I played singles last night and my opponent asked me to hold the third ball. No problem, just tucked it into my skirt and played. When I served, she then did the same. I hate balls on the court and would prefer to have them picked up and in a pocket or tucked safely away. I have a friend that tucks hers into her cleavage and you can't really tell, it's just funny to see her digging it out. Now, if I tried to tuck one there, it would look like I needed to run to the surgeon instead of play tennis.
The Etiquette of USTA Singles
- Thread starter Cindysphinx
- Start date
hrstrat57
Hall of Fame
I always want all 3 so I can pick what I think is the best ball with which to execute whatever serve I want to hit. I like that nasty fuzzy one for the kicker:twisted:
I am a guy with baggy tennis pants tho....when I am practicing, heck I can probably get 10 of em in there!
I agree with you I find the ball at the back of the fence a distraction...esp during a long rally.....most guys I play against pocket all three tho so rarely an issue.
I am a guy with baggy tennis pants tho....when I am practicing, heck I can probably get 10 of em in there!
I agree with you I find the ball at the back of the fence a distraction...esp during a long rally.....most guys I play against pocket all three tho so rarely an issue.
I honestly have never asked my opponent in a singles match to hold a ball for me. The third ball goes against the back fence/curtain. I don't find it distracting or worrying.
If I was playing someone and they asked me to hold the 3rd ball for them, I'd probably look at them like they were an alien before declining.
In doubles around here, I usually ask my partner to hold the 3rd ball, and offer to do so for them. There are a few folks, though, who won't hold the extra ball, or prefer to have all 3 on them for serving.
And on the matter of shorts, I always test the depth of the pockets before I purchase, to ensure they are deep enough to hold at least two tennis balls comfortably. Why buy tennis shorts with pockets that are too small?
If I was playing someone and they asked me to hold the 3rd ball for them, I'd probably look at them like they were an alien before declining.
In doubles around here, I usually ask my partner to hold the 3rd ball, and offer to do so for them. There are a few folks, though, who won't hold the extra ball, or prefer to have all 3 on them for serving.
And on the matter of shorts, I always test the depth of the pockets before I purchase, to ensure they are deep enough to hold at least two tennis balls comfortably. Why buy tennis shorts with pockets that are too small?
Lendl
Semi-Pro
I think it is standard practice for the server to keep all three. I insist on it for the simple reason the balls fluff up at different rates so you want the ones that do for your second serve normally. I always cycle through all three and pick out the "flattest" one for a first serve and the one that is "fluffiest" for my second serve. Works for me
Really!?! You crash into the back & side curtain during singles? Either you play in a tiny gymnasium or you are not doing something right.
Sleepstream
Semi-Pro
Sleepstream
Semi-Pro
The fence hurts. I've crashed into it and hurt my finger. Nothing painful, just a little bleeding.
I think I was trying to retrieve a similar shot.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
I mostly play doubles, so that accounts for it. Also, some of our indoor facilities have very short side and back areas. Unless you want to just concede certain points (and encourage your opponents to feed you more of the same), you will hustle and will crash sometimes.
One of our main outdoor facilities actually has light poles too near the doubles sidelines. They are wrapped in padding. Still, people crash into them sometimes.
Yeah I remember you. You didn't handle my topspin too well.
JRstriker12
Hall of Fame
Been there. The court designers must have been on crack!!! Really - WTF where they thinking?????
Imagine - light poles about 4 feet just outside the doubles alley.
I've had to run AROUND the light posts to play some shots.
It's a shame and the court surface is pretty nice.
precision2b
Semi-Pro
LOL!!! :lol: Cindy, you are hilarious. Love reading your post…
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Hey, thanks! But I can't take credit for the cleavage thing. We had a thread about it recently. A memorable thread . . . .
You mean my thread on the woman who keeps the third ball there?
I have gotten to know her better. She was a PE teacher all her life, and retired last week. She is having a retirement party at her home this weekend. She says she is very fit (and looks it) but that her tennis skills are very bad (which is also true). Shows that fitness and tennis don't always go together at the lower levels.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
Yep, that's the thread.
This party is a good opportunity to do some original research. If she greets you at the door with a tennis ball in her cleavage, do start a thread about it, will you?
I am not going. I have to go get my racquet strung and then other errands to run.
Well, as long as you have a legitimate excuse, I'm sure she'll understand.
precision2b
Semi-Pro
Looked it up. Very memorable thread!!!
precision2b
Semi-Pro
Never seen it in that fashion before!!! :shock:
Is the server holding three balls a regional thing? I play mostly singles
and my opponents always offer to hold the third. Maybe it is southern gentility
or just custom here.
I agree that a ball set against the fence or within view of your opponent can be distracting, i've had ladies ask to replay points because they saw that lone ball in the corner of their eye and couldn't concentrate.
and my opponents always offer to hold the third. Maybe it is southern gentility
or just custom here.
I agree that a ball set against the fence or within view of your opponent can be distracting, i've had ladies ask to replay points because they saw that lone ball in the corner of their eye and couldn't concentrate.
That's one of those subjective things though that people may argue about just because of what they are used to seeing.
If the ball is anywhere loose on or near the actual court (within the sidelines), I will ask to have it moved if Im returning because it's distracting.
If it's safely against the net, then I dont think you can ask to have it moved, because it's not causing anyone any harm. (unless it's maybe an unusually windy day and we know it's soon going to become a loose ball)
The same with it being against the back fence or backdrop. You might see it there but it's not really any anyone's way so you cant really ask to have it removed in most circles. Especially indoors because balls resting on the backdrop normally are not going to move unless you have the occasion to go crashing into the wall a lot. (that used to happen to me in doubles a lot as well, it might have something to do with the frequency of how often your team goes for overheads versus giving up on them and has to shag down lobs, along with how much people tend to lob, which corresponds to how many silly people are going to stand way too close to the net....)
Maybe by the rules though in an officiated match you can, you'd have to ask woodrow, I know there is an issue about where you can put your towel and Im not too clear on that either. Im going to choose to be "gray" on that one otherwise.
Tennis16
Rookie
Hi Cindy,
I play a lot of Mens USTA Singles tournaments, and my wife is in a Doubles league. As far as your experience in singles I wouldn't worry so much about who holds the third ball. Worst case scenario leave it at the back curtain of the court. But as far as the pace of your opponent who is serving to you that is a different story. If you are losing the match, and your opponent is serving, I would not let them rush you into the next point. When opponents are winning they have a tendency to rush to the next point to try and take advantage of the fact that they know they have the upper hand at that given time of the match. I would definitely try and slow them down a bit, of course within the rules, thereby giving you a chance to regroup and get back in the match. Hope this helps.
I play a lot of Mens USTA Singles tournaments, and my wife is in a Doubles league. As far as your experience in singles I wouldn't worry so much about who holds the third ball. Worst case scenario leave it at the back curtain of the court. But as far as the pace of your opponent who is serving to you that is a different story. If you are losing the match, and your opponent is serving, I would not let them rush you into the next point. When opponents are winning they have a tendency to rush to the next point to try and take advantage of the fact that they know they have the upper hand at that given time of the match. I would definitely try and slow them down a bit, of course within the rules, thereby giving you a chance to regroup and get back in the match. Hope this helps.
precision2b
Semi-Pro
I think it just comes down to common courtesy…I can see the ladies point. I would not want to stuff 2 ext balls in my shorts!!! Way to many!!!
beernutz
Hall of Fame
For the love of pete, please tell me you told them to get bent.
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Steady Eddy
Legend
That sounds like cheating. If they have a problem with the ball being in the corner, they should speak up before the point starts. Do they only want to replay the points they lose?
Just to give an unheard perspective:
I don't play USTA at all, but I play casual competitive matches with friends. Sometimes we play with up to five balls in play as a way to really keep things moving without having to go retrieve netted serves and such.
I play with other people who only want to have 2, or 3 max, balls. I'll hold two balls, one in each pocket, and play. I don't really notice it as a hindrance at all.
When I serve, I just take all the balls, so at least on my first serve, I have two balls in each pocket.
I also wear shorts with deep pockets.
I'm not sure what I added to this thread, but hopefully something to at least show that some people out there don't mind the balls in the pockets stuff.
I don't play USTA at all, but I play casual competitive matches with friends. Sometimes we play with up to five balls in play as a way to really keep things moving without having to go retrieve netted serves and such.
I play with other people who only want to have 2, or 3 max, balls. I'll hold two balls, one in each pocket, and play. I don't really notice it as a hindrance at all.
When I serve, I just take all the balls, so at least on my first serve, I have two balls in each pocket.
I also wear shorts with deep pockets.
I'm not sure what I added to this thread, but hopefully something to at least show that some people out there don't mind the balls in the pockets stuff.
brado32003
Banned
2 balls in each pocket? Seriously?
When we play with that many, yes. It never struck me as strange. It just speeds up the game a ton and I find that convenient. I don't find the balls inconvenient.
I realize I'm in the minority, but eh.
i play 4.5 and 5.0 usta leagues. i prefer to have all 3 balls when i'm serving. otherwise, a lot of points could go by with the 3rd ball (held by my opponent) not being played with. this often causes that ball to be fresher than the others, which affects its play.
i've never heard anyone complain about the 3rd ball being at the net or at the backstop. it doesn't move!! i've never gone "crashing into the wall/fence" in my life so it's certainly never been a problem. if a point ends up with me crashing into the fence then i'm probably going to lose the point anyways.
i've never heard anyone complain about the 3rd ball being at the net or at the backstop. it doesn't move!! i've never gone "crashing into the wall/fence" in my life so it's certainly never been a problem. if a point ends up with me crashing into the fence then i'm probably going to lose the point anyways.
I'm sure glad I now live in South Carolina where we play outdoors year round.
I'm from the Northeast and remember playing indoors where: you can't see the ball very well; get too hot and there's no breeze to cool you off; where you can get your feet entangled into the nets of the sides; and where you try to return a high lob and run into the back curtain.
Someone said you're not playing right if that happens; I disagree. I try and get most balls no matter what; and usually can hitter a winner to finish off the point. :?
I'm from the Northeast and remember playing indoors where: you can't see the ball very well; get too hot and there's no breeze to cool you off; where you can get your feet entangled into the nets of the sides; and where you try to return a high lob and run into the back curtain.
Someone said you're not playing right if that happens; I disagree. I try and get most balls no matter what; and usually can hitter a winner to finish off the point. :?
precision2b
Semi-Pro
To me a ball laying around on or near the court is a distraction. And like stated earlier on windy days or on an un-level court this could spell disaster!!! For some people it may not be a distraction. I hold all 3 balls on my serve but I understand why most ladies dislike holding all three…
