| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
|
| Another let question | 6/25/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: We were playing a doubles match. My partner was preparing to hit a ball from mid court. Just a ...
A: Julie, I understand your frustration (and knew you wouldn't care for my answer). "Lets" can be ...
|
| Another let question | 6/25/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: We were playing a doubles match. My partner was preparing to hit a ball from mid court. Just a ...
A: Julie, Several things, Julie: Anyone can call a let; it doesn't matter that you or your partner ...
|
| Double Bounce | 6/15/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: Is it not the person whom is trying to return a shot to call if he thinks a ball bounced twice ...
A: Absolutely correct, Skip. If you were trying to get a ball before it bounced twice, it's your call, ...
|
| Voice Let / Voice Hindrance | 4/23/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: Is there really such a thing as a "voice let" or "voice hindrance. I was watching my wife play a ...
A: Bob, Yes, that's correct although there is nothing labeled "voice let" or "voice hindrance" in the ...
|
| Playing tennis in 30 mph winds | 4/12/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: Are there any rules or precedence for postponing play due to high winds? I play in a competitive ...
A: Missy, ITA has rules that govern this and occasionally a college match will have to move indoors or ...
|
| Tennis | 4/12/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: If a player hits a ball say in a return of serve and the ball travels over the net but the wind is ...
A: Jason, Unless the opponent volleys the ball when it crosses the plane of the net, it's their point. ...
|
| tennis racket | 4/10/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: I coach HS girls tennis. One of my players asked if she could tie colored ribbons onto her racket ...
A: Thom, Appendix II, a of the Rule of Tennis says, in part: "The racket shall be free of at- tached ...
|
| Hindrance issue | 3/26/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: Ed, I am very confused about the Hindrance rule concerning where your partner can stand on the ...
A: Becky, It's your opponent and not you that doesn't know the rules. I see nothing wrong in what you ...
|
| serving hindrance? | 3/17/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: In a doubles match, during a set tie break a first serve was made. The server heard the call "out". ...
A: This question was asked in Tennis mag recently. The answer is, it's the receiver's point. The ...
|
| Inproper Recieving | 3/14/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: I was playing a doubles match the other day and my partner went to serve for the second time. I ...
A: That's weird, Luke. The rule is, if your opponents start a game or during a game wind up on the ...
|
| Voice Hindrance Provoked? | 3/6/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: In a recent match my opponent tossed the ball to serve immediately after announcing the incorrect ...
A: Believe it or not, Rick, this is not all that uncommon. A voice let or voice hindrance is all the ...
|
| Reaching over net | 2/26/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: I know that it is legal to reach over the net to hit a ball that bounced on your side of the net and ...
A: That's true, John. You could run toward the net or net post, hit the shot, and then cross the plane ...
|
| not holding racquet | 1/20/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: On receiving a ball the receivers racquet is on he ground not held by receiver, ball racquet hits ...
A: No. Rule 24 J of the "Rule of Tennis" states a play loses the point when: "The ball in play touches ...
|
| tennis serve | 1/12/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: I was playing social game of tennis my opponent was serving I called her first serve wide, she ...
A: This wasn't a "real" match? If not, what is? You call balls on your side of the court; she calls ...
|
| calling a let | 1/5/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: This is a follow-up to my question of 2008/01/03. In checking previous answers on your website, I ...
A: You've done your homework. The point you're missing, Libby, is who's calling the let. In the prior ...
|
| Calling a let | 1/3/2008 | Ed Hines |
Q: Doubles play. Opponent at back of court hits ball, clearly sailing out. Her partner sees a ball ...
A: Libby, Only in ITA (college) tennis would this "let" be allowed (no need to go into details here). ...
|
| tennis ball hitting hand holding racquet | 11/16/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: while swinging to hit a shot, ball strikes hand holding racquet. ball goes over net for a winner. ...
A: Sorry, Bob, no. If the ball touches any part of you or anything on you, you lose the point. That ...
|
| Dropping second ball after good first serve | 11/13/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I have always served holding both balls in my hand, and after a good first serve will always ...
A: Axel, Yours is a well-discussed issue among officialdom. In short, if it bothers your opponent, it ...
|
| hinderance | 10/22/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: If it's a hinderance to move simply to distract the opponent, where does that leave faking a poach?
A: Faking or feinting is a legitimate maneuver and done often in dubs as you know. With that in mind, ...
|
| corrected calls | 10/2/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: here's myan opponent delivered a first serve to my parter; i called the serve out but quickly ...
A: In this instance, the point was indeed your opponent's. Had your partner returned the ball despite ...
|
| ball spinning over the net | 10/1/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I have seen several answers regarding a ball with heavy backspin coming back over the net without ...
A: Yes, Rich, you are correct on all counts. I've even heard it recommended to hit the ball into the ...
|
| service hindrance in tennis doubles | 9/22/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: When playing a doubles match, team A is serving to team B. When team A serves to team B is it ...
A: Kim, Except for ITA (college) tennis, it is legal. Team B players can take position anywhere they ...
|
| Grunting during play | 9/21/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: In high school tennis matches; Is it okay to grunt or make other noise when hitting?
A: Because some (many?) school districts have different rules, I cannot possibly know the answer. I ...
|
| which grip for 1st and 2nd serve | 9/15/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I've read a lot about using the continental and eastern backhand for serving. I'm 5"6 and I'm trying ...
A: Graeme, I have had a similar problem and have rotated my grip somewhat between the two, just a ...
|
| tie break | 9/10/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: What if you forget to change ends after 6 points have been played in the tie break? Do you switch ...
A: Amy, One thing to keep in mind with this scenario and with many others in tennis is this: All ...
|
| challenges/contesting a call | 9/4/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I've been paying close attn to the challenges during the US Open. On a couple occasions, after the ...
A: You're right: makes no sense. Do you think she might have said "SHE touched it," instead of ...
|
| challenges/contesting a call | 9/4/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I've been paying close attn to the challenges during the US Open. On a couple occasions, after the ...
A: Sorry, Donna, but I'm not sure. I've watched a lot of the OPEN but haven't seen what you describe. ...
|
| Breaks in between sets | 9/3/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I'm playing on a USTA team league and would like to know: How much time can you take between sets ...
A: Stan, As hard as this is to believe for anyone that's been playing tennis for the last seven years ...
|
| shuffling feet - hindrance?? | 9/1/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I hit a shot to my opponent’s court and I approach the net and shuffle my feet louder than normal. ...
A: Absolutely not, Richard. No hindrance. I wasn't trying to say you can't make your presence known; ...
|
| Time between games and sets | 8/31/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: What is the standard rest time between games and sets?
A: Games: 90 seconds. Sets: 2 minutes. By the way, that interval is from the last ball out to the ...
|
| shuffling feet - hindrance?? | 8/31/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I hit a shot to my opponent’s court and I approach the net and shuffle my feet louder than normal. ...
A: Richard, I'd have to see it/hear it to know for sure, but if you're making the noise to distract ...
|
| late calls | 8/20/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: your answer to this question was not clear to me, so allow me to re-ask: (teams are A/B and C/D) ...
A: Your hypothesis could be dead-on; she very well may have had doubt about the call and when she ...
|
| late calls | 8/19/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: your answer to this question was not clear to me, so allow me to re-ask: (teams are A/B and C/D) ...
A: Sorry I wasn't clear the first time. Without being there it's hard to tell. But MOST LIKELY, the ...
|
| calling balls in or out | 8/16/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: What happens if you receive a ball and call it out but your opponent says it is in? who has the ...
A: You do. You call all balls on your side of the court; she calls all on her side. "The Code" ...
|
| i want to play...but i dont know anything about tennis | 8/13/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: i really want to play tennis for my high school,what are some important rules i should know about ...
A: Ashley, The scope of this question is too broad to answer here. The rules of tennis are over a 100 ...
|
| Tennis Shouting / Taliking in doubles during play | 8/8/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: I was wondering what is the rule for talking during doubles play? I completely understand that you ...
A: Albert, You've got the situation and rules well in hand. There are many rules that deal with this, ...
|
| teaching young children under 6 | 8/2/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: Should you have youngsters start using 2 hands on the racquet for both forehand & backhand. Is the ...
A: Stan, I'll try to help here but keep in mind that my primary expertise is rules and officiating, not ...
|
| SERVES!!!!! | 8/2/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: please, please- im a beginner- can you explain in clear instructions how to do a topspin/sidespin & ...
A: Tobi, My expertise is rules, not instructions. Besides, you need this shown, not explained, to you. ...
|
| SERVICE RETURN | 7/24/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: If the server serves the ball and its headed way out but the returner calls it out then hits it back ...
A: According to The Code, a player is obligated or should call out balls against him/herself even if ...
|
| SERVICE RETURN | 7/24/2007 | Ed Hines |
Q: If the server serves the ball and its headed way out but the returner calls it out then hits it back ...
A: Jessica, In your scenario, the server would win the point. Keep in mind that the ball is not out ...
|
