Purestriker
Legend
Yep, no such thing as normal.
Try to act "normal", follow what others do...
- Thread starter FuzzyYellowBalls
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S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
If you want to ensure your opponent is not thinking your gaming him, why not just ask him [or her] where they want the balls? The underlying theme of this sub-thread is that people are expressing their own preference but not their opponent's.
When I play and we have a side change, I just leave everything in situ and we deal with it when we resume play. If I have any in-pocket, I take them out and drop them near the service area. The vast majority of opponents I know do this. So we all consider that "normal".
If someone clearly has a preference, no problem: I'll gather the ones near me [if any].
I personally do NOT want the balls because I'd rather concentrate on towelling off and getting a drink. I can't multi-task very well so adding a 3rd thing will surely cause my head to explode. But I have one friend who does this, not because he's trying to game me but perhaps that's the norm in his circle.
The bottom line is that I spend hardly any time thinking about this and it all works out fine.
When I play and we have a side change, I just leave everything in situ and we deal with it when we resume play. If I have any in-pocket, I take them out and drop them near the service area. The vast majority of opponents I know do this. So we all consider that "normal".
If someone clearly has a preference, no problem: I'll gather the ones near me [if any].
I personally do NOT want the balls because I'd rather concentrate on towelling off and getting a drink. I can't multi-task very well so adding a 3rd thing will surely cause my head to explode. But I have one friend who does this, not because he's trying to game me but perhaps that's the norm in his circle.
The bottom line is that I spend hardly any time thinking about this and it all works out fine.
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
I don’t want anything to do with the balls during the game break also. I barely have time to towel off, drink water, maybe take a bite from an energy bar snack, decompress from the last game, think of any adjustment I want to make etc. and if it is doubles, talk to my partner. There are not too many players in my 4.5/5.0 social group who chat a lot to opponents during game breaks even when we are good friends who have played with each other for years - that is usually reserved for after the match. Heck, you get only 90 seconds including walking to/from the court and so, you barely have 60 seconds to sit and relax.
Very occasionally, an opponent might hand me the balls at the bench and I usually will slowly roll the balls over to the side I’m going to serve from. They usually get the message that I don’t want the balls handed to me at the bench and don’t do it again. All that matters is that when a player goes to the line to serve, the balls were either already on his side or the opponents gather the balls on their side and toss it over to him and/or his partner.
All this usually happens without anyone taking offense or thinking there is some etiquette to how balls should be handled during a game break. Normal adult behavior.
Very occasionally, an opponent might hand me the balls at the bench and I usually will slowly roll the balls over to the side I’m going to serve from. They usually get the message that I don’t want the balls handed to me at the bench and don’t do it again. All that matters is that when a player goes to the line to serve, the balls were either already on his side or the opponents gather the balls on their side and toss it over to him and/or his partner.
All this usually happens without anyone taking offense or thinking there is some etiquette to how balls should be handled during a game break. Normal adult behavior.
Someone who admits to passive aggressively throwing balls back onto the court instead of speaking to their opponent should probably reconsider what normal adult behavior actually means.
The interesting part of the discussion is that everyone who has been in the throw the balls on the ground camp has admitted to some type of anti-social behavior:
“I’m not there for human interaction”
“We don’t talk while playing”
“I can’t multitask outside of my personal interests”
I don’t feel like that’s a common thing in tennis. I think most people see it as a cooperative sport and are there for the human interaction.
As I said earlier, I’ve played in two different sections across four states and 700 miles apart from each other, and the common trend has always been some variation of bringing the balls to the bench.
Those leaving the balls on the court have always been the quirkiest and often times adversarial opponents.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I haven't noticed that at all in my opponents.
I note the way you described the act:
- "passive/aggressive": how did you come to that conclusion? This says the server is mad at the receiver and is doing the act to get back at him but in an indirect way. I suppose it could be that. It also could be the much more obvious reason that the server is done serving so one logical place to put them is where the opponent will need them.
- "throwing balls back onto the court": this implies that the balls end up far away from the service area, whereas posters here have said they place the balls near the service area.
- "I can't multitask": this was an attempt at humor, which apparently failed. Yes, I can pause my towelling and drinking to accept the balls. However, I'd prefer not to. Does that preference make me anti-social? Not at all. We chat during changeovers [while I'm towelling and drinking]: if I was anti-social, I'd put the towel over my head and not respond.
I've been playing for 20+ years [all in SoCal] and 95% of the time both server and receiver leave the balls in-situ, go the bench, and deal with the balls after the changeover. Any balls in-pocket are taken out and left [not "thrown" near the service area].
5% of the time, the opponent brings the balls to the bench/tray [I never remember because as soon as the game is over, I'm thinking about the changeover].
I haven't noticed any correlation between which method is used and the quirkiness and adversariality [is that a word? If not, it is now.] of my opponent. Now, if they behaved as you described [throwing balls into far corners], then I'd agree with you about quirky and adversarial. It's just that no one does this [with a few exceptions]; they all do it as I described.
Again, I've not given hardly any thought to this and I seem to be on good terms with all of my opponents.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
@Creighton,
Just to make sure we're on the same page here, what about this scenario:
I'm serving. I have all 3 balls: one in-hand and two in-pocket. I have game point. I serve and you err on the RoS.
I take the two balls out of my pocket and drop them near the service area [making sure one doesn't hit the other so they scatter] and walk to the bench.
Is that acceptable in your book? When we change sides and it's your turn to serve, you'll at least have 2 balls. If the 3rd is on my side and you ask for it, I'll likely get it for you.
I can't see anything wrong with that [and, in fact, it's the norm IME]. I certainly wouldn't describe it as "passive/aggressive" or "throwing balls".
Would you be annoyed that I didn't bring those 2 balls with me to the bench/tray? I certainly wouldn't be annoyed if our positions were reversed.
Just to make sure we're on the same page here, what about this scenario:
I'm serving. I have all 3 balls: one in-hand and two in-pocket. I have game point. I serve and you err on the RoS.
I take the two balls out of my pocket and drop them near the service area [making sure one doesn't hit the other so they scatter] and walk to the bench.
Is that acceptable in your book? When we change sides and it's your turn to serve, you'll at least have 2 balls. If the 3rd is on my side and you ask for it, I'll likely get it for you.
I can't see anything wrong with that [and, in fact, it's the norm IME]. I certainly wouldn't describe it as "passive/aggressive" or "throwing balls".
Would you be annoyed that I didn't bring those 2 balls with me to the bench/tray? I certainly wouldn't be annoyed if our positions were reversed.
You seem to be quoting yourself--you put quotes around something which indicates someone said those words. But throughout the entire thread the only person who used the word human was you. If you're calling some preferences (introvert versus extrovert) anti-social and attacking them for it, what would you call someone who has repeatedly misquoted people in order to try to bolster their argument? What would you call someone who is attacking people for their individual preferences and not conforming to your ideals? One thing I've observed from some people is that they'll accuse others of doing what they're doing themselves. Being passive-aggressive (through implied name calling) and saying that others aren't acting like adults, for instance.
Edited to add: I'd try to stick with the topic of the conversation, but it doesn't appear you're trying to be intellectually honest, so it's pointless.
Though I would say, I assume that the people who don't want to receive the balls on the sideline wouldn't be so against that if the balls were handed in a tactful and respectful way. That is, the retriever of the balls brings them to the bench, hangs on to them, and then when both players stand to go back out on the court, the person with the balls says 'here' and hands them over. Or maybe there are other ways, perhaps dependent on the physical setup--someone mentioned setting the balls on the tray for instance. Or if there is a single bench, setting the balls between the two players so the person who will need the balls can pick them up when they'd like to wouldn't be too bad.
It's the people who either try to hand them to their opponent as they (the opponent) is trying to sit down and set their racquet down and grab a towel or whatever, or if the retriever is the second one, immediately and without consideration of what their opponent is doing starts to hand the balls over, interrupting whatever their opponent is doing. Not the worst thing in the world by far, but somewhat self-centered. I think another poster had tried to make that point as well using a mailman as an example.
That is, if the balls are handed over in a considerate way, I wouldn't even think about it. But if the balls are handed to me at the other person's earliest convenience regardless of what else is going on, well, that isn't adult behavior.
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FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
Handing balls to your opponent, a book by Brad Gilbert.
Exactly. I'm often struck by how much energy people put into trivial things, like those mentioned in this thread, as opposed to hitting the ball.
I've played with people who on the change just left the balls where they were, rolled them to the net, rolled them to the back fence, put them on the baseline, put them in my hand, put them on my bench, etc, and never once did I consider 'is this guy messing with me?' because it doesn't matter. It bothered me no more than when I played with ballpeople and didn't even have to think about balls.
Tennis is an individual sport so I'm not sure what 'normal' is. This reminds me when I was in juniors and there was a kid who instead of calling an opponent's shot 'out' he would say 'bad'. Some players were driven crazy by this and for others there was no effect.
What bothers or doesn't bother you is actually up to you and not your opponent. You can't expect everyone to do things the way you do, and you shouldn't become a basket case when they don't.
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S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
Only one comment: you got to play with ballpeople?! I'm not that good.
OK, maybe two comments: tennis players are among the most fragile I've encountered when it comes to things that I don't even notice. Maybe golfers are worse?
In volleyball, the gym is full of simultaneously playing courts and no dividers necessarily. There are whistles blowing, fans cheering, opponents yelling just as you're about to spike, etc. The people who can't deal with this just don't make it to the higher levels.
Or think of Basketball players about to shoot a free throw and everyone behind the glass is screaming and waving those foam hands.
Or baseball where the other team is taunting "Hey, batter, batter, batter..."
So when I see a thread arguing that putting the balls in location A is normal and expected but in location B [that's just as convenient for the next server] it's an indicator of quirky, adversarial, and anti-social behavior...
This honestly seems like the quintessential example of accusing people another person of doing what you're doing. I'll point out one of the examples of you being intellectually dishonest below:
Your accusation is that I'm making something up because I am the only person to use the word human. However, you're the one who in post #71 brings up the term interaction with this comment:
What kind of interaction could you be referring to on a court between you and opponent? It's clearly an implied human interaction, because of course that's the only type of interaction you're having in a tennis match. You're not interacting or playing a robot, an alien or even a dog.
So here is a clear cut example of you saying something, me referring to something you said, and you refusing to take ownership of your own statement. You're the one being disingenuous here. Secondly, you came into this thread calling another poster a troll. You might want to be mindful of the ad hominem whines when you were the first to throw them out.
But you're reduced to trying to win this argument on emotional appeal, because there just isn't a logic argument for throwing the balls on the ground. It just wouldn't work in any other setting without coming off disrespectful.
More importantly your entire second half of your post completely misses the obvious. I can't hand the balls to you on a changeover if you don't accept them. So it's literally impossible to be more disrespectful to hand you the balls than it is to throw them on the ground.
I'm going to assume you missed the part of socallefty's post where he stated, his opponent brought him the balls to the bench and instead of just taking them. He then threw them back on the court?
If you missed that part, then maybe it would explain your confusion on the passive aggressive and throwing the balls back comment.
You've still yet to explain, why do you need to take the balls out of your pocket and drop them on the ground? What purpose does it serve?
Does it speed up the game? No. Does it make it easier for your opponent? No. Does it ensure the balls aren't lost or stolen? No.
Even if you ensure the balls don't hit each other on the drop, they're still balls that are designed to bounce and roll. They're not going to stay in place wherever you drop them. There is some inevitable scatter. Why wouldn't you just take them back to the opponent so he actually has two balls too start his service game?
That actually speeds up the changeover, makes its easier for your opponent, and ensures the balls aren't lost or stolen.
And for the record, it's more comical than annoying when people throw the balls around. Those type of players tend to end up frustrating themselves more than anyone else. That's why we get so many "Becky" posts.
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
I don't really pay attention to what the opponent is doing besides hitting the ball, even if they are trying to mess with me, I wouldn't be able to tell because I'm not that fragile that they giving me the balls at the change over is going to mess with my mind.
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
I come from fútbol, soccer for our Northamerican audience, you have to have pretty thick skin to let the opponents bother you.
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Instead of admitting you're wrong, you're tripling down on the insults to others?
Why would you think letting me know what you're like as a person is a bad thing? I never said it was good or bad. For some reason, you took it that way.
I know you think you're being cute, but you're just adding more credibility to my argument.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
I didn't miss that part because it doesn't exist. OTOH, he did write:
"threw them back on the court" and "slowly roll the balls" have very different connotations.
If he had indeed thrown them back on the court, I'd agree with you that this would seem a bit passive/aggressive.
I don't see any problem with slowly rolling them.
I wrote "I take the two balls out of my pocket and drop them near the service area..."
The reason I do this seems obvious to me: I'm done serving and we're changing sides which means my opponent will be serving next [so he needs the balls] and we're switching sides [so the balls should be where I was].
I must be missing something or I didn't describe what I do in enough detail. This seems like a logical thing to do. Not the only thing but one option. And it's normal for me and my diverse group.
It speeds up the game relative to me tossing them elsewhere, like into a corner, into the next court, or over the fence.
Does it speed up the game more than if I had brought them to the bench? I don't know: I've never timed the two and compared. Within a margin of error of a few seconds, I would think they're about the same.
Again, no one in my wide circle has ever made a point about it.
Yes, and just like a good target shooter, I account for the bounce and roll so they end up around the service area. It's not particularly difficult, seeing as I'm already in the service area in my scenario.
However, let's say I'm up and net when the game ends. I'll take the ball out of my pocket and roll/bounce it to the service area. I won't be perfect but it will be in the general vicinity.
If the ball ends up on his side, I might scoop it up with my racquet and toss it to him. Or not. It's kind of contextual and I have thought about it a lot more in this thread than in all of the years I've played tennis.
I could. It just never occurred to me since it's not the norm and I don't see much downside of doing it my way.
if the opponent requested them, I would comply [unless I thought he was doing to try and exert control].
- The difference in time is minimal. I waste more time towelling off one more time.
- It doesn't make it easier for my opponent if he clearly doesn't want them when he sits down but again, the margin of "easier" is so small as to be unnoticeable
- The only time I worry about someone else on an adjacent court taking the ball is when it rolls on to their court, in which case I will go to retrieve it. I can't say I remember ever losing a ball because I didn't immediately gather them and bring them to the bench vs just leaving them there.
You're arguing why your way is superior. I'm arguing my way is adequate so I don't need anything better, especially when everyone else is fine with it [as far as I know].
I've been playing for 20+ years and have never had a problem, comical or annoying. You and I just have different norms and experiences.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
@Creighton. Creighton, Creighton, Creighton. What are we going to do with you?
Socallefty said that if his opponent gives him the balls and he doesn’t want them yet, he rolls them onto his side of the court. Why is that your business? You gave up the balls, and he can put, roll, or stack them wherever he wants until it is time to serve.
Many of us don’t want balls in pockets or under our skirts on changeovers. This is icky when you’re sweaty and awfully hard to pull off when your hands are occupied.
Anyone over the age of 3 should be able to drop 1-3 tennis balls at the service line without them scattering in all directions.
I am curious about one thing, though: Have you ever asked your opponent to bring the balls to you? Like, “Kind sir. Henceforth, would you please bring the balls to me whilst I am at rest upon my bench? It is rather rude to leave them unattended on the court.”
Inquiring minds want to know.
Socallefty said that if his opponent gives him the balls and he doesn’t want them yet, he rolls them onto his side of the court. Why is that your business? You gave up the balls, and he can put, roll, or stack them wherever he wants until it is time to serve.
Many of us don’t want balls in pockets or under our skirts on changeovers. This is icky when you’re sweaty and awfully hard to pull off when your hands are occupied.
Anyone over the age of 3 should be able to drop 1-3 tennis balls at the service line without them scattering in all directions.
I am curious about one thing, though: Have you ever asked your opponent to bring the balls to you? Like, “Kind sir. Henceforth, would you please bring the balls to me whilst I am at rest upon my bench? It is rather rude to leave them unattended on the court.”
Inquiring minds want to know.
Cindysphinx
G.O.A.T.
@S&V-not_dead_yet, I agree on all counts except one thing.
Because you and your buddies leave the balls on court, you have never experienced the time suck from ball confusion when balls are brought to the bench.
Leaving the balls on the court absolutely speeds up the game.
If the balls are in plain view, no one spends any time asking where they are or looking for them, or wondering whether the Penn 3 under the bench is one of the Penn 3 game balls, or looking until they all realize that Absent Minded Becky put a ball in her bag. Only Ball Handers have those problems.
Because you and your buddies leave the balls on court, you have never experienced the time suck from ball confusion when balls are brought to the bench.
Leaving the balls on the court absolutely speeds up the game.
If the balls are in plain view, no one spends any time asking where they are or looking for them, or wondering whether the Penn 3 under the bench is one of the Penn 3 game balls, or looking until they all realize that Absent Minded Becky put a ball in her bag. Only Ball Handers have those problems.
S&V-not_dead_yet
Talk Tennis Guru
It seems like this is no longer a discussion about the merits of various approaches but the moral character [or lack thereof] of those who follow a particular way.
This is ideological territory and therefore of little use to me.
This is ideological territory and therefore of little use to me.
Absolutely true. If your opponent putting the balls somewhere YOU don't want them to is the worst thing you have to deal with that day you live a charmed life...
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How about offering the balls leftover in your pocket to the opponent after the changeover when play resumes?
I've seen it every way mentioned, and it doesn't bother me either way.
From the heated back and forth, it's clear that people have their quirks and it irks them if it isn't exactly the way they want it. Can't please everyone all the time. Go ahead and get angry from perceived gamesmanship and you'll take yourself out of the game mentally.
I've seen it every way mentioned, and it doesn't bother me either way.
From the heated back and forth, it's clear that people have their quirks and it irks them if it isn't exactly the way they want it. Can't please everyone all the time. Go ahead and get angry from perceived gamesmanship and you'll take yourself out of the game mentally.
This is in the same vein of argument as @DCNJ made about interaction versus human interaction. It's really not substantive enough to even matter. You're trying to make some arbitrary distinction between "throwing" and "slowly rolling" even though a slow roll involves some level of a throw to get the balls moving. MAYBE socallefty gets off the bench, kneels to the ground and slowly pushes the ball on the courts it's not a per se a throw. But that seems unlikely. More importantly, if he did do something like that, it's even more passive aggressive. So your argument still fails on the substance.
Either way, it's the act of putting the balls back on the court after they've already been gathered that's passive aggressive. So your argument fails.
This is the meat and potatoes of the argument. There really is no way to argue your system is better than bringing the balls to your opponent. So you're reduced to arguing it's better than worse alternatives. Being better than a worse alternative doesn't make it the right thing to do.
Tossing the balls into a corner every time is an adequate way to compile the balls during a changeover. Likewise, if @Cindysphinx asked me for a third ball during a game, tossing the ball to the corner could be an adequate way to toss her the ball. But I have a feeling she would think it's rude, even if it's adequate.
Yeah, this is why I said earlier it's a gamesmanship that's caught on place. Just like the "come on" chant in juniors. Now every junior does it when he was originally used to taunt opponents. Just appears it's been happening so long in your area you don't even understand the actual reason people drop the balls.
Sounds like stalling and time wasting to me.
Sounds like a perfect problem solved by placing the balls on the ball tray or bench.
Likewise, anyone over the age of 3 should be able to place 1-3 tennis balls on the bench.
No. If their momma's didn't teach them manners, by the time I meet them on the tennis court it's too late for me to do it.
Crazy thread, goes to show people will argue about anything on here.
When service game is over, I make sure I get every ball on my side. If they are all near baseline, I place them there at the middle of line. Seems like a nice thing to do for the opponent. If I have to get one near the net, I hand them to my opponent at benches.
Never had an issue with any of that. If someone actually rolled the balls on to the court after I handed the balls to them, would be one of the strangest things I would see on tennis court and a totally d**k move.
Tennis is a very mental game, reading how fragile people are on this thread I would feast on opponents like you!
When service game is over, I make sure I get every ball on my side. If they are all near baseline, I place them there at the middle of line. Seems like a nice thing to do for the opponent. If I have to get one near the net, I hand them to my opponent at benches.
Never had an issue with any of that. If someone actually rolled the balls on to the court after I handed the balls to them, would be one of the strangest things I would see on tennis court and a totally d**k move.
Tennis is a very mental game, reading how fragile people are on this thread I would feast on opponents like you!
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
If you think rolling the balls is a d**k move, you are fragile and let anything bother you.
Today a fight broke out on a court. I was just watching. One guy claimed that a guy on the other team hit a double bounce but he denied it. I pointed out that the hitter makes the call. The complaining guy stopped because he knew that I am always right. But he continued to mumble and finally demanded a replay. The next point he refused to accept an out call on his partner's serve as a revenge.
Purestriker
Legend
It wouldn’t bother me in the least bit. But an opponent taking the balls from me at the bench after I handed them to them and then rolling the 3 of them onto the court would be bizarre.
Fairhit
Hall of Fame
I get it but I can't imagine it being gamesmanship, I guess in tennis people tend to read too much into things.
FuzzyYellowBalls
Legend
I'm very proud of it, it's like it's own living creation.... branching off into different directions.
I've never actually thought much about the topic of balls on changeover... didn't realize this is such a hot topic for many!
Personally, I don't really care whether my opponent hands me the balls or leaves them somewhere reasonable.
I might notice if he deliberately gets rid of the balls to where I would need to make an effort to retrieve... or maybe I wouldn't even notice.
As far as what I do, sometimes I hand to my opponent, sometimes I bring to the bench and put on the bench next to my opponent, and sometimes I leave them somewhere between the service line and the net on the way to the bench.
More often the latter, I think.
Come to think of it I don't know why I choose one method over another... probably just based on my relationship with my opponent and also taking cues from what they are doing.
I mean, doesn't really matter unless deliberately making it hard for the opponent to retrieve them.
Personally, I don't really care whether my opponent hands me the balls or leaves them somewhere reasonable.
I might notice if he deliberately gets rid of the balls to where I would need to make an effort to retrieve... or maybe I wouldn't even notice.
As far as what I do, sometimes I hand to my opponent, sometimes I bring to the bench and put on the bench next to my opponent, and sometimes I leave them somewhere between the service line and the net on the way to the bench.
More often the latter, I think.
Come to think of it I don't know why I choose one method over another... probably just based on my relationship with my opponent and also taking cues from what they are doing.
I mean, doesn't really matter unless deliberately making it hard for the opponent to retrieve them.
jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
It's amazing how petty a lot of tennis players are, and how every little thing that's not done exactly the way they want it done is "gamesmanship"
It's not how I want it done, it's just the most logical way to do it. It's also the most polite way to do it.
So far no one has been able to explain why it's better to do it another way.
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jm1980
Talk Tennis Guru
It's just a matter of preference, some people don't want to handle balls during the changeover and that's fine.
I'm a ball-hander myself, but I've never had an issue with players who leave the balls on the baseline or the service line
The only time I'd think gamesmanship is if someone deliberately hit the balls away to a corner, or scattered them in multiple places
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It's not just a matter of preference, it's a matter of efficiency.
The gamesmanship thing comes in because the majority of the people who leave them on the court actually leave them scattered. I've very rarely ever come across people who actually leave them conveniently placed. It's generally like someone else said a situation where after they hit a good shot they drop it out of their pocket as more of a taunt than exchanging balls.
I don't really care what my opponent does with the balls unless he deliberately scatters them.
And I am happy to give/place balls based on opponents preference.
However, I will say that sometimes by the time player B who has the balls gets to the bench, player A is already there with his hands full (drinking, toweling off, etc).
And then often player B will just put the balls on the bench. I've done this, and have had opponents do it. So far so good.
But then once every so often, player A will get up and go to serve and forget the balls on the bench, and have to go back to retrieve them.
I've done that and so have opponents.
No biggie, but perhaps one small reason why it may actually be better to leave the balls somewhere between the service line and the net where the opponent will have to go right by them after the changeover and can't miss them.
Again, I don't think it matters, but I think your preference might actually be slightly less efficient.
stapletonj
Hall of Fame
COVID era health paranoia, social distancing, masks, "don't touch me, I have someone at home who is immuno-suppressed" has made a**holes of us all.
Solution:
A. amend the rules to require 4 ball cans only. All 4 balls are in play.
B. on each service game, it is required to make a four ball pyramid with the live balls on the "T"
C. Guy who just served has to get out his "busser balls" from his bag and hit 5 serves before the game begins
D. If he hits the pyramid on one of his 5 shots, he is awarded a break of serve. If not, the other guy is awarded a "hold" and the first guy has to serve again with the live balls.
This way, one guy never has to touch the balls that his obviously diseased and highly contagious opponent has touched for the entire match. Also saves a lot of precious indoor court time.
Solution:
A. amend the rules to require 4 ball cans only. All 4 balls are in play.
B. on each service game, it is required to make a four ball pyramid with the live balls on the "T"
C. Guy who just served has to get out his "busser balls" from his bag and hit 5 serves before the game begins
D. If he hits the pyramid on one of his 5 shots, he is awarded a break of serve. If not, the other guy is awarded a "hold" and the first guy has to serve again with the live balls.
This way, one guy never has to touch the balls that his obviously diseased and highly contagious opponent has touched for the entire match. Also saves a lot of precious indoor court time.
Moon Shooter
Hall of Fame
OP
Often I can not hear the score or sometimes I am not sure of the score even when I am serving- yes it’s emabarrassing. So although I agree having someone who is not on serve always calling out the score would be annoying ( did they even call “love love” at the beginning of the game?) it is not as bad as a server that never calls the score or mumbles it.
OP Next time you play him and he is serving both you and your partner should call out the score in addition to his calling it out at serve. Maybe his partner will chime in as well.
Often I can not hear the score or sometimes I am not sure of the score even when I am serving- yes it’s emabarrassing. So although I agree having someone who is not on serve always calling out the score would be annoying ( did they even call “love love” at the beginning of the game?) it is not as bad as a server that never calls the score or mumbles it.
OP Next time you play him and he is serving both you and your partner should call out the score in addition to his calling it out at serve. Maybe his partner will chime in as well.
cks
Hall of Fame
This happens to me sometimes when I get moved side to side chasing down balls playing defense. After the point is over, I'm completely out of breath, trying to get my breathing under control before starting the next point, and "bam", I cannot recall the score. Complete brain dump/vapor lock.
Sometimes I'll have a doubles partner who will call at the score before I start my serve routine. Then out of habit, I will call out the score and serve. I just roll with it.
No. It is all gone now. No one behaves the way you portray.
