet the coach did not once opologise or thank us for returning his loose balls!!! I know this will sound racist but the coach was Koren. Different tennis etequitte in Korea i wonder? It was bizarre to encounter a tennis coach with seemingly no tennis etequitte.

 

[CanadianChic]

I prefer to keep these things simple really. I pick up my balls and toss them in a basket - I don't want someone injuring themselves on one of my stray balls. If someone else's balls are rolling into my area I ask them politely to clear them away from my court. If they don't listen, I gently lob them back onto their court while they are playing. If they still do nothing, I hit them as hard as I can out of the court area. It is only a matter of courtesy. Generally I find people use their manners when I use the public courts.

 

[J011yroger]

I prefer to keep these things simple really. I pick up my balls and toss them in a basket - I don't want someone injuring themselves on one of my stray balls. If someone else's balls are rolling into my area I ask them politely to clear them away from my court. If they don't listen, I gently lob them back onto their court while they are playing. If they still do nothing, I hit them as hard as I can out of the court area. It is only a matter of courtesy. Generally I find people use their manners when I use the public courts.

Iron fist in a silk glove eh?

J

 

[dommod]

I prefer to keep these things simple really. I pick up my balls and toss them in a basket - I don't want someone injuring themselves on one of my stray balls. If someone else's balls are rolling into my area I ask them politely to clear them away from my court. If they don't listen, I gently lob them back onto their court while they are playing. If they still do nothing, I hit them as hard as I can out of the court area. It is only a matter of courtesy. Generally I find people use their manners when I use the public courts.

I respect your view on this, Canadianchic, but is it not dangerous for you to lob balls onto adjoining court when play is in motion? This could cause injury to your neighbor. I agree it is disrespectful for them to litter your court, but maybe risking injury to them in response to this is not the moral way to handle this problem?

 

[SoBad]

You, your hitting partner, and the pair on the adjacent court, all four of you have MENTAL issues that need to be addressed outside of tennis.

 

[CanadianChic]

I respect your view on this, Canadianchic, but is it not dangerous for you to lob balls onto adjoining court when play is in motion? This could cause injury to your neighbor. I agree it is disrespectful for them to litter your court, but maybe risking injury to them in response to this is not the moral way to handle this problem?

I see your point dommod, and rest assured I am a safety girl. The couple/few times this has happened, I have always announced "incoming" at which point the guys stopped their play and took notice of the balls. No worries, I would never intentionally act in a manner that may cause injury to someone.