Something Needs To Be Done About The Footfault Rule

[Cindysphinx]

How funny!

I played a match today. At first, one opponent was hitting a garden variety pancake serve to me that wasn't giving me any trouble. Then she changed to a slice serve. The way she sliced was she tossed and then kind of twisted her body to get around the outside of the ball. It was as weird looking as it sounds.

And I saw with 100% certainty that she had her entire front foot completely in the court as she tossed. Man, that was one flagrant foot fault. She had to step into the court to do that twisting thing.

Worse, I was having some trouble with her slice, as it was taking me out wide and it was hard to get back in good position quickly. I thought about warning her; maybe she'd go back to the flat serve.

And I decided not to, for many reasons.

First, I didn't want to be That Guy, and have these ladies talking about me as the [bleep] who calls foot faults.

Second, both of these ladies were as jovial as can be. They were a total hoot. I was having fun. Why ruin it?

Third, they were being good about line calls and other issues with sportsmanship. Again, why ruin it?

Fourth, I was playing with a partner who doesn't know me very well. If I started raising the issue of foot faults, maybe she would decide she doesn't want to partner with That Guy. Besides, maybe my partner was also foot faulting. Why go there?

Fifth, we were winning anyway, and what kind of World Class Crybaby would I be if I couldn't return that slice serve? The solution, I figured, was to just play better.

But yeah, you can definitely see foot fault of that magnitude. Dang!

 

[sureshs]

Sphinxie, you now have the required education to spot flagrant foot-faults, and that is why you are confident now. It is part of the learning process here.

 

[mlewis721]

Those of you who say it doesn't make a difference are wrong. When the server's toss is slightly off and you let him move his feet anywhere to adjust his swing, you have given him a huge advantage, even if he doesn't serve and volley. Really aggressive servers who launch their whole bodies forward, yet drag a toe across the line before contact, get big advantage from not being called for their rule breaking, even if it's just an inch.

I was wondering when I would see someone raise this point.

I was playing a "friendly" singles match with someone I had met in a doubles game. So it was our first time playing singles together. For some reason, I was feeling really uneasy during his service games. Just on edge. And could not figure out what was bothering me. In the middle of his third service game I realized what the problem was. It was his toss. Way out to his right. Internally (subconsciously?), I am not expecting him to offer at that ball. I am expecting him to either catch it and re-toss or hit one extremely weak and exaggerated slice. I was not prepared for it to turn into a flat serve. In the ad court he wasn't just stepping into the court, he was crossing the center line.

Once I got a look at his feet I understood what was going on, regained my equilibrium and went on to win the match. But I would have to disagree with anyone who thinks foot faulting does not benefit the foot-faulter.

 

[darkhorse]

I haven't read the whole topic, but I whole-heartedly agree. I was watching my 3.0 team's match after I finished, and at #1 dubs, and at least one player from each team was blatantly foot-faulting, usually before they even tossed the ball.

Then I watched the 4.0 match that went on after us, and I remember at least one singles match were the same thing was happening.

It's ridiculous. I understand that there is not a huge advantage gained from it, but it's still a rule, and if half the players aren't following it, it either needs to be enforced better or not at all. I get that it's a tough thing to enforce for players, but there needs to be something done.