News

The Final Word: Double It Up

Have you ever had a dispute with a fellow player over a call on the court that you couldn’t settle? Or have you ever wondered why a certain ruling was made during a match you were watching? Maybe you’re just curious about how some scenarios, from the common to the ridiculous, are resolved.

The USTA constantly receives these types of questions from players and fans, so we figured it’s about time we provided a forum in which queries about rules can be answered. Thus, we present to you The Final Word.

Readers can send their burning questions about the rules of tennis along with their name and town to FinalWord@USTA.com. Each week, we will select submissions and supply the definitive rulings though a Q&A with USTA Director of Officials Richard Kaufman.

On to this week's questions and responses...

From Mark S. (Winter Garden, FL)

If, in a single swing, the ball hits the racquet twice (because the racquet twists during the swing or some such) does that count as a double hit the same as if you had swung twice? What if the ball first makes contact with the lower part of the racquet netting, slides across it, and leaves from the upper part of the racquet netting? Is that a double hit? Also, what if you almost miss and the ball is hit by the edge or handle of the racquet, rather than the netting of the racquet--is that allowed so long as the ball is successfully returned to the opponent?

KAUFMAN: A player is permitted only one swing at the ball. Any intentional second swing is not permitted. Sometimes, during the stroke the ball may hit the strings/racket two times. If the player did this in one motion and there is no attempt at an intentional second hit, then that is a legal shot. This rule was changed in the 1970s from no double hits, whether intentional or not, to the above procedure. The ball may hit any part of the racket to be a legal return. However, it is not a legal shot if the ball touches any part of the body including the hand holding the racket.

From Skip N. (Tallahassee, FL)

Last night I was playing doubles. I was receiving in the deuce court. I returned a serve cross court, and though it was close, from our side it looked like it caught the line. The server played the ball and returned it cross court. After the ball had crossed the net, and it looked like the ball was going out, his partner called my return of serve out. Is that a little late to make a line call on the return of serve?

I felt that since the server played the ball, he considered it too close to definitely call it out, and he was giving us the benefit of the doubt. I also felt that the server's partner, who was standing in the alley, was not in position to see if the return of serve was clearly in or out.

It seems like a cheap trick to wait until his partner's ball was going out to call my return of serve out. Shouldn't people first decide if the ball is in or out, and then play the ball and not the other way around?

KAUFMAN: All calls must be immediate. Player’s are not permitted to determine the result of their shot before calling “out” a previous shot from their opponents.

David H. (Gettysburg, PA)

While playing doubles our opponents hit the ball right at my partner who was at net. My partner avoiding the ball ducked quickly to avoid being hit. While ducking his glasses flew off which the ball struck while in the air. The ball went wildly out of bounds. What is the correct call in this situation? We were playing a friendly match so we replayed the point. Should it have been our opponents point because the glasses are considered part of my partner’s body or should it have been an obstruction call and the point played over.

Dave

KAUFMAN: If the ball touches anything that you wear or carry (other than the racket) or any part of your body, you lose the point.

From Joan M. (Tucson, AZ)

We have several ladies who use the white plastic clip ball holder. One lady wears the ball clipped to the back of her waist. The other wears the ball prominently clipped right in the front. The ball is visible at all times. Several people have found looking at another tennis ball a distraction. Is there a rule that covers this type of situation?

KAUFMAN: Usually ball clips are worn on the back so an opponent does not see another ball when a player faces them while hitting a shot.
This is not addressed specifically. However, one could make the case that this could be a distraction and request that the player put the ball clip on the back.

From Mike M. (Orlando, FL)

Playing mixed doubles our opponent hit a shot that I thought was long and called out before I made contact with the ball but couldn't stop my swing and hit the ball back over the net which our opponent hit back over the net and we didn't play the ball (assuming the point to be over). Then I saw a mark where the ball had landed and it just caught the back of the tape. I told them I wanted to change my call to good and play a let. They said that if I change my call to good we don't play a let and they win the point. Who's right and why? Thanks for your help in this dispute.
Mike

KAUFMAN: Because there is disagreement or you corrected your call, the benefit must go to the opposing team and the shot is considered good.

1. If you acknowledge that your return shot on any serve or during a rally is a "weak sitter" (or in other words it was or would have been an easy put away for the opposing team) the point should go to your opponents.
2. If your return shot on any serve or during a rally lands out, or in the net, or you had no play on the ball, or you did not play the ball, the point goes to your opponents. An out call made by one of the players on a team cannot be considered a hindrance to their partner on their returned shot.
3. If you determine that your return shot on any serve or during a rally is not a “weak sitter” (or in other words it would NOT have been an easy put away for the opposing team) AND the shot did land or would have landed in the court, replay the ENTIRE point; first serve.
4. The team in disagreement on a line call can never win the point as a result of their return, even if it was a winner. In addition, the result of any shot made by your opponents off of your questioned returned shot is irrelevant. The out call made by one of the players on your team stopped play.

Past Articles:

Back