TahoeTennis
Legend
Just put a hand up and don't return until you are ready super easy barely an inconvenience even if he serves w ur hand up you have to replay the point
Rules on Serving (Return man ready)
- Thread starter CaldwellYSR
- Start date
I totally agree with this, and fortunately, in my experience, 99.9% of my matches have been played within this spirit, though I used to see more gamesmanship stuff when I actively played tournaments and leagues. Even at the pro level, this cooperative attitude seems to be the predominant spirit the game is played under with rare exception.
That said, I haven't looked into the actual applicable rules outside of what I've read here, which seems to disappointingly indicate that play is supposed to be at the reasonable pace of the server who doesn't appear to be under any obligation to make sure that the receiver is ready.
Rattler
Hall of Fame
ITF Rules of Tennis
Taken from the 2019 Friend at Court p. 10
Rule # 21
WHEN TO SERVE & RECEIVE
The server shall not serve until the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall play to the reasonable pace of the server and shall be ready to receive within a reasonable time of the server being ready.”
The server is under the obligation to check if the receiver is ready prior to serving.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
Sometimes it is hard to differentiate yourself whether you mean you were
1. just "not ready for that serve",
or
2. really not ready (for ANY serve).
The first case is just that he caught you on surprise (you would have been ready for a normal serve). If that is the scenario, the server is within rules.
The second scenario is were you can ask the server to wait for you to be ready.
A lot of the times, if you ask someone watching your match, they can tell the difference. Or need video. Another way to find it is whether you were about to ask him the same in another regular serve as well, which I think was not the case. That means he was most probably starting his serve motion after you were set. Otherwise you would clearly notice it irrespective of the serve type being hurried and all (if the receiver is not set before serve motion starts). Just that his serve motion was a bit more quicker in this case caught you off guard and heavy footed, making you feel you were not ready (but in reality just not ready for that serve).
He did not do that again because, without that surprise factor there is no point in that underarm serve probably. If someone tells you in advance that he is going to drop shot you, the effectiveness of it goes down hill. Also he probably knows that some folks does not like underarm serves being directed at them, and probably was just trying to be nice.
1. just "not ready for that serve",
or
2. really not ready (for ANY serve).
The first case is just that he caught you on surprise (you would have been ready for a normal serve). If that is the scenario, the server is within rules.
The second scenario is were you can ask the server to wait for you to be ready.
A lot of the times, if you ask someone watching your match, they can tell the difference. Or need video. Another way to find it is whether you were about to ask him the same in another regular serve as well, which I think was not the case. That means he was most probably starting his serve motion after you were set. Otherwise you would clearly notice it irrespective of the serve type being hurried and all (if the receiver is not set before serve motion starts). Just that his serve motion was a bit more quicker in this case caught you off guard and heavy footed, making you feel you were not ready (but in reality just not ready for that serve).
He did not do that again because, without that surprise factor there is no point in that underarm serve probably. If someone tells you in advance that he is going to drop shot you, the effectiveness of it goes down hill. Also he probably knows that some folks does not like underarm serves being directed at them, and probably was just trying to be nice.
Morch Us
Hall of Fame
Definitely server does have to make sure the server is ready. But if the returner is not ready he should not even "attempt" to return the ball. He should just raise the hand. Instead if you tried to move to the ball, and then that is a red flag. Server is not responsible for returner's lack of concentration or lazy foot.
Like I said before, sometimes for a returner, it is very hard to judge whether he got surprised (by the specific serve type, or position, or spin or pace), or he was not ready for any serves. Both does trigger to the receivers mind as "not ready". But someone watching can clearly say the difference.
Like I said before, sometimes for a returner, it is very hard to judge whether he got surprised (by the specific serve type, or position, or spin or pace), or he was not ready for any serves. Both does trigger to the receivers mind as "not ready". But someone watching can clearly say the difference.
Thanks Rattler ! This rule seems exactly right.
Trying to Slice
New User
I have 55 plus teams and we like to do practice of course with younger people. I noticed the 'senior player's are just slower. At collecting balls or whatever.. What drives me crazy is they run quickly onto your court to get the errant ball, after that then they walk very slowly back to their court while you're all waiting. It's like time doesnt matter once the ball is picked up. My mom always kept a little jog going even in her 70s. if anyone was waiting for you ie dropping you off picking you up. We always did a little trot as it was considered more polite not to keep people waiting. So I have that habit, I'm in my 60s so it's easy for me. Believe me it was a shock getting married, as my husband is of the walking slowly program and I had never seen that. So what we should all do is do the little trot to get back. NO walking. Don't trot first then walk. I actually talk to my players about the little trot as I know what the younger gals are thinking. 'Why are they so slow?'I tell them we need to try just a little harder so they aren't waiting for us. Or they won't play with us anymore..When it's all seniors the pace slows considerably but I don't feel embarrassed so I let them take their time.
Stretchy Man
Professional
I'm not 55 yet but I'm buggered if I'm running to get the ball.
SavvyStringer
Professional
Doubtful. Maybe his partner has a ball so he only has to find one. Maybe he's like me and not exerting extra effort in a practice match and catches shoulder high balls rather than having to go to the back stop to get them. Sounds to me like he's just playing in too much of a hurry. I don't care how slowly they move theres no reason to play fast enough to serve at someones back. Clearly the guy isn't doing anything with his serve if he doesn't even look up to see that the guy is turned the other way. Sounds like he's just being a donkey.
What he did is unacceptable.
Serving while someone has his back turned and is still inside or close to the service box is literally dangerous. I have seen twice a similar incident with players ending up to the hospital (one time in singles, and another time with the doubles partner not being ready and her back turned next to the box).
You look a very good person to me...
This guy ought to have Trump for opponent and not you... Then Trump would treat him like this nasty CNN journalist "you are a BAD person... Nasty... So nasty..."
Serving while someone has his back turned and is still inside or close to the service box is literally dangerous. I have seen twice a similar incident with players ending up to the hospital (one time in singles, and another time with the doubles partner not being ready and her back turned next to the box).
You look a very good person to me...
This guy ought to have Trump for opponent and not you... Then Trump would treat him like this nasty CNN journalist "you are a BAD person... Nasty... So nasty..."
Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
This is sort of true, to me when you have ball boys. If i'm fetchin balls for the server, and I send them over and then get rushed by server, I will no longer send balls over until i'm near my return location, server will be getting a ball flying over once i'm set. Happened to me in a tournament this summer.
Hmgraphite1
Hall of Fame
Is this itf rule for players that have ball kids? As a returner and a ball fetcher I will protect my ability to get set, some servers just don't get it or are rushing gamesmanship
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
i do this too, if i play a "serve rusher"... that said, i haven't played against one in a very long time... i feel like it happens more at the lower levels because they need a ploy to gain an edge (vs. rely on actual tennis skills).
Rattler
Hall of Fame
The Pros play under slightly modified rules.
R1FF
Professional
Thankyou for posting this.
I've been having the same issue as the OP with my regular singles partner. He introduced me to tennis. He's a 4.5 and as I've gotten better, his passive aggressive antics have gotten noticeable over time.
I play at usually a pace that would be considered urgent. So it's not like I take my time to get ready when receiving (or serving). But I've caught him serving while I was still turning around several times. Maybe he's just lost in the moment, but I doubt it considering the following:
- he'll go from rushing his first serve, but then if he faults, he'll drag out the 2nd serve 15+ seconds
- he takes forever to get ready when receiving, often finding ways to delay (it's dirty but fair play to mind games as it upsets my rhythm)
- during warmups every shot of his a aggressive winner, rarely letting me get a return in so I can warm up (this one really annoys me)
- he arrives to the court early and gets a ton of practice in and then tries to rush me thru my practice serves
Im also thankful for those that have posted the solution to this problem... which is to hold my racket up until Im positioned and ready.
