Tactfully handling partner's bad service calls

[beernutz]

I have occassion to play with an older player in league who is perhaps the worst service line caller on the planet who is not legally blind. He doesn't seem to miss other line calls once the serve has been made but any serve that hits the line, and some which are even inside the service line, are OUT.

He primarily seems to miss these calls when he is not the receiver.

I have overruled his calls when it is clear he is wrong but he will keep making (and missing) them. I don't want to get into a fight with my own partner but it is a distraction and of course not fair to the other team to allow him to continue doing what he's doing.

Any suggestions for tactfully handling the situation?

 

[spot]

Just say that you like to call your own service line when you are receiving serve. I have a guy I play with like that. I just tell him that it messes me up coming from singles where I call the line myself to where I am counting on him doing it. Its clear you trust your own eyes more than his so thats pretty much just the tactful way of saying what you think.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Any suggestions for tactfully handling the situation?

Tell him that when you are receiving you want him to focus his eyes forward on the movement of the other team so that he can get a good "jump" on their ball or movements in response to your return.

Tell him doubles works better that way. Which is true.

 

[Cindysphinx]

And just so he won't be tempted, have him take a position closer to net when you're receiving.

 

[WBF]

Tell him doubles works better that way. Which is true.

Not calling serves works better?

Sounds like a tough situation though. I think you need to let him know that he is incorrect, and if he continues ask him to let you call your own lines.

 

[callitout]

Tell Mr Magoo that the most common cause of adult blindness is diabetic retinopathy, and that he should see a doctor.

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Not calling serves works better?

Sounds like a tough situation though. I think you need to let him know that he is incorrect, and if he continues ask him to let you call your own lines.

When I am playing net, I never make a service call. That's my returning partner's responsibility because making line calls requires one first and foremost to "see the ball clearly"

I am not looking at the ball, I am looking at my opposing net man's movement and peripherally at the server's movement. So, I can't in good faith call any serve, not near the center line, service line, or side line.

I also never overrule my returning partner's call on serves, primarily for the above reason and secondarily, I don't want to disturb our team chemistry or spirit.

 

[kylebarendrick]

Per the Code Item 25: "In doubles the Receiver's partner should call the service line..."

Maintaining team chemistry is no justification for ignoring an obviously mistaken "out" call by your partner.

 

[WBF]

I guess if you have trouble shifting attention it might be a bad idea? I've never seen a team where the other player doesn't call the close ones. At least, this is what it's like at higher levels of the game...

If it's just a friendly match, I suppose it's not that important, but for anything competitive...

 

[raiden031]

When I am playing net, I never make a service call. That's my returning partner's responsibility because making line calls requires one first and foremost to "see the ball clearly"

I am not looking at the ball, I am looking at my opposing net man's movement and peripherally at the server's movement. So, I can't in good faith call any serve, not near the center line, service line, or side line.

I also never overrule my returning partner's call on serves, primarily for the above reason and secondarily, I don't want to disturb our team chemistry or spirit.

Interesting perspective. I find it far easier to accurately make a service call being the returner's partner than when I am the returner. I think thats the reason the rule prefers the partner make the calls.

 

[spot]

in singles we understand that its perfectly possible for the returner to call their own service line. I don't at all get why people pretend like its unheard of that the returner could do it in doubles.

 

[WBF]

Spot:

Two options...

1.) Sacrifice return quality
2.) Sacrifice a split second of your partners time (who isnt returning!!!!!!)

It seems logical to me.

 

[kylebarendrick]

According to the code (and it makes sense if you look at the positions taken by linespeople in pro matches) you can make more accurate line calls looking down a line rather than across it. The receiver is looking across the service line while his partner looks down it - giving his partner a better angle to make the call. The receiver still has the best angle for the center and side lines.

Singles players have no choice but to make their own calls.

 

[keithchircop]

Buy him a pair of glasses.

 

[sureshs]

Per the Code Item 25: "In doubles the Receiver's partner should call the service line..."

Maintaining team chemistry is no justification for ignoring an obviously mistaken "out" call by your partner.

Just to clarify: the returner calling the service line is WRONG? Or is this rule a recommendation only?

 

[onehandbh]

the old guy may not be purposely trying to make bad calls.
his vision may just be getting slightly worse and the faster speed of
the serves makes it difficult for him.

i used to play my brother when were growing up. at a certain point
his line calls started to get a little sketchy. one day i got really
exasperated and after one of his line calls i placed the one foot
inside the sideline near my baseline and asked him if it was in or out
and he said "that's out." and then I said are you sure? and he said
"wait, well it looks kind've out." so i said, "walk over here and look
where the ball is..." he did. and we both had a good laugh.
the problem was his vision had slowly
deteriorated and it made it look out to him!

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

Per the Code Item 25: "In doubles the Receiver's partner should call the service line..."

Maintaining team chemistry is no justification for ignoring an obviously mistaken "out" call by your partner.

should does not mean is required to. Especially since the rule "clearly sees" is most critical. If you can't "clearly see" the bounce of the ball then one must remain silent on making a call.

Just to clarify: the returner calling the service line is WRONG? Or is this rule a recommendation only?

either team member may make calls or overrule their partner's calls, but under no condition can someone make a line call if they don't "clearly see" the bounce.

 

[chinkypinky]

be happy, he's doing the dirty work for you =]

 

[Cindysphinx]

Hey, I play doubles and I don't always call the service line.

If my partner can't keep her return away from the net man, I am going to start the point at the baseline. In that case, I am not calling the service line unless it is way out, and I'll tell my partner it's all on her to call the service line.

If you want me calling that service line for you, you'd better get that return cross-court!

 

[volleyman]

If my partner can't keep her return away from the net man, I am going to start the point at the baseline. In that case, I am not calling the service line unless it is way out, and I'll tell my partner it's all on her to call the service line.

OK, let's look at this logically. Note that I am speaking solely about the back service lines, not the center or side service lines.

The returner is moving, focusing on ball speed and spin and the progression of the ball, and preparing to hit a service return.

The returner's partner, also at the baseline, is relatively still, and can focus solely on where the ball lands.

Which person has a clearer view of where the ball lands with which to make a line call?

To me, it's obvious that it's the returner's partner, even if they are at the baseline.

 

[Fedace]

I have occassion to play with an older player in league who is perhaps the worst service line caller on the planet who is not legally blind. He doesn't seem to miss other line calls once the serve has been made but any serve that hits the line, and some which are even inside the service line, are OUT.

He primarily seems to miss these calls when he is not the receiver.

I have overruled his calls when it is clear he is wrong but he will keep making (and missing) them. I don't want to get into a fight with my own partner but it is a distraction and of course not fair to the other team to allow him to continue doing what he's doing.

Any suggestions for tactfully handling the situation?

This maybe a coincidence but i had the same experience with a partner. I have a rule NOT to overrule any partner under any circumstances. but what i do is i just go over quietly to my partner and say hey that last ball was inside the line, are you sure ?? most of the time this will help them realize the bad calls or sometimes not. I have found that it is better never to overrule your partner in open.

 

[Netbudda]

I have been in the same situation before. Nothing like having a partner that makes bad calls and you can't talk to him about it. It just sucks.

 

[Netbudda]

I have a rule NOT to overrule any partner under any circumstances.

No oofense but I don't like that rule, especially if you are playing with a partner you do not know that much...you could end up looking like a cheater if you don't say something and correct a call.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Buy him a pair of glasses.

If that's too subtle, go get a coke bottle or two and MAKE him a pr of glasses!

Good advice from Fedace above. Gotta do it, since almost all of tennis is unofficiated.

Just tell him honestly that you think he's making a lot of honest mistakes with the calls....empathize with him by telling him that we all make mistakes as we SEE certain balls out, when really they could have touched a bit of line.

Tell him you do not want to win any points that way. At the same time tell him how hard it is for you to have to break this to him, but, that you have been not overrulinghim at times and you feel shame and guilt.

I had to do this once. It helped that his dad had had almost the same conversation with him during Father/Sons one yr.