Rule on delayed call

[Mr.Lob]

This incident happened a couple weeks ago in my men's 3.5-4.0 ladder league. I was playing back near the baseline, my partner around the service line. Our opponents hit a moon ball down the middle, it lands 3 or 4 inches out. I look at my partner expecting him to make the call, as he had drifted back and was just 2 or 3 feet from the baseline, but my partner just looks at me and says, "Was it out?". I say,"Yeah... it was out." And then call out to opponents the ball was out. I think we both expected the other to make the call.

Our opponents protest the call, saying my partner didn't know if it was out, and didn't make the call... as well as we were late making the call. I said the ball was definitely out, but that we would give them the point.

What's the rules on something like that? Do you have to make an immediate call? If your partner looks at you, saying he didn't know if it was in or out, can you then make the call. Seems like we did the proper thing.

 

[Topspin Shot]

I think you were good. If one partner is uncertain, and the other is certain, the call stands.

 

[Chas Tennis]

Any player who is sure the ball is out, should call it promptly. Both players can call. Everybody likes to hear the call or better yet two calls.

Sometimes two uncertain players who are pretty sure that the ball was out - but don't know - will look at each other. Opponents don't like that because it indicates that neither player was certain that it was out. In that case, give them the call. Maybe your opponents thought that nobody saw the ball for certain.

Sometimes I am in a better position to make the call but I dizz out, or there was sun glare, etc. and I'm not sure. It's great to hear the call from my partner.

What does it mean when players say, 'I think it was out'?

 

[Mr.Lob]

Yeah, two guys looking at each other, over whether the ball was in or out, does not inspire confidence in one's opponents.

My partner did say, after the fact, he saw the ball noticeable out, guess he thought I was going to make the call.

 

[beernutz]

Ball lands
No immediate call is made
You look to your partner who is unsure
You then call it out
Yeah, I'd question that

Your mistake was not immediately calling it out if you saw it out as opposed to thinking your partner would call it out. If I were your opponents, the fact that you didn't call it immediately out plus your partner being unsure, would lead me to question your late call too.

 

[RockChalkOhio]

But in the rules, is there a time limit? Must the call be made instantaneously or nearly so? If it takes 4 seconds to make the right call, are you not still justified in making the right call, as opposed to giving the point to your opponent who didn't deserve it?

 

[fuzz nation]

What does it mean when players say, 'I think it was out'?

What they're inferring is that they're not sure it was out, but wish it was because they want the point.

The rules and the code cover this - we're only supposed to make "out" calls when we're sure. It's just a headache when folks who are old enough to know better try to weasel out on making fair, responsible calls. Benefit of the doubt goes to our opponents.

 

[mightyrick]

This incident happened a couple weeks ago in my men's 3.5-4.0 ladder league. I was playing back near the baseline, my partner around the service line. Our opponents hit a moon ball down the middle, it lands 3 or 4 inches out. I look at my partner expecting him to make the call, as he had drifted back and was just 2 or 3 feet from the baseline, but my partner just looks at me and says, "Was it out?". I say,"Yeah... it was out." And then call out to opponents the ball was out. I think we both expected the other to make the call.

Our opponents protest the call, saying my partner didn't know if it was out, and didn't make the call... as well as we were late making the call. I said the ball was definitely out, but that we would give them the point.

What's the rules on something like that? Do you have to make an immediate call? If your partner looks at you, saying he didn't know if it was in or out, can you then make the call. Seems like we did the proper thing.

As your opponent, I would have complained, too.

There are rules and then there are courtesy/best-practices.

In general, the non-hitting partner is responsible for keeping an eye on the ball and confidently making out calls that are borderline. Especially on a serve or the baseline. I get really p1ssed at my partner if they are falling asleep and don't know if a ball was in or out -- and I let them know it.

In your situation, I'd have given the opponent the point and then walked over to my partner and told him, "Dude... you need to make those calls."

According to the rules, you are in the right. However, in terms of etiquette and gamesmanship, your partner screwed up and you should have conceded the point.

 

[fuzz nation]

Mr.Lob's situation happens here and there - I don't think it's a big deal as long as it's not happening over and over. After the second or third time, that's when it's getting into the neighborhood of downright rude.

As soon as that awkward second or two goes by and your partner doesn't make the out call, if you saw the ball clearly out from further away, then I say promptly call and/or point "out" so that your opponents aren't left hanging on a verdict. As long as one of you is sure and makes a prompt call (with no looking at each other or conferring over it), that's acceptable.

Often times in a doubles match, only one partner will see a ball land. If the action is rather brisk and the ball lands back in the area of one player, his or her partner may be up at net with "eyes front" to keep from catching a hot volley in the ear from a roaming poacher. The partner closest to the spot where the ball lands usually has a good look at it, but not always. In any case, don't wait to make an "out" call. If you catch yourself thinking it over, don't be a greedy chucklehead.

 

[tennis_ocd]

Seems like we did the proper thing.

You may have done the right thing -- confirming a clear out ball with your partner but this will rarely be seen the same way from across the net. A ball 4 full inches long with a bit of partner discussion starts 10x more issues than an immediate OUT... WAY OUT call on a ball 1/2 inch long.

 

[LuckyR]

This incident happened a couple weeks ago in my men's 3.5-4.0 ladder league. I was playing back near the baseline, my partner around the service line. Our opponents hit a moon ball down the middle, it lands 3 or 4 inches out. I look at my partner expecting him to make the call, as he had drifted back and was just 2 or 3 feet from the baseline, but my partner just looks at me and says, "Was it out?". I say,"Yeah... it was out." And then call out to opponents the ball was out. I think we both expected the other to make the call.

Our opponents protest the call, saying my partner didn't know if it was out, and didn't make the call... as well as we were late making the call. I said the ball was definitely out, but that we would give them the point.

What's the rules on something like that? Do you have to make an immediate call? If your partner looks at you, saying he didn't know if it was in or out, can you then make the call. Seems like we did the proper thing.

Your intention was correct (obviously) your way of perfoming it was suspicious and suboptimal. Namely, your partner didn't see it definitely out, he suspected it was out and initially said nothing, you saw it definitely out and initially said nothing. Clearly you should have immediately called it out when you saw it land (in a perfect world).

This sort of thing happens all of the time and around here is almost never questioned out loud.