AboutEd Hines Expertise The Rules of Tennis primarily, including junior and collegiate application of the rules as well as recreational play. Please: NO questions about practice drills or ways to improve your game.
Experience Over 30 years playing the game, including USTA and ITA Officials' certification in junior, collegiate, and professional tennis.
Organizations USTA; Atlanta Professional Tennis Umpires Association
Awards and Honors ATP Linesman, Chair Official NCAA Regional Div I and Div III, Blue Gray Tournament Chair, SEC Championships, Southern Conf Championships, Atlantic Sun Conference, Several Junior National and Super National Jr. Tournaments, NCAA Womens Championship Finals, ASI and AT&T (qualifier final) Chair.
Expert: Ed Hines Date: 1/3/2008 Subject: Calling a let
Question Doubles play. Opponent at back of court hits ball, clearly sailing out. Her partner sees a ball come onto the court, and calls a let (not aware that partner has already made her shot, and not aware of the shot itself, just distracted by rolling ball). Ball sails out of bounds. Is this a let because the "let" was called before the ball landed? Or is it our point, because the ball was clearly going out, and because our opponent had hit the ball before the other ball came onto the court, and before her partner called "let"? We really couldn't figure out who was right on this one.
Answer Libby,
Only in ITA (college) tennis would this "let" be allowed (no need to go into details here). All the observations you make are good ones. But always keep this in mind in these types of 'let' situations--Was the person striking the ball hindered or distracted? If so, then replay the point. In this case, what grounds does the 'let' caller have? Her opponent wasn't hindered; didn't even see the oncoming ball! So where's the hindrance? Didn't affect the ball going out because the 'let' was called AFTER the fact. If she had called it just before or perhaps while her partner was striking the ball, then yes, replay the point.
Hope this helps. Email back if unclear.
